After a thrilling 2022 season filled with devastating knockouts, stunning upsets and thrilling victories – the Professional Fighters League returns for a 2023 season that promises to be the most star-studded to-date, live and on demand on Stan Sport.
As the dust from the 2022 season settled, it was Aussie Rob ‘Razor’ Wilkinson who rose to the top triumphant, claiming the light heavyweight title, and $1million USD prize money in the process following his incredible knockout of UFC veteran Omari Akhmedov at the PFL Championship Final in New York City.
Wilkinson will get right back to work, headlining the PFL 1 card against promotional newcomer in Brazilian superstar Thiago Santos, a ten year UFC veteran and one of the most dangerous light heavyweight fighters in the world, boasting 22 wins on his resume – 15 of them brutal knockouts.
After pushing the current world #1 pound-for-pound fighter and UFC champion Jon Jones to his limit several years ago and only falling to him via split decision, Santos will be looking to make a name for himself in the PFL with an emphatic statement victory over the incumbent champion in Wilkinson.
Co-headlining the event will be former UFC bantamweight title challenger Marlon ‘Magic’ Moraes, a highly skilled Brazilian fighter clashing with the always entertaining 2022 PFL featherweight champion, Brendan Loughnane in a bout not to be missed.
Also on the card, Polish ten year UFC veteran Krzysztof Jotko makes his PFL debut against wily Irishman Will Fleury, and the fan favourite 2022 PFL featherweight runner-up Bubba Jenkins faces fellow veteran in Chris Wade.
Rob Wilkinson celebrates his 2022 PFL light heavyweight title win.
The full explosive card for PFL 1 is as follows:
MAIN CARD (from 11:00am AEST)
- Robert Wilkinson v Thiago Santos (light heavyweight)
- Brendan Loughnane v Marlon Moraes (featherweight)
- Krzysztof Jotko v Will Fleury (light heavyweight)
- Movlid Khaybulaev v Ryoji Kudo (featherweight)
- Bubba Jenkins v Chris Wade (featherweight)
PRELIMINARY CARD (from 8:00am AEST)
- Marthin Hamlet v Mohammad Fakhreddine (light heavyweight)
- Josh Silveira v Sam Kei (light heavyweight)
- Alejandro Flores v Daniel Torres (featherweight)
- Jo Sungbin v Jesus Pinedo (featherweight)
- Delan Monte v Ty Flores (light heavyweight)
- Cory Hendricks v Impa Kasanganay (light heavyweight)
2023 is shaping up as the biggest year on record for the PFL, with the recent launch of PFL Europe, and the announcement of the upcoming Super Fight Division pay per views, including the inclusion of a partnership with boxing and influencer megastar Jake Paul, who has signed a contract to fight in MMA under the PFL banner.
