The 2023 PFL 5 takes place on Thursday and MMA Junkie will be presenting live and official scores throughout the entire card.
The event features women’s heavyweight and featherweight competitions taking place at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. The main card airs on ESPN at 10 PM ET after the pre-shows on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 PM ET.
In the main event, 2022 heavyweight champion Ante DeLiga (23-5) faces Maurice Greene (11-7). Delija will compete for the first time in 2023 after pulling out of his first scheduled round of the 2023 PFL 2 season in April. In the same event, Green picked up a second-round stoppage win over Marcelo Nunes to earn five points in the standings.
In the combined feature, 2022 women’s featherweight season winner Larissa Pacheco (20-4) meets Amber LeBrock (7-4). In her first fight of the season, Pacheco earned a unanimous decision win over Julia Budd in the 2023 PFL 2. LeBrock scored a first-round finisher to Martina Gindrova to earn six points, entering the event as the division leader.
The full 2023 PFL 5 results include:
Patrick Brady vs. Jordan Heidermann
Records: Jordan Heidermann (7-1) Patrick Brady (5-1)
to divide: heavy weight
Broadcasting: ESPN+
to rule: Rob Hinds
a result: Jordan Heiderman def. Patrick Brady via TKO (injury) – 1st round, 2:26
points: 6
Notes: It was a low production fight that mainly involved leg kicks from both ends. In the ending sequence, Heiderman kicked Brady’s right leg and started jumping off the opposite leg in pain and went down. Immediately, the referee stopped the match.
Heiderman now has six points after the end of the first round, as he had no entry into the fight.
Heiderman will have to wait and see other results to determine if he makes the playoffs.#PFLRegularSeason live now
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/WOMev1NVuM– PFL (PFLMMA) June 16, 2023
Yoko Higashi vs. Olena Kolesnik
Records: Olena Kolesnik (8-5), Yoko Higashi (8-3)
to divide: featherweight
Broadcasting: ESPN+
to rule: Gary Copeland
a result: Olena Kolesnik defeated. Yoko Higashi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
points: 3
Notes: Kolesnyk dominated Higashi from start to finish. In the clinch, in the grapple and in strikes, Kolesnik seemed to be one step ahead. Kolesnyk earned three points with the win, for a total of five points for the entire season. Eliminate Higashi.
#PFLRegularSeason live now
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/M6np2NcjlQ– PFL (PFLMMA) June 16, 2023
Julia Budd vs. Martina Gindrova
Records: Julia Budd (17-6), Martina Gindrova (6-5)
to divide: featherweight
Broadcasting: ESPN+
to rule: Blake Grace
a result: Julia Budd Dave. Martina Gindrova via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
points: 3
Notes: It was a close fight. Jindrova bode wiggled and made it onto the skates in the first, making it an obvious run for her. The second and third were much closer, with Budd turning up their volume. Commentators scored the fight for Jindrova and Smart Cage scored the fight for Budd.
Budd had three points and totaled three points for the season. Jindrova is eliminated from the competition, as she has a zero.
Julia Budd gets a nod over Martina Gindrova as she takes home 3 spots in the women’s featherweight standings!#PFLRegularSeason live now
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/fxGCk7tWZs– PFL (PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Daniel Marks vs. Marcelo Nunes
Records: Marcelo Nunes (10-2), Danilo Marquez (14-5)
to divide: heavy weight
Broadcasting: ESPN+
to rule: Rob Hinds
a result: Marcelo Nunes defeated. Danilo Marquez by knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:40
points: 6
Notes: Nunes put it right from the start. He was dismantling Marquez on his feet and eventually managed to find a home for the two straight punches connecting with Marquez. Once Nunes wiggles, I follow up with two hooks that send him to the canvas.
Nunes now has six total points on the season, and Marquez’s three.
Marcelo Nunes DROPS Marques and gets 6 points in the heavyweight rankings!#PFLRegularSeason live now
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/tppLbzAqhG– PFL (PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Evelyn Martins vs. Marina El Makhanna
Records: Marina Makhnata (10-3) Evelyn Martins (5-1)
to divide: featherweight
Broadcasting: ESPN+
to rule: Gary Copeland
a result: Marina Mekhnatkinh defeated. Evelyn Martins via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
points: 3
Notes: Mukhnatke jumps to the top of the table with 8 points, knocking Martins out. Martins had three points in the fight, but was penalized by one point after losing weight on Thursday, putting her within two points.
Marina Makhanna is heading to #PFLPlayoffs! Congratulations Marina!#PFLRegularSeason live now
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/FCadMZyGuU– PFL (PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Jurgen DeCastro vs. Denis Goltsov
Records: Denis Goltsov (31-7), Jorgan de Castro (9-5)
to divide: heavy weight
Broadcasting: ESPN+
to rule: Blake Grace
a result: Denis Goltsov defeated. Jorgan de Castro by knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:18
points: 6
Notes: Goltsov landed a couple of jabs to fight from the start and then delivered a vicious right hand that sent De Castro to the canvas. Brutal victory by KO by Goltsov.
Goltsov now has 12 points, taking two places in the first round. De Castro was eliminated, losing his season match.
Denis Goltsov Trouble!
Goltsov locks him up #PFLPlayoffs Spot and seed number 1!#PFLRegularSeason live now
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/LYIN9p7rXK– PFL (PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Aspen Ladd vs. Carolina Sobek
Records: Aspen Ladd (11-4) Karolina Sobeck (4-2)
to divide: featherweight
Broadcasting: ESPN/ESPN+
to rule: Gary Copeland
a result: Aspen Lade def. Karolina Sobek via submission (arm bar) – Round 2, 4:57
points: 5
Notes: Ladd was badly wounded and stunned in the first seconds of the fight. She was closing the distance and surviving, and from then on she took over the fight. She was finding success on her feet, but her grappling was the big key in the fight. In the second round, Ladd would knock down Sobek and move up to go up and score tape with seconds left on the clock.
Ladd went in without points, and had a five-point finish tonight in the playoffs. Sobek went 0-2 and was eliminated.
With seconds left… ASPEN LADD’S GOING TO #PFLPLAYOFFS!#PFLRegularSeason live now
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/VP1vKcJmWK– PFL (PFLMMA) June 17, 2023
Travel Miller vs. Piaggio Ali Walsh (amateur)
Records: Travel Miller (amatueur), Piaggio Ali Walsh (amateur)
to divide: Lightweight
Broadcasting: ESPN/ESPN+
to rule: Rob Hinds
a result:
points:
Notes:
Renan Ferrara vs. Matthews Scheffel
Records: Renan Ferreira (9-4) Mateus Scheffel (10-17)
to divide: heavy weight
Broadcasting: ESPN/ESPN+
to rule:
a result:
points:
Notes:
Amber LeBrock vs. Larissa Pacheco
Records: Amber LeBrock (7-4), Larissa Pacheco (20-4)
to divide:
Broadcasting: ESPN/ESPN+
to rule:
a result:
points:
Notes:
Ante Delia vs. Morris Green
Records: Ante Delia (23-5), Morris Green (11-7)
to divide: heavy weight
Broadcasting: ESPN/ESPN+
to rule:
a result:
points:
Notes:
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