NEW YORK – The Professional Fighters League continued the 2023 PFL playoffs with an action-packed night of fights live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The evening’s card featured four playoff bouts across the heavyweight and women’s featherweight divisions.
In the night’s main event, Renan Ferreira clinched a spot in the $1 million PFL World Championship with a first round knockout of Maurice Greene. Ferreira dominated the action and now takes aim at Denis Goltsov and a PFL world heavyweight championship.
In the evening’s co-main event, top-seeded Larissa Pacheco needed just 14 seconds, a PFL women’s record, to dominate Olena Kolesnyk. The TKO victory returns Pacheco to the $1 million PFL World Championship, where she will look to become the first two-division women’s champion when she faces Marina Mokhnatkina.
In heavyweight playoff action, Goltsov punched his ticket to the 2023 PFL World Championship with a dominant first-round submission victory over Jordan Heiderman. Goltsov, now 32-7, heads to the PFL World Championship for the first time.
2023 PFL playoff action kicked off in the women’s featherweight division with a record setting performance by Mokhnatkina, who submitted Amber Leibrock with an armbar at 1:45 of the first round, marking the fastest submission in PFL women’s history. The submission victory puts Mokhnatkina a step closer to a PFL World Championship.
“Tonight, four remarkable fighters continued their million dollar PFL championship dreams,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “We look forward to our final PFL playoff event this Wednesday, August 23, which will determine the remaining matchups in the 2023 PFL World Championship.”
“Tonight, the PFL once again provided fans around the world with can’t-miss action,” said PFL president of fighter operations Ray Sefo. “Congratulations to the four athletes who punched their tickets to the 2023 PFL World Championship.”
In the first main card bout on ESPN, 2023 PFL Challenger Series alum Nathan Kelly turned in a dominant performance defeating Damion Nelson by unanimous decision. The victory was Kelly’s eighth straight.
In a heavyweight showcase bout, Danilo Marques used his reach and striking to keep Satoshi Ishii at bay for three rounds winning by unanimous decision and earning his 15th career victory.
Kicking off the card on ESPN+, Maira Mazar defeated Kaytlin “Katniss” Neil by split decision, improving her career record to 9-6.
The PFL will continue 2023 playoff action again from The Theater at Madison Square Garden for the final playoff event Wednesday, August 23. Eight fighters across the welterweight and lightweight divisions will enter the PFL SmartCage in pursuit of a 2023 PFL World Championship opportunity.
All 2023 PFL Playoff events are live on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+ and ESPN3, as well as on premier global distribution partner platforms reaching 160 countries around the world.
2023 PFL 8 results include:
MAIN CARD
- Renan Ferreira def. Maurice Greene via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:46 – heavyweight semifinal bout
- Larissa Pacheco def. Olena Kolesynk via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:14 – women’s featherweight semifinal bout
- Denis Goltsov def. Jordan Heiderman via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 4:16
- Marina Mokhnatkina def. Amber Leibrock via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:45
- Nathan Kelly def. Damion Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Danilo Marques def. Satoshi Isii via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Maira Mazar def. Kaytlin Neil via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
