Following nearly a year of inaction, Vadim Nemkov returns at PFL Lyon with a new deal with the promotion, and it has many speculating about the plans the promotion has for the future. The most obvious: was he re-signed with the intention of creating a bout with the now enigmatic Francis Ngannou? The former Bellator light heavyweight champion rides a 13-fight win streak and his highlights go back even further to his days as part of RIZIN in Japan.  If “The Predator” is going to be enticed to return by anyone on the PFL roster, it feels like Nemkov would be the top choice.

“I want to become the Heavyweight champion and defend it for a LONG TIME”

December 13th is about 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗖𝗬 for Vadim Nemkov as the PFL Heavyweight World Title is on the line against Renan Ferreira! #PFLLyon | Sat Dec 13th | LDLC Arena, Lyon | 📺LIVE on the ESPN app | 🎟️ ON… pic.twitter.com/TonLhnOH8W

— PFL (@PFLMMA) December 1, 2025

Of course, that is a big assumption.  Opposing Nemkov is the 2023 heavyweight champion who has wreaked havoc in the promotion over the past several year: Renan Ferreira.  “El Problema” hasn’t been seen since last year and the time away has undoubtedly fueled a desire to return to form when he returns to the cage.  Despite Nemkov’s abilities on the feet, one expects a striker vs grappler matchup between two of the most destructive forces the promotion has to offer.

In the co-headliner, a living legend in Cris “Cyborg” Justino returns to mixed martial arts following speculation on whether or not she would step into the cage again.  In her last MMA bout, she outlasted 2023 season champion Larissa Pacheco.  In the eyes of many, the victory felt like the final feather to add to the cap of the Brazilian legend as far as mixed martial arts is concerned.  To add to the speculation, Justino stopped three opponents in boxing earlier this year which had many wondering if she was angling for a big fight in the squared circle.

Instead, Justino returns to show she is still in top form as she grants undefeated underdog Sara Collins a chance to record a seminal victory in her career.  A fellow Bellator veteran, Collins had two fights in the promotion including one that saw her defeat former title challenger Sinead Kavanagh.  Collins has had one appearance since the acquisition and she made the most of it, stopping the more highly regarded Leah McCourt with a first round submission.  That victory now sets up the Australian contender for her biggest career opportunity by a mile.

With not one but two titles on the line, the PFL closes out the year by setting up more potential matchups going into 2026 where it has already been announced that the promotion will have top talent back in action in the first quarter of the year.

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What’s PLN All About?

PLN isn’t your grandpa’s sports network. These digital disruptors are flipping the script on traditional sports, serving up wild, high-octane competitions that are as unpredictable as your TikTok FYP. From slap fights to insane CarJitsu battles, PLN is the home for anyone who craves action, drama, and a little bit of chaos. Their Friday Night Fights series is the crown jewel, a weekly spectacle where the only thing more intense than the hits are the personalities behind them.

Why You Can’t Miss This

Forget the gloves and the octagon, Friday Night Fights is all about SlapFIGHT this week, a team vs. team brawl curated by PLN’s own creative mastermind, JT Tilley. The lineup is stacked, the stakes are high, and the only rule is: bring the pain.

Here’s what’s about to go down:

FAFO vs. Rocky Moore: This is the main event for a reason. FAFO brings sniper-level accuracy, while Rocky Moore’s power is straight-up savage. Both are built like tanks and have zero chill when it comes to penalties. Expect a battle where every slap could be a game-changer—and someone’s walking away seeing stars.

Okie Savage vs. Blake Howard: Okie Savage isn’t just a name, it’s a warning. The dude’s hands are basically sledgehammers, and he’s got the highlight reel to prove it. But don’t sleep on Blake Howard, making his debut and ready to shake things up. Neither is known for surgical precision, but both go full send every round. This matchup? Pure fireworks.

Biscuit vs. The Real Deal: If you’re here for endurance and technique, this is your jam. Biscuit, aka “Mr. Accuracy,” faces off with The Real Deal, a guy who eats pain for breakfast. Ten rounds of slap-for-slap action between two veterans, expect a masterclass in grit and precision.

Shamokin Thunder Clap vs. Smiley: The happiest fight you’ll ever see—until someone leaves with a frown. Shamokin Thunder Clap is a seasoned vet, but Smiley’s the new kid with the energy to match. Both bring big grins, but only one gets to keep it.

