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PFL 5 | The Great British Breakdown
With the PFL confirming they will be making their promotional debut in the UK in August, what British fighters could we see flying their flag on home soil? PFL 5 will see three British fighters hope to make it to the play off’s.
Heavyweights and Featherweights will be back inside the SmartCage come June 24th, and British fans can look forward to seeing their very own represent. Brendan Loughnane will look to go 2-0 for the season when he takes on Boston Salmon, and the Manchester native will hope to make quick work of it, propelling him into the play off spots. As well as Loughnane, Stuart Austin faces Croatian, Ante Delija, who currently sits just inside the play off spots at fourth. Stevie Ray also faces a tough test in Atlanta, when he takes on table topper, ‘Showtime’ Pettis.
Loughnane vs Salmon – Featherweight Bout
Up first is last years Featherweight semi-finalist, Brendan Loughnane. The Mancunian is currently sitting in 5th place, just outside of the play off spots with 3 points. In his last outing, a brutal accidental head-but resulted in the fight having to be called, 3 minutes into the last round. The fight went to a technical decision, and Loughnane was the victor picking up 3 vital points, keeping him in the play off picture. On the other-side of the SmartCage will stand Boston Salmon who is currently yet to pick up points in the 2022 season. ‘Boom Boom’ took on Sheymon Moraes in his first fight of the season, and was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision. Salmon will need a quick 6 if he plans on making it to the post season, whereas Loughnane will head into the fight, knowing that a victory, no matter how it comes, should be enough to cement his place in the play off’s 2 seasons in a row.
Austin vs Delija – Heavyweight Bout
Moving onto the Heavyweights, Stuart Austin will hope to bounce back from his last outing in which he was stopped in round 1 against 2021 Heavyweight champion, Bruno Cappelozza. Austin’s hopes of making it to the play offs are looking extremely unlikely, as he would have to hope for other results to go his way, as well as making quick work of the Croatian, Delija. Ante Delija is currently sat with 5 points, with a win almost guaranteeing his place in the play off’s. The Brit has faced his fair share of high level opponents during his PFL tenure, and that doesn’t change come June 24th.
Ray vs Pettis – Lightweight Bout
Tests don’t come much tougher to crack than ‘Showtime’ Pettis. His notorious electrifying striking is one of the reasons why Pettis is a fan favourite, and finds himself at the summit of the Lightweight standings. Stevie Ray is yet to pick up a point in the season, after he lost to Alexander Martinez in his PFL debut. Similar to Stuart Austin, Braveheart’s calibre of opponent has been the upper echelon of Lightweights. The former Cage Warriors champion will hope to surprise fans with an early stoppage of veteran, Pettis, etching his name in the play off bracket. Pettis’ PFL tenure didn’t get off to the start he would’ve hoped for as in the 2021 season, he found himself 0-2, not making it to the post season. The tide has changed this season though, and in his first 2022 outing, he picked up a quick 6 with a submission over Myles Price in round 1.
With PFL coming to the UK, there is no doubt this will give the UK fighters the extra motivation to pick up points in their respective weight classes, knowing the opportunity to fight in the UK under the PFL banner is just around the corner. UK fans can catch all the action as always on Channel 4, with PFL 5’s main card beginning at 2am, and the prelims being available on the Channel 4 YouTube channel from 12am.
News
Paul Hughes Gets New Opponent as Oduwole Out
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.
Interviews
“I Should Get The Shot” – Jacob Smith Wants World Title Fight If He Bests Denis Puric At ONE Fight Night 21
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.”
News
UFC Vegas 89 – Results | Ribas vs Namajunas
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.
***
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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