The second half of the 2023 PFL regular season continued on Friday night in Atlanta, Georgia with heavyweights and women’s featherweights in action.
Making his belated season debut, 2022 heavyweight champion Ante Delija was paired up with Maurice Greene in the night’s main event. The Ultimate Fighter 28 and UFC veteran Greene already had five points towards the post-season, meaning a win would almost certainly land him in the playoffs. For Delija, an early finish was a must if he was to keep his dreams of a repeat championship alive.
Not to mention the possibility of a big payday against Francis Ngannou, should the season champ land that fight.
In the co-main event, last year’s women’s lightweight champion Larissa Pacheco faced off against viral sensation Amber Leibrock, who scored a head kick KO in her first fight of the season. With the ladies now competing at featherweight, Pacheco could become the first champ in PFL history to claim titles in two weight classes.
Biaggio Ali Walsh continued his amateur run on Friday, while the Marina Mokhnatkina vs. Evelyn Martins bout was held at a catchweight after Martins missed weight.
PFL 5 takes place Friday, June 16, 2023 at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, GA. Full results from the event can be found below.
2023 PFL 5: Delija vs. Greene Results
Main Card
Heavyweight: Ante Delija def. Maurice Greene by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Women’s Featherweight: Larissa Pacheco def. Amber Leibrock by TKO (punches), Round 1, 0:45
Heavyweight: Renan Ferreira def. Matheus Scheffel by KO (punch), Round 1, 0:50
Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Travell Miller by knockout (punches), Round 1, 3:27 — Amateur bout
Women’s Featherweight: Aspen Ladd def. Karolina Sobek by submission (arm-bar), Round 2, 4:57
Preliminary Card
Heavyweight: Denis Goltsov def. Yorgan De Castro by KO, Round 1, 0:18
Women’s Catchweight (147): Marina Mokhnatkina def. Evelyn Martins by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Heavyweight: Marcelo Nunes def. Danilo Marques by KO, Round 1, 3:40
Women’s Featherweight: Julia Budd def. Martina Jindrova by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Women’s Featherweight: Olena Kolesnyk def. Yoko Higashi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight: Jordan Heiderman def. Patrick Brady by TKO (injury), Round 1, 2:26
Heavyweight: Isaiah Pinson def. Denzel Freeman by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) — Showcase bout