The second half of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) 2023 season returns TONIGHT (Thurs., June 8, 2023) from inside Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Ga., with the Light Heavyweights and Featherweights taking the cage in hopes of winning $1 million at the end of the season later this year. For most fighters, it is win or go home.
In the main event, Brendan Loughnane — PFL’s 2022 Featherweight champion — takes on Jesus Pinedo, while in the co-main, Movlid Khaybulaev — PFL’s 2021 Featherweight champion — locks horns with Tyler Diamond.
Many readers check in before, during, and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET with “Prelims” on ESPN+ and then transition to ESPN/ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET for main card action. Feel free to leave a comment (or several) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
PFL 4 Play-By-Play (Watch on ESPN+):
Brendan Loughnane vs. Jesus Pinedo
Round one: Brendan Loughnane started with his infamous calf kicks against Jesus Pinedo. A minute into the fight Pinedo landed a punch that stumbled Loughnane. A few seconds later Pineda landed a knee followed by a punch and knocked Loughnane out!!!
Jesus Pineda knocks out Brendan Loughnane!!!!pic.twitter.com/Zh0BK9kUAm
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 9, 2023
Final result: Jesus Pineda defeats Brendan Loughnane via knockout (knee & punch) Round 1, 1: 34
Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Tyler Diamond
Round one: No touch of gloves for Movlid Khaybulaev and Tyler Diamond. About a minute into the fight, Khaybulaev cracked Diamond with a left hook and barely missed with a flying knee.
Movlid Khaybulaev wobbles Tyler Diamond! Diamond survives...#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 9, 2023
ESPN & ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/ImWX2WCTCM
Diamond shot for a takedown with less than two minutes but Khaybulaev sprawled.
The round ended with Khaybulaev finally landing the flying knee he was looking for. Diamond was saved by the bell.
Movlid Khaybulaev lands a knee on Diamond and Tyler is saved by the bell. We go to the 2nd round!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 9, 2023
ESPN & ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/WmEs0ysKZR
Round two: The second round started with Khaybulaev landing a takedown immediately. With a minute of control, Khaybulaev attempted an arm-triangle but Diamond defended. With 50 seconds left, Khaybulaev went back to the arm triangle and ended up submitting Diamond.
Movlid Khaybulaev taps Tyler Diamond in the second round!
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 9, 2023
pic.twitter.com/yRoxmWuqVK
Final result: Movlid Khaybulaev defeats Tyler Diamond via submission (arm triangle) Round 2, 4:23
Marthin Hamlet vs. Sam Kei
Round one: Marthin Hamlet blitzed Sam Kei after a touch of gloves putting him against the fence and eventually taking him down. Hamlet jumped on Kei’s back as soon as he had the chance, but Kei defended face cranks and got back to his feet.
Marthin Hamlet has Kei's back! Will Hamlet finish the fight?#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 9, 2023
ESPN & ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/3L6WlxAi4z
The round ended with Kei landing a right hand and attempting a flying knee.
Round 2: The second round started with Hamlet landing a punch that looked to stun Kei. Hamlet put Kei against the fence and took him down. Hamlet took Kei’s back and ended up in a very similar situation as round one, this time with a body triangle. With 2:14 left, Kei escaped and got back to his feet, however, he ended up on the ground again shortly after.
With Hamlet going to the 2nd round, Josh Silveira clinches the #1 seed!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 9, 2023
ESPN & ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/CoGGkdtBxi
Round 3: The third round saw Hamlet and Kei dance around the smart cage throwing jabs but not much else. The commentary said they think Hamlet suffered a right-hand injury.
Final result: Marthin Hamlet defeats Sam Kei via unanimous decision (29x28, 29x28, 29x28)
Bubba Jenkins vs. Jo Sungbin
Round one: After a touch of gloves, Bubba Jenkins charged in on Jo Sungbin. He ate a punch but ended up getting the takedown and a few seconds later landed a nasty suplex. Jenkins ended up on Sungbin’s back and choked him unconscious.
Bubba Jenkins suplexes and then puts Jo Sungbin to sleep in the first round pic.twitter.com/6OCaVBdh0W
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 9, 2023
Final result: Bubba Jenkins defeats Jo Sungbin via submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1, 1:25
Josh Silveira vs. Delan Monte
Round one: Josh Silveira was very aggressive for as long as the fight lasted, throwing 10 kicks ranging from head kicks, teeps, and low kicks.
The fight ended with a leg injury when Silveira shot in for a takedown.
Unfortunate situation in our opening bout. Delan Monte suffers an injury. This one is over.#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 9, 2023
ESPN & ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/CnDvzCIO44
Final result: Josh Silveira defeats Delan Monte via TKO (leg injury) Round 1, 1:30
PFL 4 Quick Results (Watch on ESPN+):
Jesus Pineda defeats Brendan Loughnane via knockout (knee & punch) Round 1, 1: 34
Movlid Khaybulaev defeats Tyler Diamond via submission (arm triangle) Round 2, 4:23
Marthin Hamlet defeats Sam Kei via unanimous decision (29x28, 29x28, 29x28)
Bubba Jenkins defeats Jo Sungbin via submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1, 1:25
Josh Silveira defeats Delan Monte via TKO (leg injury) Round 1, 1:30
Gabriel Braga defeats Marlon Moraes via knockout (punch) Round 1, 3:02
Gabriel Braga knocks out Marlon Moraespic.twitter.com/r75e6EDCvL
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 9, 2023
Ty Flores defeats Dan Spohn via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Dan Spohn needs a finish and starts the 3rd round swinging!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 9, 2023
ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/QCAnG2A62o
Chris Wade defeats Ryoji Kudo via submission (guillotine choke) Round 1, 4:51
Chris Wade puts Ryoji Kido to sleep!!!! pic.twitter.com/99pyWMt0qD
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 9, 2023
Impa Kasanganay defeats Tim Caron via submission (arm triangle) Round 2, 3:52
Impa Kasanganay gets the submission in the 2nd Round! 5 Point Finish for "Tshilobo"#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 9, 2023
ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/vqPjVE6kq4
Impa Kasanganay landing big shots in the 2nd Round #PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 9, 2023
ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/vIArAClv6D
Andrew Sanchez defeats Taylor Johnson via split decision (29-27, 27-29, 29-27)
Andrew Sanchez picks up the split decision victory over Taylor Johnson and earns 3 points in the Light Heavyweight standings#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 8, 2023
ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/LcVOEgIGjM
Slick move by Taylor Johnson, but Andrew Sanchez is able to end up on top #PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 8, 2023
ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/dw1eSAjUSi
OOF, clear illegal knee lands by Johnson. Andrew Sanchez recovers. Taylor is deducted 1 point#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 8, 2023
ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/5sfJLHhImM
Abigail Montes defeats Brandy Hester via TKO Round 1, 3:06
Abigail Montes pummels Brandy Hester to ear the 1st round stoppage!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 8, 2023
ESPN+
https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/N69c6wDUdO
Alexei Pergande defeats Akeem Bashir via submission (D’Arce choke) Round 1, 3:40
First round finish for Alexei Pergande pic.twitter.com/YX4h0VRhIU
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 8, 2023
For more PFL 4 2023 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive archive right here.
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