While Collard vs. Stephens ended up being one of the best fights of 2022 so far, there was some pushback ahead of the card as to why the PFL didn’t have a defending champion like Raush Manfio or Antonio Carlos Junior headline the show.

Sefo explained his thought process following the event.

“[Manfio and Junior] are right in some ways, but when you looked at Jeremy Stephens, and I know how both these guys fight, there was no way that fight was going to disappoint,” Sefo told the media, including Cageside Press, during a post-fight scrum. “And as you saw what happened happened, right? Everybody showed up tonight and fought well, but then those two guys closed off the night the way they did. You know, afterward, Pete [Murray] and I looked at each other like, ‘Yeah, that was the right decision.’ I mean, we weren’t sure. But we were sure thinking, ‘Okay, with this fight, there’s no way this fight could disappoint.’ And thank God, they didn’t.”

After the main event, Collard called for a rematch with Manfio. Many thought Collard won their first fight, which was a very close split decision. However, Manfio didn’t seem too enthused with the idea of running it back when asked about a possible rematch.

Sefo thinks it could happen in the next round. He just has to go back and re-watch their fights.

“I just got to go back and look at how the fights panned out for everybody tonight and then look at if it makes sense for them to fight in the second round of the regular season— I’ll make it happen. But if not, then, you know, there is the playoffs, and four guys got to make the playoffs,” Sefo said. So, I think when I look at it all, I think it’s a big deal to leave [the rematch] for the playoffs. But it just depends on when I look at the card and look at all the results from tonight and then go from there.”

Watch the rest of Ray Sefo’s PFL 1 post-fight scrum above.

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Defending PFL lightweight champion Manfio (16-3) picked up a come-from-behind knockout win against UFC vet Don Madge to kick off his 2022 PFL season. The knockout got him four points and put him in first place in the lightweight division.

With Manfio’s incredible come from behind knockout and the Clay Collard putting on a Fight of the Year contender against Jeremy Stephens, you would think Manfio would be excited for a potential rematch with Collard.

He isn’t.

“No. Not Really,” Manfio told Cageside Press during his post-fight interview. “I think maybe they put us in a rematch with me and Clay Collard because he won. But then I remember as well, last season they put one guy with a victory with a guy with a loss. So, it probably is not going to happen. But if he wins again, we are going to see each other in the playoffs.”

Manfio doesn’t understand the criticism of his split decision win over Collard because he feels he clearly won. He says MMA judges need to be more clear.

“I watched the fight many times, and I scored it for me all the time,” Manfio said. “I think to be honest, with the judges— they need to be more clear when they judge the fights. Okay, what counts for points? Why they didn’t count points? Because tonight, I saw Natan [Schulte] fight. I spoke with him; after the fight was over, I was like ‘Natan won.’ And then the judges give it Olivier Aubin-Mercier,” Manfio said.

“So I was like, how do they make these decisions? It is good for us fighters to know because if a takedown scores more points than a knockdown, then I gotta look for the takedown first, continued Manfio. “So, I think they need to be more clear about when they judge a fight because it’s always a surprise.”

Manfio is just the latest fighter to criticize MMA judging, and he won’t be the last. The defending PFL lightweight champion will return to action in June.

Watch the rest of Raush Manfio’s PFL 1 post-fight interview above. More coverage from the event can be found below.

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Hendricks (9-4) picked up a big win to kick off his 2022 PFL season by defeating 2019 light heavyweight champion Emiliano Sordi. The 33-year-old finished Sordi in the second round to pick up five points.

The win was even more special for Hendricks, as it was Sordi who edged him out of the 2021 season, making him sit out of the playoffs for his rookie year. Because of that, Hendricks had that chip on his shoulder, and something to prove.

“I mean, yeah, a little bit,” Hendricks told Cageside Press during his post-fight interview. “I wasn’t too happy with the way things played out last season. But I mean, it is what it is; I was given an opportunity to come in, like, as a replacement. I think I had like, five or six weeks ahead of time, but I didn’t get two fights in the season. And then I was actually tied with Sordi for points going into the playoffs.”

“And, you know, to be honest, I feel like I should have been the one to go in because it took him two fights to get four points,” he added. “I got four points in one fight, and I got to the finish. He got no finishes. But the criteria was already set up for that, that it’s whoever has the most fights goes in. I just think that’s a dumb criteria. So that kind of annoyed me, but it is what it is. You know, I was given the opportunity. I did the most I could with it. And, yeah, I can’t really do much about that.”

