PFL announces first three events of 2019 regular season
(https:)The Professional Fighters League announced the first three events for the first half of the 2019 regular season Friday.
PFL 1 will feature two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison as she takes on Russian born Svetlana Khautova. Also on the card, former Strikeforce and Invicta FC bantamweight champion Sara Kaufman makes the jump up two weight classes to challenge Morgan Frier. Both women will compete in the inaugural women’s lightweight division. PFL’s season 1 breakout star Ray Cooper III is also set to return as he faces off against his cousin Zane Kamaka.
PFL 2 will feature hometown favorites Chris Wade and Andre Harrison as well the returns of defending 2018 PFL featherweight champion Lance Palmer and lightweight champion Natan Schulte.
Rounding out the first three events, fans will witness the return of defending heavyweight champion Philipe Lins as he enters the cage against former Bellator and RIZIN veteran Satoshi Ishii at PFL 3. Last season’s light heavyweight runner-up Vinny Magalhaes will also begin his quest for redemption against Emiliano Sordi.
All three events will take place at NYCB Live on Long Island, N.Y.
Here is the first three fight cards:
PFL 1 – May 9
ESPN2
Kayla Harrison vs. Svetlana Khautova
Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. John Howard
Ray Cooper III vs. Zane Kamaka
Sarah Kaufman vs. Morgan Frier
Sadibou Sy vs. David Michaud
ESPN+
Handesson Ferreira vs. Bojan Velickovic
Genah Fabian vs. Bobbi Jo Dalziel
Gamzat Khiramagomedov vs. Glaico Franca
Andre Fialho vs. Chris Curtis
Larissa Pacheco vs. Roberta Samad
PFL 2 – May 23
ESPN+
Lance Palmer vs. Alex Gilpin
Chris Wade vs. Nate Andrews
Andre Harrison vs. TBD
Ramsey Nijem vs. Ronys Torres
Akhmed Aliev vs. Carlao Silva
Alexandre Almeida vs. Luis Rafael Laurentino
Islam Mamedov vs. Ylies Djiroun
Rashid Magomedov vs. Loik Radzhabov
ESPN2
Natan Schulte vs. Bao Yincang
Alexandre Bezerra vs. Jeremy Kennedy
Damon Jackson vs. Movlid Khaybulaev
Steven Siler vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
PFL 3 – June 6
ESPN+
Philipe Lins vs. Satoshi Ishii
Kelvin Tiller vs. Muhammed Dereese
Maxim Grishin vs. Jordan Johnson
Valdrin Istrefi vs. Ali Isaev
Rakim Cleveland vs. Viktor Nemkov
Ronny Markes vs. Sigi Pesaleli
Rashid Yusupov vs. Mikhail Mokhnatkin
Alex Nicholson vs. Francimar Barroso
ESPN2
Vinny Magalhaes vs. Emiliano Sordi
Dan Spohn vs. Bozigit Ataev
Jared Rosholt vs. Denis Goltsov
Ben Edwards vs. Ante Delija
UFC Fort Lauderdale Bonuses: Perry vs. Oliveira Takes Home Fight of the Night
(https:)‘Platinum’ Mike Perry struck gold Saturday night at UFC Fort Lauderdale, splitting Fight of the Night honors with Alex Oliveira.
including a middleweight main event that saw short-notice replacement Jack Hermansson get the better of veteran 185lb contender Jacare Souza. That upset, however, wasn’t the bout that took home Fight of the Night honors.
Instead, that was bestowed up the welterweight clash between Mike Perry and Alex Oliveira. It was the controversial but gritty Perry, in the end, getting his hand raised over Brazil’s ‘Cowboy,’ after an entertaining three rounds in which the Florida native tried for, but could not find, a finish.
Sean O’Malley, Nicco Montaño, two others suspended six months by USADA in contaminated supplement cases
(https:)Four UFC fighters have been suspended six months by USADA, all for testing positive for the banned substance ostarine, the UFC’s anti-doping partner announced Tuesday.
The four fighters were former UFC women’s flyweight champion Nicco Montaño, prospect Sean O’Malley, Augusto Mendes and Marvin Vettori. All had trace amounts of ostarine in their system in drug tests last year, which USADA says is consistent with supplement contamination. USADA found “no evidence of intentional use” in any of the four cases, per a release.
UFC on ESPN+ 8 pre-event facts: Jim Miller adds to record for most UFC fights
(https:)The UFC makes its return to Florida this weekend with UFC on ESPN+ 8, which takes place Saturday at BB&T Center in Sunrise with a main card that airs on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN and ESPN2.
A makeshift middleweight headliner is scheduled atop the card. Perennial contender Ronaldo Souza (26-6 MMA, 9-3 UFC) meets Jack Hermansson (19-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who steps in as a replacement for Yoel Romero, in a key 185-pound matchup.
The card has more to offer, though, including a pair of former UFC champions and a number of contenders. For all the numbers, check below for 60 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN+ 8.
Pedro Munhoz fined $2,500 for post-UFC 235 celebration
(https:)The Nevada Athletic Commission on Wednesday voted to fine UFC bantamweight Pedro Munhoz $2,500 plus attorney’s fees for his post-fight celebration at UFC 235.
Munhoz’s total bill comes to $2,827.06 after $327.06 in fees. The fines need to be paid before his temporary suspension is lifted, an NAC representative told MMA Junkie following an initial report from MMA Fighting.
Walt Harris accepts four-month USADA suspension
(https:)Walt Harris’s business with the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the California State Athletic Commission has been resolved.
On Monday, the USADA announced that Harris has accepted a four-month suspension for a positive drug test tied to his recent fight against Andrei Arlovski at UFC 232 in Inglewood, California, on Dec. 29, 2018. This is identical to the four-month suspension given to Harris by the CSAC, who also fined the UFC heavyweight $4,000.
