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PFL 2 | 3 Fights You Don’t Want To Miss

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This coming Thursday, the cage doors down in Arlington, Texas, will once again be locked shut for PFL 2, the next card of the 2022 season. A Heavyweight bout between Bruno Cappelozza and Stuart Austin tops the card, with unmissable scraps scattered throughout.

Last Wednesday, PFL kicked off their 2022 season with a staggering opening card, with the main event resulting in a fight of the year contender between Jeremy Stephens and Clay Collard. Also on the blockbuster opener was debuting, Simeon Powell, who scored a beautiful fadeaway knee KO over Clinton Williams.

The quick turnaround sees another electrifying card on paper with more points up for grabs, this time in the Featherweight and Heavyweight Division, with all 10 fighters from both divisions in action. Last seasons Featherweight champion, Movlid Khaybulaev, will not be taking part in this season due to injury, pathing the path for a new Featherweight king to be crowned. Current Heavyweight champion, Bruno Cappelozza, will look to yet again be the beneficiary of $1 million, when he looks to retain his Heavyweight title.

(Credit: Instagram: @PFLMMA): The prelims to kick off PFL 2 2022

Bubba Jenkins vs Kyle Bochniak – Featherweights

Any fight that includes the name, Kyle Bochniak, should automatically send goosebumps down your spine. The former UFC fighter has a taste for war, and not only that, he has a chin made of granite. One of his most memorable fights was against Zabit Magomedsharipov. Throughout their fight, Bochniak was walking down and stalking the Dagestani native, showing tremendous heart, despite losing the bout. Showing heart and walking down his opponent is a running theme in any of Bochniak’s fights. The fight will be Bochniak’s first under the PFL banner, with the 35-year-old fully prepared to show off his crisp boxing. On the other side stands, Bubba Jenkins. The 34-year-old is looking to go one better than last seasons outing, and this time, be crowned the Featherweight champion. During the 2021 season, Jenkins totted up wins over Lance Palmer and Bobby Moffett, booking his place in the Featherweight tournament. The former NCAA Division 1 Wrestling champion will look to implement his wrestling dominant background, and hope to start the season by picking up some extremely valuable points.

Brendan Loughnane vs Ryoji Kudo – Featherweights

Another Featherweight bout taking place this coming Thursday, is between, Manchester’s own, Brendan Loughnane, and Japanese fighter, Ryoji Kudo. Loughnane picked up 2 wins last season, finishing the season top of the Featherweight table with 9 points after scoring a finish in round 1 and also, a decision victory. The Mancunian unfortunately came up short in the Semi-Final versus the 2021 Featherweight champion, Movlid Khaybulaev. Although Loughnane cannot seek revenge this season with Khaybulaev out, he can seek redemption, and become the new PFL Featherweight champion. First in his path stands Ryoji Kudo. This will be the first PFL fight for the former Shooto and ONE championship fighter, with there being no doubt that Kudo will want to make a dashing first impression and cause the upset in the opening fight of the Featherweight season.

(Credit: Instagram: @PFLMMA): The PFL 2 2022 main card

Cappelozza vs Austin – Heavyweights

In the featured main event of the evening, and seeing off the blockbuster undercard, is last seasons PFL Heavyweight champion, Bruno Cappelozza, who takes on Stuart Austin. Both men will be looking to score a ‘quick six’ in the opening Heavyweight bout of the season, with Cappelozza hoping to once again, be crowned Heavyweight king, and be presented with a cheque for $1 million. On the opposite side of the cage stands, Stuart Austin, former BAMA Heavyweight champion, who himself, is looking to become $1 million richer. The 33-year-old, fighting out of Titan Gym, in London England, holds a submission victory over top UFC Heavyweight, Tom Aspinall. Austin is looking to mount an upset by beating last seasons Heavyweight Champion, in his first PFL main event, and only his second fight under the PFL lights. He faces a tough test in the Brazilian, Cappelozza, with the 32-year-old having finished 3 of his 4 victories in PFL.

UK and Irish residents can watch the entire main card on Channel 4 from 2:00am, with the prelims available on Channel 4’s YouTube channel.

Who do you see sitting at the top of the Featherweight and Heavyweight table come Friday morning? Let us know in the comments section!

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Paul Hughes Gets New Opponent as Oduwole Out

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Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – have today announced a change in the scheduled opponent for Irish superstar Paul Hughes at Cage Warriors 170. 

An injury occurring just days after he signed to fight Hughes has forced Yemi Oduwole out of the contest. 

The promotion wishes him a speedy return to full health. 