PLN’s Friday Night Fights isn’t just a show, it’s a vibe. The crowd is wild, the competitors are wilder, and the drama is off the charts. Whether you’re a die-hard fight fan or just here for the memes, this is the place to be. Grab your crew, load up the group chat, and get ready to witness the slap showdowns you’ll be talking about all weekend.

Tune-in to Friday Night Fights each week on Pro League Network’s YouTube at 10 a.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT and stay tuned to PLN’s social channels for the heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping action.

The post Pro League Network’s Friday Night Fights Bring the Chaos appeared first on Cageside Press.

The main event sees #1 heavyweight contender Lazar Todev face off against newly crowned light heavyweight champion Will Fleury, for the Oktagon MMA heavyweight title. This card has a lot of storylines going into it, and we break down a few below.

The Irish Invasion

The aforementioned light heavyweight champion, Will Fleury, will not be the only Irishman on the card. Alongside him is Manchester Top Team product Denis “The Menace” Frimpong. Lazar Todev, originally hailing from Bulgaria, has a large German fanbase, and will certainly have the crowd on his side. However, Fleury is no stranger to playing the role of the bad guy, with his last fight being against Czech superstar Karlos Vemola in Prague.

Fleury now looks to win the vacant heavyweight title, that very title that Todev was supposed to fight for in December, before disputes between Hatef Moiel and the promotion caused a cancellation. That, after Moeil sparked a press conference ahead of the fight.

Frimpong faces off against Stuttgarts’s own Robin Frank. Robin Frank will walk out to a large amount of cheers, however, Frimpong will walk out to a roar of boos.

Hailing from Ireland, the pair of fighters will look to silence the boo-birds. Fleury looks to become a two-weight class champion within a year in the promotion, while Frimpong returns to Oktagon MMA looking to push his way towards the top 10.

The return of Alan Omer

A feel-good story coming into Oktagon 68’S Co-Main event. Alan Omer is back after a five-year layoff due to a brain tumor. The UFC veteran makes his Oktagon MMA debut, and more importantly his return to the cage against Lukasz Kopera. Omer made a powerful statement ahead of this fight, saying “The tumor might have hit my brain, but it never hit my heart.”

Muradov looks to continue his Oktagon MMA Dominance

After leaving Oktagon MMA to sign with the UFC in 2019, the former promotional Champion, Makhmud Muradov (or simply “Mach”) returned to the promotion in September of 2024, winning a unanimous decision over Scott Ashkam to cement himself as the #1 Middleweight contender. While he isn’t competing in the Tipsport Gamechanger Tournament, Muradov will continue to defend his #1 spot. Muradov was supposed to face Joilton Lutterbach, he now faces Yasubey Enomoto in the third last fight of the night.

Marek Bartl taking on all of Team Jungwirth

Originally slated to face Christian Jungwirth, Marek Bartl now faces Jungwirth’s teammate Daniel Schwindt. Sadly, due to a herniated disk, Christian Jungwirth was unable to make his homecoming bout.

Marek Bartl captured the attention of the Welterweight division when he submitted Endrit Brajshori with an inverted triangle in December. Immediately post-fight he called out Jungwirth. Pretty quickly, that fight was made. However, the injury took Jungwirth out of the highly anticipated matchup. Daniel Schwindt, teammate and best friend of Christian Jungwirth, also lost his opponent for this card, so these two were matched for a thrilling bout. Schwindt, a middleweight, made his promotion debut at Oktagon 65 in Prague in December, where he overcame a controversial illegal knee to win via TKO against Radovan Uskrt. Schwindt was set to face off against Uskrt again due to the controversial nature of the win, but instead finds himself fighting his friend’s fight in a catchweight bout.

Along with UFC 313 this weekend, we have Oktagon 68 to keep fight fans busy. Luckily, as this card is taking place in Europe, the timing will work out, and you will be able to roll from the Oktagon 68 card, right into the UFC 313 card on Saturday.

The post What to Look For at Oktagon 68: Todev vs. Fleury appeared first on Cageside Press.

The three criteria on which these fights will be judged are action, competition, and skill level. A 10/10 ranking indicates a near perfect fight booking while a 5/10 indicates an average fight, so anything higher than that is above average on paper.

1. Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler – 10/10

Poirier and Chandler could put on a Fight of the Year candidate at UFC 281 and this fight is many fans’ most anticipated fight of the winter. Both men have put on remarkably violent and entertaining showings against all of the other members of the ‘Lightweight Circle of Violence’ which also includes Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, and Charles Oliveira. However, during fight week it has seemed that Chandler has alluded to using his wrestling, saying, “I’m not here to win Fight of the Night, I’m here to get my hand raised.”

