The return of amateur standout Biaggio Ali Walsh, and the rubber match of the trilogy between Chris Wade and Bubba Jenkins, are among some new additions to this year’s PFL Championship card.
The 2023 PFL Championship takes place Friday, November 24 at The Anthem in Washington D.C., with six title fights closing out the league’s 2023 season. In addition, Kayla Harrison is set to make her return, taking on Julia Budd.
In a press release distributed Wednesday, league officials announced that amateur standout and grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, Biaggio Ali Walsh, was set to return. With a 5-1 record as an amateur, Ali Walsh has won all four of his bouts inside the PFL SmartCage to date. He’s set to take on the undefeated Joel Galarza Lopez as part of prelim action on the November card.
Also added to the final PFL card of 2023 is the third bout in the grudge match between Chris Wade (23-10) and Bubba Jenkins (21-7). Wade won the first meeting between the pair in 2021, claiming a decision in a semifinal match-up that landed him a spot in that year’s featherweight championship fight. The duo would miss each other in 2022, but collided in the 2023 regular season, with Jenkins this time coming away with a decision victory.
Despite that, it was Wade who advanced into the post-season, only to be eliminated by Gabriel Braga.
Also announced for the PFL Championship preliminary card, Khai Wu vs. Phil Caracappa at bantamweight, and Jesse Stirn vs. Josh Blyden at featherweight. The full card as currently announced breaks down as follows:
Main Card
- Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Clay Collard — for the PFL Lightweight Championship
- Denis Goltsov vs. Renan Ferreira — for the PFL Heavyweight Championship
- Larissa Pacheco vs. Marina Mokhnatkina — for the PFL Women’s Featherweight Championship
- Kayla Harrison vs. Julia Budd
- Sadibou Sy vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov — for the PFL Welterweight Championship
- Gabriel Braga vs. Jesus Pinedo — for the PFL Featherweight Championship
- Joshua Silveira vs. Impa Kasanganay — for the PFL Light Heavyweight Championship
Preliminary Card
- Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Joel Lopez
- Bubba Jenkins vs. Chris Wade
- Khai Wu vs. Phil Caracappa
- Jesse Stirn vs. Josh Blyden