Hendricks is currently in third place in the PFL light heavyweight standings, and is looking to make a statement this season.

Watch the rest of Cory Hendricks’ PFL 1 post-fight interview. More coverage from the event can be found below.

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The only downside of the three-round war for “Lil Heathen” was that when the dust had settled, Stephens was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision against Clay Collard.

“Credit to Clay, man. He’s probably the only guy that will fight me like that. So straight up, props to him,” Stephens told media outlets including Cageside Press following the fight. “I’ve been through a lot the past two years, my career has been on the line, switching over to the PFL. So coming in here, getting a game opponent like that, I feel like he’s the best guy to go in there and do that with [after] a year off. It really kind of lets me know where I’m at; there’s a few things I need to work on, basically cardio and volume, and I win that fight.”

Stephens is happy knowing that he’ll fight against in a little over six weeks, something the league’s season format ensures. “I’m healthy, got a little black eye, so I can build on that, I can definitely work my cardio, work my volume, and I know what I need to do going forward. And I feel like I can knock all these dudes out on the roster, besides Clay, because that motherf*cker took a shot.”

Though, Stephens would later add, “I did turn a boxer into a wrestler, I do want to point that out.”

Fighting in a new home after spending over a decade with the UFC “felt great,” Stephens later told Cageside Press. “This was amazing. I had a lot of good crowd support here, a lot of good teams, the media really behind me, the people in the PFL. It’s been tremendous. Everybody has smiles on their face, they make my job super easy. Everything’s chill here, I love it. I feel like I really good home here, and you’re going to see me do big things. I’m gonna come out on top, I’m gonna flip the script like James Brown, baby.”

Watch the full PFL 1 2022 post-fight scrum with Jeremy Stephens above. More coverage from the event can be found below.

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“That’s why I do this. I do this because I enjoy it,” Collard (21-9, 1NC) told media outlets including Cageside Press following the bout, which saw him claim a unanimous decision victory over the former UFC star. “You’re going to see happy go lucky Clay throughout this entire tournament.  I’m going to have a smile on my face walking out to the weigh-ins, I’m going to have a smile on my face walking out to the fight, and I’m going to have a smile on my face leaving the fight, win lose or draw now.”

Many marvelled at the back-and-forth war that transpired atop Wednesday’s card in Arlington. Some went as far as calling it a Fight of the Year candidate. Stephens seemed to just refuse to go away, but that did not come as a surprise to Collard.

“I knew he was going to be a gamer and he’s a hard guy to put away. He swings for the fences, man, with every shot. It was just weathering the storm and picking my shots and battling. And that’s what the fight was, an entertaining fight for the fans.”

Collard did admitted to fatiguing just a little by the third round. “I was slowing down a little bit, but even when I’m dead dog tired, I’m going to keep throwing them out there.”

As far as his competition in the 2022 PFL lightweight field, Collard did keep an eye on them Wednesday. “I watched Natan Schulte for a little bit when I was warming up,” Collard noted, adding that he had to get the PFL staff to get the fights up for him. And his old rival, Raush Manfio, was another fighter he kept an eye on — calling his fight with Don Madge “a snooze-fest until that last punch.”

Often competing in boxing in recent times, Collard once again reminded fans that he’s in the conversation for best boxer in MMA at PFL 1.

“I’m definitely up there man,” opined Collard. “Me and Max Holloway went toe-to-toe back in the day, I did it on like seven days notice, and I thought I had him first two minutes, three minutes. And then I started getting tired because I was out at the lake, drinking beers and being stupid. I made a lot of mistakes in the past with the fight game, and I’ve learned from them. I’m here to stay and I’m here to win, so let’s go.”

Watch the full PFL 1 2022 post-fight scrum with Clay Collard above. More coverage from the event can be found below.

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The d’arce choke submission earned Junior (14-5, 2NC) six points towards this year’s post-season. And while confident in himself, he entered the fight with a lot of unknowns regarding his opponent.

“You know, I couldn’t study a lot about him because he doesn’t have a lot of footage on the internet. But I knew I had more experience,” Junior told media outlets including Cageside Press following the fight, at the ESports Stadium in Arlington. “He would be maybe a little excited and stuff, first time in a big event and stuff. I believe in myself. I saw what I was doing at the gym, the hard work I was doing at the gym, and everything was working out perfectly. I knew we could do it. My coaches told me that, and I just believed in it.”

