PFL ANNOUNCES NEW WOMEN’s FLYWEIGHT DIVISION FOR 2023 PFL CHALLENGER SERIES
PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE ANNOUNCES 2023 PFL CHALLENGER SERIES WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT COMPETITORS AND BOUTS
Challenger Series gives MMA athletes an opportunity to pursue a world championship and $1 million prize
2023 PFL Challenger Series begins January 27
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced the 2023 PFL Challenger Series Women’s Flyweight competitors and bouts. The PFL Challenger Series is an eight-part competition which will stream live on Friday nights in the US, beginning January 27 through March 17, and is held on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, with fighters looking to earn the opportunity to compete for a world championship and $1 million winner’s purse.
The main event of the Women’s Flyweight card will feature Chelsea Hackett and Desiree Yanez for a matchup inside the PFL SmartCage. Hackett, a kickboxing prospect out of Australia, is a WMC and WBC Muay Thai champion and recently transitioned to MMA ahead of the pandemic. The 22-year-old will take on Texas native Desiree Yanez. The 32-year-old Yanez is the current Peak Fighting champion, with four wins by finish including three knockouts and one submission.
“As we approach the kickoff to the 2023 PFL Challenger Series, we are excited to introduce our new Women’s Flyweight division as a part of this year’s eight-week competition being held live from the backlot of Universal Studios Florida,” said PFL President of Fighter Operations, Ray Sefo.
The co-main event of the fifth week of the 2023 PFL Challenger Series will see American Kaytlin Neil square up with Griet Eeckhout, a Belgian fighter who is set to become the second fighter from Belgium to fight under the PFL banner. Neil, a Muay Thai professional, holds a 4-2 record and will challenge Eeckhout, who owns four wins by finish, including two knockouts and two submissions.
Further action on the card will see Shanna Young, an American who fights out of Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, battle Sandra Lavado, the “Peruvian Zombie.” Young boasts five wins that came by way of finish, including two knockouts and three submissions. Lavado is the #1 pound-for-pound women’s fighter in Peru and will look to improve on her four previous wins by submission.
Helen Peralta, an American who fights out of Iowa, will clash with fellow American, Lisa Mauldin, who trains at Team Oyama with Carla Esparza, Alex Perez and Louis Smolka. Peralta will put her impressive 9-1 record to the test, while Mauldin seeks to extend her undefeated 2-0 record in the first bout of PFL’s recently launched Women’s Flyweight division.
About Professional Fighters League
PFL is the only in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in sports-season “win and advance” meritocracy like all other major sports. The PFL fighter roster is global and world-class, with fighters from over 20 countries and 25% independently ranked in the top 25. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage powering real-time betting and next-gen viewing experience. PFL is aired primetime live in the U.S. on ESPN and ESPN+ and in 140 countries via 25 leading broadcast and streaming partners.
PFL Challenger Series Judgement Criteria
PFL Challenger Series winners will be determined by a judging panel comprised of combat sports champions and celebrity guests. The PFL is at the forefront of innovation, recently reaching an agreement with Jake Paul, who will compete in, recruit for, and promote the league’s PPV Super Fight division.
Stay tuned for more updates
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