CW officials have moved quickly to secure a suitable replacement, today confirming that Hughes will remain on the Saturday, April 6th bill, now facing off with Edgar ‘Smooth’ Escarrega. 

The bout will feature on the main card of CW 170 at Dublin’s iconic RDS, and air live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners. 

The 29-year-old Escarrega, who hails from the port city of Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico, brings an impressive 12-3-1 record to the contest. 

The Victory Fight Club man – who is a striker by trade – is unbeaten in his last six contests, and from twelve victories has a total of five KOs, two submissions and five points wins to his name. 

“From Mexico to the world, here I come!” said Escarrega, when signing on the dotted line for what is undoubtedly the biggest opportunity of his professional career. 

Hughes, from County Derry, is widely considered to be on the cusp of signing with the UFC following a series of impressive performances in the famous yellow gloves of Cage Warriors. 

‘Big News’ recently vacated his featherweight title, moving up to the 155lb division to stop top contender Jan Quaeyhaegens in the first round. 

Also scheduled for the CW 170 card, Dublin’s James ‘Jimbo Slice’ Sheehan contests the vacant welterweight title with Switzerland’s Daniel Konrad, with Ger Harris, Solomon Simon, Decky McAleenan, Taka Mhandu and more set to feature. 

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“I Should Get The Shot” – Jacob Smith Wants World Title Fight If He Bests Denis Puric At ONE Fight Night 21

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Fiery flyweight Muay Thai star Jacob Smith enjoyed a triumphant return to ONE Championship last December at ONE Fight Night 17 after 18 months on the sidelines. 

The Scouse striker knocked out Walter Goncalves to gain momentum in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and he plans to add to it next month.

Smith returns to action against Bosnian-Canadian powerhouse Denis Puric at ONE Fight Night 21: Eersel vs. Nicolas on Saturday, 6th April, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. 

Fans anticipate a thunderous clash, as they are both known to finish fights. Smith feels he knows what to expect from Puric, and he plans to give him an unwelcome gift for his birthday. 

“I’m either going to stop him with the knee or stop him with an elbow. I feel like the first round is going to be quite fiery. But if he decides to rush me too early, he’s going to walk into some big shots, so I could just finish him in round one,” he said. 

“But I’m sure I’m fighting him on his 39th birthday. So, unfortunately, my birthday present is going to be me knocking him out.”

When Jacob Smith debuted in ONE Championship at May 2022’s ONE 157, he battled ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon across three rounds of hard-hitting action. 

He came up short that night via unanimous decision, and a series of injuries forced him to take time away from action afterward. But that gap seemed to have allowed him level up his skill set. 

Smith came back stronger than ever, and his first-round finish of Goncalves last December pegged him as one to watch. The #2-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender is hoping to score back-to-back wins against Puric next month, and he knows exactly what he wants if he’s successful.

“My goal is to be ONE Championship Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, and fingers crossed by the end of the year that comes through,” Smith said. 

“Rodtang is the champion, and Superlek is number one. After beating Walter, I’m now number two. Rodtang and Superlek are probably going fight each other again soon. Then I should get the shot at the winner after I beat Puric.”

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UFC Vegas 89 – Results | Ribas vs Namajunas

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Live from the Apex, UFC Vegas 89 saw former strawweight Rose Namajunas make her second appearance at flyweight against contender Amanda Ribas.

Note: any point deductions will be denoted by an asterisk and explained at the bottom of the page.

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Main card (2am GMT – TNT Sports)

Rose Namajunas defeats (#8) Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) – flyweight bout

Karl Williams defeats Justin Tafa via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout

Edmen Shahbazyan defeats AJ Dobson via knockout (punches – 4:43 – R1) – middleweight bout

Payton Talbott defeats Cameron Saaiman via TKO (punches – 0:21 – R2) – bantamweight bout

Youssef Zalal defeats Billy Quarantillo via submission (rear-naked-choke – 1:50 – R2) – featherweight bout

Fernando Padilla defeats Luis Pajuelo via submission (brabo choke – 2:45 – R1) – featherweight bout

Prelims (11pm GMT – TNT Sports/UFC Fight Pass)

Trey Ogden defeats Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – lightweight bout

Julian Erosa defeats Ricardo Ramos via submission (guillotine – 2:15 – R1) – featherweights bout

Miles John defeats Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – bantamweight bout

Jarno Errens defeats Steve Nguyen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – featherweight bout

Darya Zheleznyakova defeats Monsterrat Rendon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – bantamweight bout

Andre Lima defeats Igor Severino via disqualification (biting – 2:52 – R2) – flyweight bout

Mick Parkin defeats Mohammed Usman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout

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