PFL announces featherweight, light heavyweight playoff matchups for San Antonio
The semifinal fights are set for the PFL’s 2023 postseason at featherweight and light heavyweight.
The promotion announced the two playoff pairings in those two divisions. The semifinal winners at the playoff event, which is set for Aug. 4 at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, will meet in the $1 million finals later this year.
In the main event, top-seeded featherweight Bubba Jenkins (21-6) will take on Jesus Pinedo (21-6-1) in one semifinal at 145 pounds. On the other side of the bracket, Gabriel Braga (11-0) meets fellow unbeaten Movlid Khaybulaev (21-0-1). Khaybulaev won the featherweight season in 2021.
In the co-main event, top seeded light heavyweight Josh Silveira (11-1) fights Ty Flores (13-4). And across from them in the 205-pound bracket, Marthin Hamlet (12-4) takes on Impa Kasanganay (13-3).
At featherweight, Jenkins, Braga and Khaybulaev each went 2-0 in the regular season. Jenkins and Braga both finished with 9 points, but Jenkins is in the top-seeded spot. He had a 3-point decisino win over Chris Wade in April, then a 6-point rear-naked choke finish of Sung Bin Jo earlier this month to punch his ticket to the playoffs and, ultimately, the top seed.
At light heavyweight, top-seeded Silveira was one of only three fighters all regular season to have 12 points from two first-round finishes. Hamlet’s No. 2 seed came with 9 points, and Kasanganay and Flores got in with 5 points each – including from just one win for Kasanganay.
The card also features a half-dozen showcase bouts down the card.
The 2023 PFL Playoffs 1 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
- No. 1 Bubba Jenkins vs. No. 4 Jesus Pinedo – featherweight semifinal
- No. 1 Josh Silveira vs. No. 4 Ty Flores – light heavyweight semifinal
- No. 2 Gabriel Braga vs. No. 3 Movlid Khaybulaev – featherweight semifinal
- No. 2 Marthin Hamlet vs. No. 3 Impa Kasanganay – light heavyweight semifinal
- Keoni Diggs vs. Elvin Espinoza
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)
- Thad Jean vs. Ali Omar
- Lisa Mauldin vs. Desiree Yanez
- Satoshi Ishi vs. Danilo Marques
- Ky Bennett vs. Chelsea Hackett
- Chuck Campbell vs. Billy Elekana