OFFICIAL: PFL San Antonio’s Featherweights and Light Heavyweights are set to book their ticket into 2023
#PFLWorldChampionship 🏆💰[Fri, August 4th |#PFLPlayoffs
| 🎟️https://t.co/FD4ZBDPl3o]
pic.twitter.com/GeZw1elvmX– PFL (PFLMMA)
June 29, 2023
The first of the three PFL Qualifier events is now available on the books. According to a release from the show on Thursday, she packed the bills Aug. 4 at the Boeing Center at TechPort in San Antonio, Texas. Featherweight and Light Heavyweight semi-final matches are scheduled over the PFL 7:2023 qualifying event, along with six additional “exhibition” matches to prepare for future tournaments or even a potential Challenger Series. The company will then switch gears after this playoff card for two shows in New York later in the month.
Headlining the evening will be an ESPN-based 145-pound semifinal match between top seed Bubba Jenkins (21-6) and no. 4 seed Jesus Penedo (21-6-1) is on one side of the featherweight bracket. Jenkins is one of three men in his weight class to win twice this season, with a retaliatory decision on perennial playoff contender Chris Wade, followed by an unconscious rear choke on Song Bin Joo to collect nine points. Peru’s Pinedo has had his hand raised once in 2023, but it came at the biggest moment possible when he squashed former champ Brendan Lovnan in 94 seconds.
The combined main attraction occurs at 205 pounds, as top seed Joshua Silvera (11-1) battles fourth seed Ty Flores (13-4). One of only three competitors this season to have a 12-point maximum thanks to two first-round finishes, Silvera choked Sam Key and followed it up with a win over Dylan Monti when the Brazilian injured his knee at the 90-second mark. While Flores also has two wins this season, he did so by decision against Monty and Dan Spoon. The latter came after he lost 5.2 pounds and was deducted one playoff spot, but he kept going.
The other semi-final pairings are as follows: Gabriel Braga (11-0) vs. Movled Khaibulaev (21-0-1, 1 NC), both featherweights post undefeated records and have plenty to win or lose; and Marthin Hamlet (12-4) against Impa Kasanganay (13-3), with the former picking up two wins including a finish along the way and the latter making his way to the 205lb bracket after smothering Tim Carron for a five point-clinching performance. It should also be noted that the organization has scheduled fights in the burgeoning women’s flyweight class up front.
PFL Playoffs Ranking 7, 2023:
Bubba Jenkins vs Jesus Penedo – Featherweight Semi-Final
Joshua Silvera vs Ty Flores – Light Heavyweight Semi-Final
Gabriel Braga vs Movled Khaibolaive – Featherweight Semi-Final
Martin Hamlet vs. Impa Kasanganay – Light Heavyweight Semi-Final
Elvin Espinoza vs. Keoni Diggs – Lightweight
Thad Jan vs. Ali Omar – Welterweight
Desiree Yanez vs Lisa Mauldin – Women’s Flyweight
Satoshi Ishii vs. Danilo Marquez – Heavyweight
Chelsea Hackett vs. Key Bennett – Women’s Flyweight
Billy Elekana vs Chuck Campbell – Light Heavyweight