‘Iron Mike’ has not won a fight on the back of his wrestling in many years, but it is possible he takes Dustin down, as Dustin does not have the college wrestling resume of someone like Justin Gaethje, who stuffed Chandler’s takedowns when they fought a year ago. Even in that scenario though, the fight is still elite in terms of all three of action, competitiveness, and skill level. Cardio remains a question mark for Chandler while Dustin’s cardio has always been a strength of his, but power and wrestling are two great equalizers that Michael Chandler always possesses.

Poirier’s Best Fight: vs Justin Gaethje

Chandler’s Best Fight: vs Eddie Alvarez 1

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Arnold is currently on a nine-fight win streak and much of the public attention is on him after his impressive stoppage of Dan Hooker, while Calvin lost a very close decision to Josh Emmet. So what do the numbers say about this fight? Let’s take a look. I don’t see why not. 

It is fair to assume that most of this fight will occur on the feet. Kattar, in that regard, is a prolific striker with excellent output. He is not the best boxer in the UFC, as he once suggested, but he is up there with the best. 5.19 strikes landed per minute, great footwork, head movement, and a clean jab.

What is not spoken about enough is that Kattar is a powerful puncher. Five of his opponents hit the canvas after getting punched, and four were stopped. Are there any advantages on the Allen side when it comes to striking? Few, and those come with asterisks. Allen is sound defensively, as he absorbs 2.22 strikes per minute, but to beat Calvin, he needs volume, and Allen doesn’t have it on the paper. Landing 3.31 strikes per minute is not enough to beat Kattar.

Power-wise, Arnold is somewhat of a heavy hitter, but outside of the Hooker TKO at UFC London back in March, nothing suggests he will stop Kattar. I believe the opposite will transpire. Calvin Kattar will pressure Allen, land harder, and eventually, find a finish in the later rounds. 

Official Prediction: Calvin Kattar by TKO in Round 5  

UFC Vegas 63 takes place this Saturday, October 29, 2022 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Calvin Kattar meets Arnold Allen in the main event on ESPN+.

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The two 135’ers lock horns this coming Saturday, with one of them guaranteed to turn their bad luck into some good momentum. Since 2020, both fighters have had six fights cancelled each, with them previously scheduled to meet in the cage at the end of last year.

Barcelos’ last outing was against Victor Henry back in January this year and Jones’ last appearance was against the extremely impressive Javid Basharat in March. Both men in question were defeated in their respective bouts, heightening the stakes in this meeting even further. Prior to his back-to-back losses, Barcelos had only tasted defeat once before and it was back in 2014, whereas Jones has always struggled to string together a good run of victories.

Rewinding back to the Brazilian’s last fight, he was completely out-struck by Henry, 222 to 134. Not only that, but he also only secured a single takedown out of an attempted seven, finishing at a 14% success rate. He just couldn’t get his offence going. In his fight before that against Valiev, he exhibited how hard it is to get him down to the mat. Valiev attempted six takedowns in their 15 minute fight, not securing a single one.

Switching to “5 Star” Jones, the theme was pretty similar during his last outing. He was marginally out-struck by Basharat 89 to 62 with Javid being the more comfortable of the two in the striking department. As well as that, Jones attempted three takedowns in that fight, not being able to secure one.

In Barcelos’ win over Taha, he did a great job in the first round of eating away at Taha’s lead leg. Not only this, but he also entered his exchanges by throwing a front kick to back Taha up.

There is no doubt that Barcelos is the more seasoned of the two, and his vast amount of experience could play dividends in this match-up. The former LFA featherweight champion has an arsenal of different attacks and strong sides of his game that he could utilise in this fight. Jones’ nature of coming up short, in eight losses three have been via split decision, curbing his bad luck could be something he struggles with, especially against someone of Barcelos’ ilk.

Jones may look to make his 3″ reach advantage pay by staying on the outside, and it is interesting to note that in two of Barcelos’ losses, he was at a reach disadvantage.

The 35-year-old Brazilian currently finds himself as the favourite (-250) to get back into the winning column, with Jones’ + (+200) money being something that may tempt fans into backing the underdog.

In 21 fights, Jones has never had his lights turned out, and in 16 victories for Raoni, eight have came by way of knockout. My prediction is that Raoni Barcelos’ experience will pay off during this fight, and I see a world in which he gets it done by submission. Failing that, I can see him sailing to a decision victory — but this main card affair will be one of watch, with both men highly motivated to turn things around.