UFC’s Darren Till arrested for allegedly stealing taxi, trashing hotel room
(https:)According to Spanish outlet ElDia.es, UFC fighter Darren Till was one of five British citizens arrested in Tenerife, Spain on Thursday for causing damage to a hotel and accidentally stealing a taxi.
Sources told the publication that the group broke furniture and emptied fire extinguishers at a lodging complex they were staying in. After being removed from the Costa Adeje premises, the group travelled to another hotel in nearby ??El Duque, but was refused rooms.
Rizin 15 card finalized
(https:)
Top of the Card:
Muhammed Lawal vs. Jiri Prochazka
Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Fritz Aldin Biagtan
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Ben Nguyen
Satoru Kitaoka vs. Roberto Satoshi Souza
Karl Albrektsson vs. Christiano Frohlich
RENA vs. Samantha Jean-Francois
Mikuru Asakura vs. Luiz Gustavo
Bottom of the card:
Kana Watanabe vs. Justyna Zofia Haba
Damien Brown vs. Koji Takeda
Manel Kape vs. Seiichiro Ito
Saray Orozco vs. Kanako Murata
TAIGA vs. Thallison Ferreira
B.J. Penn issued restraining order; mother of children alleges years of physical, sexual abuse
(https:)B.J. Penn is set to return at UFC 237 with an active restraining order against him.
Penn’s estranged partner, Shealen Uaiwa, first obtained a temporary restraining order and petition for an order of protection this past October in Hawaii Family Court, alleging the UFC Hall of Famer abused her over the course of their 10-year relationship. The order was extended after a hearing in February; it expires Oct. 8, 2021.
Jimmie Rivera vs. Petr Yan targeted for UFC 238
(https:)A veteran of the UFC’s bantamweight wars will take on one of the division’s fastest rising up-and-comers at UFC 238.
Jimmie Rivera will square off with Petr Yan on the June 8 card at United Center in Chicago. MMA Junkie confirmed with a person close to the situation following a Thursday ESPN report.
Rivera (22-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is looking to break out of a tough stretch in which he has dropped two out of his past three fights. The New Jersey native’s most recent bout was a unanimous-decision loss to Aljamain Sterling in Phoenix on Feb. 17.
Renato Moicano will replace Jose Aldo at UFC 237 if needed, wants Zabit or Ortega if not
(https:)Renato Moicano took some important learning lessons away from his loss to Jose Aldo earlier this year and hopes to get an opportunity to show those lessons against a top featherweight contender in the near future.
After putting himself on the cusp of a UFC title shot with a string of strong performances, Moicano (13-2-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) experienced a setback against former longtime 145-pound titleholder Aldo (28-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) when he was stopped by second-round TKO at UFC on ESPN+ 2 in February.
Full Fight Card Announced for Bellator 219 This Friday on Paramount Network
(https:)Complete Bellator 219: Awad vs. Girtz Main Card:
Lightweight Main Event: Saad Awad (23-10) vs. Brandon Girtz (15-8)
Lightweight Co-Main Event: Daniel Straus (24-8, 1 NC) vs. Shane Kruchten (12-4)
Welterweight Main Card Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (21-3) vs. Mike Jasper (13-4)
Middleweight Main Card Bout: Joe Schilling (3-5) vs. Keith Berry (15-14-1, 1 NC)
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joey Davis (4-0) vs. Marcus Anthony (1-0)
Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Dalton Rosta (Pro Debut) vs. Cody Vidal (1-1)
Post-lim Card:
Bantamweight Undercard Bout: Shawn Bunch (8-3) vs. Dominic Mazzotta (14-2)
Welterweight Undercard Bout: David Rickels (20-5, 2 NC) vs. A.J. Matthews (9-8)
Women’s Featherweight Undercard Bout: Janay Harding (4-3) vs. Marina Mokhnatkina (4-1)
140-lb. Catchweight Undercard Bout: Weber Almeida (2-0) vs. Johnny Soto (Pro Debut)
Lightweight Undercard Bout: Joshua Jones (8-3) vs. Darren Smith Jr. (15-10)
Welterweight Undercard Bout: Johnny Cisneros (12-6) vs. John Mercurio (8-8)
Bantamweight Undercard Bout: Rickey Furar (3-1) vs. Roman Puga (1-0)
165-lb. Catchweight Undercard Bout: David Pacheco (1-0) vs. Kelvin Gentapanan (Pro Debut)
Lightweight Undercard Bout: Sunni Imhotep (Pro Debut) vs. Eugene Correa (0-1)
Amanda Nunes vs. Holly Holm in the works to headline UFC 237 in Brazil
(https:)Amanda Nunes could be defending her UFC women’s bantamweight belt against Holly Holm next.
Two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes will apparently defend her bantamweight title in May.
Just over month after knocking out then-women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, Nunes’ next fight is being lined up. According to Combate’s report, the UFC is working to book the ‘Lioness’ against Holly Holm at UFC 237. This news comes just one day after Dana White said Holm vs. Aspen Ladd was not happening at UFC 235.
Former UFC welterweight champions Tyron Woodley, Robbie Lawler set for June rematch
(https:)A pair of former welterweight champions will square off in a June 29 rematch as Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler have agreed verbally to meet at UFC Fight Night in Minneapolis.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the news to ESPN's Brett Okamoto on Wednesday with the bout scheduled to headline an ESPN card at Target Center.
Woodley (19-4-1) signed on for a relatively quick return after losing his 170-pound title via dominant decision loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 on March 2. The loss snapped a seven-fight unbeaten streak for the 36-year-old Woodley.
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