The PFL’s 2023 Playoffs have finally arrived, with light heavyweights and men’s featherweights set to compete for a chance at championship gold on Friday, August 4 at the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas.
The card’s headlining bout will see last year’s featherweight runner-up Bubba Jenkins take on Jesus Pinedo. The latter is competing in his first PFL season and scored a surprise knockout of 2022 champion Brendan Loughnane back in June to book his spot in the playoffs.
In a heated main event, Bubba Jenkins will lock horns against Jesus Pinedo with a #PFLWorldChampionship spot on the line
[ Friday, August 4th | 6:30ET on ESPN+ | 9pm ET on ESPN | #PFLPlayoffs] pic.twitter.com/J0uJBUaYql
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 4, 2023
Josh Silveira collected 12 points during this year’s PFL Regular Season to secure the top seed in the light heavyweight division. In tonight’s co-main event he’ll have a difficult test when Ty Flores tries to extend his four-fight winning streak after earning a pair of decisions in his first two PFL bouts.
In the Co-Main Event, @jmdasilv battles Ty Flores in the 2nd Light Heavyweight Semifinal bout!
[ Friday, August 4th | 6:30ET on ESPN+ | 9pm ET on ESPN | #PFLPlayoffs] pic.twitter.com/qRwCb2ZVny
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 4, 2023
The rest of the playoff bouts include longtime PFL veteran Chris Wade stepping in to replace the injured Movlid Khaybulaev and face unbeaten Gabriel Alves Braga in a featherweight contest, as well as Marthin Hamlet taking on PFL Challenger Series contract winner Impa Kasanganay to see which fighter will compete for the season’s light heavyweight title.
Unbeaten lightweight Elvin Espinoza will kick off the event’s main card against Bellator veteran Keoni Diggs, and the night’s prelims also include some intriguing matchups such as Thad Jean putting his undefeated record on the line when he meets Ali Omar in a welterweight contest.
⚖️Jesus Pinedo weighs in over the 146 pound limit for his 2023 Featherweight Semifinal bout
[ Friday, August 4th | 6:30ET on ESPN+ | 9pm ET on ESPN | #PFLPlayoffs] pic.twitter.com/bofCKcCVuT
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 3, 2023
Jesus Pinedo and Keoni Diggs each missed weight by 0.4 pounds ahead of the event. Their bouts with Bubba Jenkins and Elvin Espinoza will proceed as scheduled, but both men will forfeit 20% of their purse to their opponents. Pinedo will also be docked one point from the PFL’s playoff scoring, which could jeopardize his chances of making the finals if his fight with Jenkins goes the distance.
You can check out the full card for 2023 PFL 7 below, and be sure to check back with MMA News for all of the results and highlights from the event!
Main Card (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, ESPN)
• Featherweight Main Event: Bubba Jenkins vs. Jesus Pinedo
• Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Josh Silveira vs. Ty Flores
• Featherweight Bout: Gabriel Braga vs. Chris Wade
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Impa Kasanganay def. Marthin Hamlet via KO: R1, 2:24
• Lightweight Bout: Elvin Espinoza def. Keoni Diggs via Unanimous Decision (29-28×3)
Preliminary Card (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, ESPN+)
• Welterweight Bout: Thad Jean def. Ali Omar via TKO: R1, 1:54
• Flyweight Bout: Lisa Mauldin def. Desiree Yanez via Submission (Rear Naked Choke): R1,
• Welterweight Bout: Anthony Ivy def. Carson Hardman via Submission (Rear Naked Choke): R1, 2:34
• Flyweight Bout: Chelsea Hackett def. Ky Bennet via Submission (Rear Naked Choke): R2, 4:42
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Billy Elekana def. Chuck Campbell via Split Decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