The post Barcelos vs. Jones: Two Bantamweights Looking to Curb Their Bad Luck Lock Horns at UFC Vegas 61 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Staff Writers	Murphy vs. Tate	Burgos vs. Jourdain	Schnell vs. Sumudaerji	Jingliang vs. Salikhov	Waterson vs. Lemos	Ortega vs. Rodriguez
Chris Prawdzik (84-42)
Gabriel Gonzalez (77-42)
Alex Behunin (72-43)
Jay Anderson (76-50)
Dan Doherty (65-45)
Eddie Law (67-55)
Jamie Theodosi (15-5)
Mike McClory (3-2)

The main event of UFC Long Island is between two featherweights who know how to deliver entertainment as Brian Ortega faces Yair Rodriguez. Ortega is coming off a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski in which he came dangerously close to submitting the champion. Rodriguez has earned a Fight of the Night bonus in his last three appearances and is looking to rebound from a loss against the most recent title challenger, Max Holloway. Ortega was picked by five of eight writers.

The co-main event features Amanda Lemos, who has quickly established herself as one of the best strawweights in the world, against Michelle Waterson. Lemos was on a five-fight win streak with three stoppages before running into former champion Jessica Andrade, who submitted her in the first round. Waterson is returning to strawweight after an unsuccessful attempt to move to flyweight as she was defeated by Marina Rodriguez. All but one writer picked Lemos.

The always entertaining Li Jingliang faces Muslim Salikhov on the main card. Jingliang has won four of his last six fights but ran into the buzzsaw that is Khamzat Chimaev in his last appearance. Salikhov, a Russian fighter known as The King of Kung Fu, is on a tear with five straight wins in the UFC. Salikhov was picked by five of eight writers.

Talented flyweights square off as Matt Schnell takes on Sumudaerji. After a two-fight losing streak, Sumudaerji has won three straight, including a 44 second knockout. Schnell has struggled after a four-fight win streak, losing in three of his last four appearances (one loss was overturned to a no contest). All but one writer picked Sumudaerji.

An early pick for Fight of the Night is in the featherweight division as Shane Burgos battles Charles Jourdain. Burgos got back in the win column after two Fight of the Night losses with a win over Billy Quarantillo last time out. Jourdain has won three of his last four with a submission over Lando Vannata most recently.

Opening the UFC Long Island main card will be former champion Miesha Tate and former title challenger Lauren Murphy. Murphy won five straight fights to earn a flyweight title shot, where she was shut down by Valentina Shevchenko in her most recent appearance. Tate returned from four-year retirement last year and has gone 1-1 since then. Tate was unanimously picked.

The post UFC Long Island – Ortega vs. Rodriguez: Main Card Staff Picks appeared first on Cageside Press.

Staff Writers	Munhoz vs. O'Malley	Lawler vs. Barberena	Strickland vs. Pereira	Volkanovski vs. Holloway	Adesanya vs. Cannonier
Chris Prawdzik (77-40)
Gabriel Gonzalez (71-39)
Jay Anderson (70-47)
Dan Doherty (62-44)
Eddie Law (61-52)
Jamie Theodosi (9-2)				`

UFC 276 is headlined by a great middleweight title fight between champion Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier. Adesanya returned to middleweight after his attempt to win a light heavyweight belt came up short. Since then, he’s defeated both Marvin Vettori and Robert Whittaker. Cannonier, a former heavyweight, defeated both Kelvin Gastelum and Derek Brunson to earn a shot at the belt. Adesanya was unanimously picked.

The co-main event is the third fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway for the featherweight title. Volkanovski won the first two fights between the featherweight greats and has since defeated Chan Sung Jung and Brian Ortega. Holloway re-entered the title picture with wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez. Cageside Press was split at three picks apiece.

Sean Strickland attempts to keep climbing the middleweight ladder when he takes on kickboxing great Alex Pereira. Strickland has won six straight fights to enter the top five of the division. Pereira, who defeated Israel Adesanya in a kickboxing match, is 2-0 in the Octagon with knockout and is on a fast track to a title fight if he is able to get by Strickland. Cageside Press is split at three picks apiece.

Former champion Robbie Lawler faces brawler Bryan Barberena on the main card. Lawler was able to stop a four-fight losing streak with a win over the ghost of Nick Diaz last time out. Barberena is on a two-fight win streak, defeating Matt Brown last time out. Barberena was picked by four of six writers.

