Heavyweights and women’s featherweights clinched spots in the 2023 PFL Playoffs with a slew of impressive performances.
Delija withdrew from his first scheduled fight of 2023 due to lingering injury issues. He was slated to face Yorgan De Castro and entered PFL 5 with zero points in the PFL heavyweight standings.
In order to move on to the PFL Playoffs, Delija needed a ‘quick six’ showing on Friday night. He failed to finish Maurice Greene and is eliminated from the 2023 PFL Playoffs.
Delija might still have a chance to compete in the postseason as an alternate if any of the four semifinalists withdraw.
"Walking Trouble" checks in w/ Dan Hardy before his Main Event bout tomorrow night!
[Fri, June 16th | 6:30ET on ESPN+ | 10pm ET on ESPN | #PFLRegularSeason] pic.twitter.com/2lM6AcABo2
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 15, 2023
Heavyweights weren’t the only ones fighting with a lot on the line in Atlanta. Women’s featherweights, including co-main event fighters Larissa Pacheco and Amber Leibrock, battled for one of the four playoff spots.
Pacheco knocked out Leibrock just seconds into the first round in the co-main event. She has the opportunity to earn a second-straight PFL title.
Aspen Ladd clinched a spot in the PFL Playoffs with a second-round submission win over Karolina Sobek. This is Ladd’s first regular season in the PFL after a long tenure in the UFC.
Check out the full results and highlights from an exciting night at PFL 5.
2023 PFL 5 Full Card
Main Card (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, ESPN/ESPN+)
Heavyweight Main Event: Ante Delija def. Maurice Greene via unanimous decisionFeatherweight (W) Co-Main Event: Larissa Pacheco def. Amber Leibrock by TKO (1st round, punches)Heavyweight: Renan Ferreira def. Matheus Scheffel via knockout (1st round, punch)Amateur Lightweight Bout: Biaggio Ali-Walsh def. Travell Miller via knockout (1st round, punches)
Preliminary Card (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, ESPN+)
Featherweight (W): Aspen Ladd def. Karolina Sobek (2nd round, submission)Heavyweight Bout: Denis Goltsov def. Yorgan De Castro via knockout (1st round, punch)Featherweight (W): Marina Mokhnatkina def. Evelyn Martins via unanimous decisionHeavyweight: Marcelo Nunes def. Danilo Marques via TKO (1st round, punch)Featherweight (W): Julia Budd def. Martina Jindrova via unanimous decisionFeatherweight (W): Olena Kolesnyk def. Yoko Higashi via unanimous decisionHeavyweight: Jordan Heiderman def. Patrick Brady via TKO (1st round, leg kick)Heavyweight: Isaiah Pinson def. Denzel Freeman via split decision
Highlights
Isaiah Pinson def. Denzel Freeman
Pinson lands on Freeman!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/Rya64MExEu
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 16, 2023
Jordan Heiderman def. Patrick Brady
Jordan Heiderman batters Brady's legs and gets the TKO stoppage in the 1st round!
He will have to wait in the Bud Light fighters lounge as this win does not auto-clinch a #PFLPlayoffs Berth#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/xzD1A7CuQC
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 16, 2023
Olena Kolesnyk def. Yoko Higashi
Olena Kolesnyk is on the attack! She needs the finish this round to clinch a #PFLPlayoffs berth!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/n4jAii9ggm
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 16, 2023
We go to the 3rd round… even with a Win for Olena Kolesnyk she will have to wait for more fight results to come in to earn a #PFLPlayoffs berth#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/B7TrqHJzox
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 16, 2023
Julia Budd def. Marina Jindrová
Martina Jindrova lands on Julia Budd but Budd is able to recover!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/9qD9M3n8mn
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Marcelo Nunes def. Danilo Marques
Marcelo Nunes DROPS Marques and gets 6 points in the Heavyweight standings!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/tppLbzAqhG
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Marina Mokhnatkina def. Evelyn Martins
Martins goes for a guillotine but Marina survives!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/4dOPSGHjy8
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Marina Mokhnatkina blitzes Martins to start the 3rd round! #PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/4AhO68Q2EF
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Denis Goltsov def. Yorgan De Castro
DENIS GOLTSOV IS A PROBLEM!
Goltsov locks up his #PFLPlayoffs spot and the #1 seed!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/LYIN9p7rXK
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Aspen Ladd def. Karolina Sobek
Karolina Sobek DROPS Aspen Ladd in the opening seconds of 1st round! Ladd recovers…#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/vtLA0mnFa2
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Aspen Ladd ends the 1st round on Sobek's back! How do you score that 1st round?#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/q2e3g5lOUp
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
WIth seconds to spare… ASPEN LADD IS GOING TO THE #PFLPLAYOFFS!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/VP1vKcJmWK
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Renan Ferreira def. Matheus Scheffel
💣💣 RENAN FERREIRA IS GOING TO THE #PFLPLAYOFFS!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/tXnFGwfGNG
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Biaggio Ali-Walsh def. Travell Miller
BIAGGIO! 1st Round Finish! He improves his amateur record to 4-1!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/IsmM5ta6yQ
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Renan Ferreira def. Matheus Scheffel
Renan Ferreira is #PFLPlayoffs bound!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/apZjnjpln1
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Larissa Pacheco def. Amber Leibrock
No one can stop Larissa Pacheco!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/g7Q2JBNylr
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Ante Delija def. Maurice Greene
We go to the 2nd round!
Ante Delija is officially eliminated from making the #PFLPlayoffs. #PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/t6UH7PQftQ
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
"Don't talk to me… Stay focused" – Jon Jones#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/Z6TneKxyMM
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
