Heavyweights took center stage at Friday’s PFL Challenger Series 2023 Week 3 event.
With Ante Delija winning the heavyweight season last year, a spot to join him on the PFL’s regular season roster was up for grabs Friday night in Orlando. Among those in action, former UFC light heavyweight Danilo Marques was paired up with New England regular Ras Hylton in the night’s main event.
Alton Meeks, who turned up on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2019 only to fall short against Yorgan De Castro, was also in action, giving up nearly 30 pounds in weight to opponent Louie Sutherland.
Sutherland made his PFL debut last year, losing to Abraham Bably in a non-tournament bout. Bably could also be found on Friday’s card, matched up with Hassan Graham.
Included in the week’s celebrity judges, who would help to determine who earned a PFL contract, was WWE legend Kurt Angle. An Olympic Gold Medallist in wrestling at the 1996 games in Atlanta, Angle was arguably the highest profile judge of the season outside of legendary UFC champ Randy Couture.
The PFL Challenger Series 2023 Week 3 card goes down Friday night in Orlando, Florida. Full results from the event can be found below.
PFL Challenger Series 2023 Week 3 Results
Danilo Marques def. Ras Hylton by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 2:33
Isaiah Pinson def. Vitor Resende by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Abraham Bably def. Hassan Graham by TKO, Round 1, 3:56
Louie Sutherland def. Alton Meeks by TKO, Round 2, 1:25
Abraham Bably earns a PFL contract for his Challenger Series performance.