Opening the main card of UFC 276 is Sean O’Malley facing a tough test in Pedro Munhoz. Munhoz has struggled recently, losing four of his last five against the upper-echelon of the bantamweight division. O’Malley has knocked out all three of his opponents since the lone loss of his career. All but one writer picked O’Malley.

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Staff Picks	Curtis vs. Vieira	Maness vs. Nurmagomedov	Moises vs. Giagos	Parisian vs. Baudot	Magny vs. Rakhmanov	Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot
Gabriel Gonzalez (69-35)
Chris Prawdzik (73-38)
Alex Behunin (61-39))
Dan Doherty (59-41)
Jay Anderson (65-46)
Jamie Theodosi (3-2)

Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot are on the fringe of the top 10 of the lightweight division and are known for their exciting fighting styles. They headline UFC Vegas 57 as Tsarukyan comes in on a five-fight win streak while Gamrot has stopped his last three opponents. Coincidentally, both fighters lost in their UFC debuts before going on win streaks. Tsarukyan was picked by four of six writers.

The co-main event features top prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov taking on veteran Neil Magny. Rakhmonov is 15-0 in his career, stopping every opponent he has faced. Magny has won five of his last six fights with all of those contests going the distance. Rakhmonov was unanimously picked.

Heavyweights take center stage as Josh Parisian faces Alan Baudot. Parisian is 1-2 since joining the promotion through the Contender Series. Baudot is still looking for his first victory in the Octagon, losing in all three of his appearance (one loss was overturned after). Cageside Press was split at three picks apiece.

Thiago Moises and Christos Giagos square off on the main card. Moises has lost his last two fights after building up a three-fight win streak. Giagos recently had his two-fight win streak snapped by tonight’s headliner, Arman Tsarukyan. Cageside Press was split at three picks apiece.

Umar Nurmagomedov looks to continue his rise against Nate Maness. Nurmagomedov is 2-0 in the Octagon with a pair of submissions. Maness is 3-0 since joining the promotion, stopping his last two opponents. Nurmagomedov was unanimously picked.

Opening the UFC Vegas 57 main card will be Chris Curtis and Rodolfo Vieira. Curtis is 2-0 in the Octagon in a very impressive way, knocking out Brendan Allen and Phil Hawes. Vieira, a BJJ world champion, is 3-1 in the UFC with all of his wins coming by submission. All but one writer picked Curtis.

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Staff Writers	Marquez vs. Rodrigues	Ismagulov vs. Kutadeladze	Buckley vs. Duraev	Means vs. Holland	Cerrone vs. Lauzon	Kattar vs. Emmett
Justin Gibbons (71-35)
Chris Prawdzik (70-36)
Gabriel Gonzalez (65-34)
Alex Behunin (59-36)
Dan Doherty (57-38)
Jay Anderson (62-44)
Eddie Law (54-48)
Jamie Theodosi (0-0)

The main event of UFC Austin is a featherweight battle between Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett. Kattar most recently derailed the rise of outstanding kickboxer Giga Chikadze to get back in the win column. Emmett is on a four-fight win streak, most recently defeating Dan Ige and Shane Burgos. All but one writer picked Kattar.

The co-main event is a delayed matchup between longtime veterans Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon. Food poisoning for Donald Cerrone on the day of UFC 274, when this fight was originally scheduled, pushed the contest to Austin. Cerrone is winless in his last six fights while Lauzon is 2-3 in his last five. Cageside Press was split at four picks apiece.

Another matchup of strikers takes place as Tim Means faces Kevin Holland. Means has won four of his last five, taking out Nicolas Dalby and Mike Perry most recently. Holland stopped a three-fight winless skid with a TKO against Alex Oliveira. Holland was unanimously picked.

Plenty of action is expected when Joaquin Buckley battles Albert Duraev. Buckley has knockouts in three of his last four wins, with the lone loss in that span being a knockout as well. Duraev is coming off an impressive UFC debut victory over Roman Kopylov and is 15-4 in his career with 12 finishes. Duraev was unanimously picked.

Talented lightweights will square off when Damir Ismagulov faces Guram Kutadeladze. Ismagulov is 20-1 and has won all four of his fights in the Octagon. Kutadeladze has not fought since his very impressive debut victory over Mateusz Gamrot in October 2020. All but two writers picked Ismagulov.

Opening up the UFC Austin main card will be Julian Marquez and Gregory Rodrigues. Marquez is 3-1 in the Octagon with three submissions. Rodrigues, a former LFA champion, is 2-1 since joining the promotion. Rodrigues was unanimously picked.

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