ORLANDO, Fla. – The Professional Fighters League Challenger Series resumed action tonight from Universal Studios in a heavyweight division showcase, with Adam Keresh earning a PFL contract.
Judges Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort and Lolo Jones were in agreement with the fans and gave the nod to Keresh, who became the seventh Challenger Series fighter to receive a PFL contract. He joins week 5 lightweight Bruno Miranda, week 4 welterweight Boston Salmon, week 3 women’s lightweight fighter Martina Jindrova, week 2 welterweight fighters Jarrah Al-Silawi and Chris Mixan, as well as week 1 light heavyweight winner Bruce Souto.
In his U.S. debut, Keresh made quick work of Chad Johnson in the SmartCage with a first-round TKO. The Tel-Aviv native kept his record perfect at 5-0, with all five of his wins coming by way of knockout.
In the evening’s main event, Marcelo Nunes defeated Bevon Lewis via second-round submission. Nunes, who had some trouble in the first round, fought back valiantly in the second to secure his eighth career victory, his third as a heavyweight. Nunes, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, won a masters world title in the sport in 2018.
The co-main event saw Giacomo Lemos TKO Billy Swanson in the second round of his U.S. debut. Lemos remains undefeated with a record of 8-0, and six of those wins coming via knockout. Fighting runs in Lemos’ blood: His father is a judo master who met his mother while coaching. She competed while two months pregnant with Giacomo and won a national Championship.
Kicking off the heavyweight action on fuboTV, Daiqwon Buckley faced off against Jon Cunningham. Buckley, a former police officer, defeated Cunningham by second-round TKO, his first pro knockout. The result moved his overall record to 2-0 since his 2021 professional debut.
“The Professional Fighters League Challenger Series continues to disrupt the landscape of MMA,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said. “The PFL delivers fast paced action with the highest of stakes. Adam Keresh, welcome to the PFL.”
“The Heavyweights brought hard-hitting action to the PFL Challenger Series,” PFL president of fighter operations Ray Sefo said. “The PFL is a league of merit, giving deserving fighters the opportunity to earn a life-changing PFL contract. Congratulations to Adam, you earned your PFL contract.”
The PFL Challenger Series returns to Universal Studios next Friday night, April 1, with a card featuring top athletes making their professional MMA debuts. Headlining the card is a welterweight bout with Andrija Stankovic from Serbia taking on American Louis Brewington. The five-bout card includes matchups in the featherweight, lightweight, heavyweight and welterweight divisions with each fighter given a shot to earn a contract to the 2022 PFL Regular Season.
PFL Challenger Series 6 results include:
- Marcelo Nunes def. Bevon Lewis via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 2:39
- Giacomo Lemos def. Billy Swanson via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:33
- Adam Keresh def. Chad Johnson via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:34
- Daiqwon Buckley def. Jon Cunningham via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:46
