PFL Challenger Series Winner Amanda Leve Feels ‘Validated’ by Expert Judging Panel

Amanda Leve is pleased to have won a spot in the upcoming Professional Fighters League season, and having done so in front of a couple of famous names in the sport only makes it more satisfying.

Leve (2-0, 2-0 PFL) secured her PFL contract in a dominant victory over Naranjargal Tsendayush in the featherweight headliner of PFL Challenger Series 2023 Week 2 on Feb. 3. On that occasion, Leve outclassed her opponent, a former Olympian judo player, thanks to her sharp striking skills after nearly submitting her via rear-naked choke in the opening frame. It was Leve’s first main event and the 26-year-old didn’t hide her emotions before or after the fight. At the same time, she stayed focused on the goal and took home the victory. While speaking with Sherdog, Leve confessed she was glad the expert panel for her week was composed of former Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholders Randy Couture and Tyron Woodley and UFC alum Paige VanZant because she felt more validated by her fellow fighters’ approval.

“I just think that having the panel full of MMA fighters that complimented me was like more validating just because I know some of the previous PFL panels, they were like rappers and stuff. Having a panel full of MMA fighters compliment me, it felt very rewarding and way more validating because they've been in the cage and they've had the experience of having wars and stuff in the cage.”

(00:00) Intro
(00:35) Defeating Tsendayush
(01:24) The pressure of her first main event
(02:43) Fighting a striking contest
(04:12) Taking her opponent’s back
(05:18) Her next assignment
(06:07) Keep working on her striking
(07:09) Impressing the expert panel
(08:52) Outro