The Professional Fighters League wrapped up its 2023 season in New York City on Wednesday night, with the lightweight and welterweight divisions the last two with semifinal action to play out.
After a big night in the Big Apple a week ago — all four semifinals in the heavyweight and women’s featherweight divisions finished inside the distance — the league was no doubt hoping that lightning would strike twice. And it certainly had the chance to, with explosive, action-packed fighters Clay Collard and Shange Burgos in the main event.
Burgos, it’s worth nothing, was not supposed to be in the post-season. He finished just outside the playoff bracket. But with the final fight of the regular season between Natan Schulte and Raush Manfio deemed lacking, the league opted to (rather controversially) pull Schulte, a former champ, from the playoffs. Giving Burgos the nod as a result.
Defending lightweight champ Olivier Aubin-Mercier, meanwhile, was in the co-main event against Brazil’s Bruno Miranda.
The 2023 PFL Playoffs continue at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY with PFL 9 on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, airing live on ESPN+ (prelims) and ESPN (main card). Full results from the event can be found below. The event gets underway at 6:30 PM ET.
2023 PFL 9: Collard vs. Burgos Results
Main Card
Clay Collard def. Shane Burgos by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) — Lightweight Semifinal
Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Bruno Miranda by TKO (ground n’ pound), Round 2, 4:41 — Lightweight Semifinal
Sadibou Sy def. Carlos Leal by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) — Welterweight Semifinal
Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Solomon Renfro by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) — Welterweight Semifinal
Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Ed Davis by TKO, Round 2, 2:23 — Amateur Lightweight Showcase
Preliminary Card
Featherweight: Alexei Pergande def. Shawn Stefanelli by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Middleweight: Mostafa Rashed Nada def. Korey Kuppe by TKO (punches), Round 1, 1:55
Women’s Featherweight: Michelle Montague def. Abigail Montes by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 3:38
Featherweight: Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. David Zelner by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
Catchweight: John Caldone def. Nathaniel Grimard by TKO (punches), Round 1, 2:32
