Each year, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) puts on a massive fight card which serves as the culminating event of the season. This final offering for the year, often branded as “MMA’s Biggest Night”, features six 1-million dollar world championship bouts, as well as a handful of must-see bouts featuring some of the biggest names in the sport.
To put a bow on the 2023 PFL Season, the league has once again pulled out all the stops to bring fans another massive night of fights at The Anthem in Washington D.C. this coming November 24th.
Here are the fights to watch out for at the 2023 PFL World Championship:
Biaggio Ali Walsh’s Potential Last Fight as an Amateur
Perhaps no other amateur fighter has been making waves like Biaggio Ali Walsh. The grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, Biaggio has carved a name for himself in mixed martial arts, putting together a 5-1 amateur record which includes four straight knockout wins inside the PFL SmartCage. At the 2023 PFL World Championship, Biaggio returns to action against Joel Galarza Lopez. A big win could become the springboard for Biaggio to make the jump to the professional ranks.
Derek Brunson’s PFL Debut Against the Returning Ray Cooper III
Over the last few years, the PFL has managed to bring in a number of the biggest names in the sport, including the likes of Rory MacDonald, Fabricio Werdum, Claressa Shields, Francis Ngannou, Jake Paul, and the list goes on. The most recent name to join the PFL is perennial middleweight contender Derek “The One” Brunson, who signed with the league in October.
Brunson, who is fresh off an 11-year run in the UFC, comes to the PFL with a 23-9 professional record and has faced the likes of Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, Yoel Romero, ‘Jacare’ Souza, Israel Adesanya, and many more. Brunson will be an interesting addition to the PFL’s light heavyweight roster in 2024, but he’ll first make his debut against two-time PFL Welterweight Champion Ray Cooper III.
One of the PFL’s biggest homegrown stars, Cooper III returns to the PFL SmartCage after missing the 2023 Regular Season.
The Return of Kayla Harrison
Another returning two-time PFL Champion, Kayla Harrison makes her highly-anticipated comeback against one of the PFL’s big-name signings, Aspen Ladd.
Harrison became a household name in the PFL, going undefeated and capturing gold in her first two PFL Regular Season campaigns. Last season, Harrison appeared primed to make history as the league’s first three-time champion, but ended up absorbing her first career loss to Larissa Pacheco.
Ladd narrowly missed making the postseason in her first PFL campaign, but has the opportunity to end the season on a high note against one of the league’s most dominant fighters.
All Six World Championship Bouts
Six championships on the line. Six 1-million dollar purses up for grabs. The culmination of the 2023 PFL Regular Season, a dozen of the league’s best fighters all look to become champion and look to bring home a life-changing million-dollar purse.
Here’s a quick rundown of this season’s world championship bouts:
Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Clay Collard for the PFL Lightweight Championship
Renan Ferreira vs. Denis Goltsov for the PFL Heavyweight Championship
Larissa Pacheco vs. Marina Mokhnatkina for the PFL Women’s Featherweight Championship
Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Sadibou Sy for the PFL Welterweight Championship
Josh Silveira vs. Impa Kasanganay for the PFL Light Heavyweight Championship
Don’t miss the 2023 PFL World Championship this November 24th, live on ESPN+ PPV!