Four Advance to 2023 Professional Fighters League Championship Event

The 2023 Professional Fighters League playoffs kicked off at the Boeing Center in San Antonio with semifinals at light heavyweight and featherweight, with the rest of the card showcasing various prospects, a few of which were indeed brilliant.

In the PFL 7: 2023 Playoffs main event, featherweight top seed Bubba Jenkins went to war with superb upstart Jesus Pinedo of Peru. Jenkins is a former NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion and has had continual success in the PFL since joining them in 2021, though the $1 million prize has thus far eluded him. Last year, he finished runner-up to Brendan Loughnane, who knocked him out in the fourth round. Speaking of Loughnane, he was the heavy favorite this year, but was knocked out of the fight and playoffs alike thanks to a 94 second beating by unheralded Peruvian Jesus Pinedo two months ago, who recently turned 27 years old. Pinedo struggled to make weight against Jenkins, weighing 0.4 pounds over the limit. This also meant he would be penalized a point in the judging. However, it didn't remotely matter. Jenkins had trouble taking Pinedo down, and even when he did, his younger foe quickly got back to his feet. Meanwhile, Pinedo landed bomb after bomb against Jenkins, whether in the form of punches or knees. Jenkins showed great heart, managing to barely survive Round 1 before being continually hurt throughout the second stanza, reeling across the cage. Finally, referee Kerry Hatley mercifully waived off the contest at 4:40 of the second, saving Jenkins from further punishment.

In the co-main event, American Top Team grappling ace Josh Silveira battled the always tough and game Ty Flores. Silveira is the son of vale tudo pioneer and ATT head coach Marcus Silveira, and had finished all four of his victories in the PFL, proving himself a deadly grappler. His lone professional defeat came in the PFL semifinals last year, being outpointed by former Ultimate Fighting Championship contender Omari Akhmedov. Silveira improved upon that mark by blasting Flores with knees at the end of the first round, one concussive blow after another, calling to mind Wanderlei Silva's UFC debut against Tony Petarra. In the post-fight interview, he encouraged the crowd to watch the hit film “Sound of Freedom.”

Earlier, the other PFL featherweight finalist was determined when undefeated Brazilian phenom Gabriel Braga met perennial PFL contender Chris Wade. Braga is only 25 years old but already came into the contest with a gaudy record of 11-0, including retiring former UFC title challenger Marlon Moraes in his last outing, knocking him out in three minutes. Wade has seen many PFL postseasons, with excellent wrestling and solid striking. It was a back-and-forth affair, with Wade attaining takedowns and attempting submissions, but never able to keep Braga on the floor for long in the first two rounds. Meanwhile, the Brazilian punished him with hard kicks to the legs and body and the occasional sharp punch upstairs. Wade was fresher for the final stanza, likely winning it with takedowns, but it wasn't enough. Despite a bizarre score of 30-27 for Wade, sanity prevailed as Braga took the split decision, with the other cards reading 30-27 and 29-28 in his favor. Braga and Pinedo have already fought one another earlier this season, with the Brazilian winning a razor-thin split decision over the Peruvian. With both young fighters clearly improving since then, it should be a magnificent showdown.

In the other PFL light heavyweight semi-final, monster Norwegian grappler Marthin Hamlet, who was a finalist in 2021, faced surging Impa Kasanganay. Kasanganay had some success in the UFC middleweight division, but was most known for being the victim of one of the greatest knockouts in the sport's history against Joaquin Buckley. However, he has vastly improved since leaving the promotion, with big leaps in his grappling and striking alike. He was riding a four-fight winning streak and at 29, is only getting better. Still, fighting at light heavyweight now, Kasanganay was much smaller than Hamlet, with fears about whether he could stop the takedowns. Early on, those fears appeared valid, as Hamlet continually took him down. However, Kasanganay got up to his feet and as the Norwegian slowed down a little, “Tshilobo” uncorked a monstrous right cross followed by a gorgeous left hook, walking off before Hamlet's head had even bounced off the canvas, at 2:24 of the first round.

Related » PFL Playoffs Round-by-Round Scoring

Kicking off the main card, undefeated Elvin Espinoza faced skilled veteran Keoni Diggs, who had fought frequently in Bellator MMA. Diggs came in slightly heavy to the lightweight affair, but it didn't bother Espinoza, who threw him around the cage with beautiful judo throws, taking all three rounds on the strength of his terrific grappling.

In the prelims, Thad Jean looked spectacular against Ali Omar. Bouncing in and out of range on the feet, the unbeaten 25 year-old from Haiti shellacked Omar with hard leg kicks and accurate right hand counters. He soon connected with several devastating rights, and as Omar shot for a desperation takedown, Jean sprawled and then flattened him with powerful, precise punches from top position. It was over in just under 2 minutes.

Earlier, 33 year-old female flyweights collided when Texas local Desiree Yanez faced Lisa Mauldin. Yanez was favored, being the better wrestler, and she quickly got a takedown. However, Mauldin soon swept and then easily tapped her with a rear-naked choke, getting the submission at 3:08 of the first frame. Prior to that, UFC veteran Anthony Ivy showed his grappling has improved since leaving the promotion, easily taking down Carson Hardman and locking in a rear-naked choke at 2:34 of the first round. Chelsea Hackett made her much-awaited return to MMA in a female flyweight battle against well-traveled veteran Ky Bennett. Hackett is a muay thai champion and had come up short in an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, being stopped with ground-and-pound by Victoria Leonardo. Still only 23 years old, Hackett showed massive improvements in her grappling and physical strength. After hurting Bennett with two huge right crosses in the second, Hackett decided to change levels for a takedown and it paid off, as she advanced to mount and won by rear-naked choke late in the second stanza. She is a prospect to watch out for. Lastly, in the opening fight of the night, light heavyweights Billy Elekana and Chuck Campbell squared off in a close, gritty affair that went the full 15 minutes. It could have been either man's match, but Elekana edged out the split decision.