Junior didn’t actually see the punch he’d thrown, that dropped Monte, land, because he was already shooting for a takedown. “When I saw he was falling, I said ‘oh wow, get the punch, get it.’ I tried to throw some punches to finish the fight, but then I saw the d’arce, and just [went] for it.” Junior knew it was really tight. “I’m not letting go, just keeping [it] here, squeezing more and trying to get the submission.”

With one victory secured, it’s on to the second fight of the season, and with six points, the Brazilian is in a good spot to once again make the playoffs. With that in mind, he doesn’t care who he faces next. “I need to face the best ones to get to the belt again. I don’t care who I’m going to face. I just need to be ready, as I was today, to [do] a good job and get this belt once again.”

It’s been oft noted over the past year now that Antonio Carlos Junior looks like a completely different fighter compared to his UFC days. He recognizes this fact as well, and it boils down to his weight cut.

“Yes, I know. Some things changed in my life, especially my mind, and about the body, it was the weight cut. I think the weight cut, that was killing me,” he explained. “I used to cut like 35 pounds, and I think this was too much. Especially for me, I’m a grappler, so I kind of lose the power.”

At 185, Junior said he had to make sure his first round was his best, “because I was getting tired too fast. I talked to the doctors; even if I stayed in the UFC at the time, I would have moved up to 205.” Junior spoke with Thiago Santos, another Brazilian fighter who moved from middleweight to light heavyweight, about the move as well. “We talked about that, he was feeling a lot better at 205, I feel the same. 205 is my division. The guys are stronger, sure, power, but I don’t waste my energy during the weight cut.”

Watch the full PFL 1 2022 post-fight scrum with Antonio Carlos Junior above. More coverage from the event can be found below.

The post PFL 1 2022: Antonio Carlos Junior Consulted with Doctors, Thiago Santos Before Moving to 205 appeared first on Cageside Press.

After a lengthy career in the UFC, “Lil Heathen” was fighting in a new home for the first time in well over a decade.

It was no doubt little surprise to longtime MMA fans, but Jeremy Stephens was swinging hard and heavy early to open up the PFL 1 main event. He would also jab to the body and fire a number of low kicks, pulling out to an early lead. A right hand then appeared to hurt Clay Collard, but rather than cover up he fired a combination right back at Stephens!

Collard would add in a low kick of his own, rip the body, and fire a high kick that was blocked. Collard went back to the body, fire his jab, then went body-head as Stephens kept his guard high. Stephens landed a right hand by the ear, but Collard kept coming. An accidental headbutt then had Stephens complaining to the ref, which earned a time out.

Back underway, Stephens took some big swings, backing Collard up to the fence. It was a real surprise that neither man went down in the exchange that ensued; Stephens then began complaining about another headbutt. Collard ripped the body after the ref let them continue, then fired a jump knee, and Stephens was suddenly under heavy fire.

Late in the round, Collard went after a takedown, couldn’t land it, but fired a punch over the top, followed by a few hooks that forced Stephens to retreat. A clinch in the dying seconds saw Collard landing more knees.

The second round opened with another foul, this time a low blow by Stephens. Collard declined to take much of a time out. Instead, he punched his way in, landing a knee in the clinch. Stephens fired a right hand that landed. Collard landed to the body. Another knee for Collard. Stephens went to the body this time. Stephens then landed a huge right hand! Collard was hurt, Stephens moved in for the kill, but somehow Clay survived. He fired a number of jabs and backed Stephens up; Stephens reversed and sunk in an underhook. They’d break, and Collard was on the attack again, more punches than not landing. Collard looked to jump in with a knee, but landed short. A good thing too, as Stephens uncorked a monstrous uppercut that hit air. He’d get caught a moment later, then changed levels and briefly took “Lil Heathen” down.

Back on the feet, Collard ripped the body. The pair traded. Stephens backed up and reset. Collard threw out a leg kick. They clinched, with Collard landing an uppercut. Stephens got a body lock in place, but Collard used a kimura grip, then turned the corner and dumped Stephens. He was right back up, but the round came to a close seconds later.

Through two rounds, Clay Collard and Jeremy Stephens had fired everything they had at one another. Exactly the sort of match-up the PFL, and its fans, had hoped for when they put this pair together. Round three was no different.  Collard split the guard, landing an uppercut. Stephens landed a right hand, and fired a couple of leg kicks. Collard launched a spinning back kick, and spinning back fist. In a clinch, the knee was there for Collard again. The knock-down, drag-out brawl continued. A bit of trading in the pocket. Both men landed upstairs. Chins were holding. Stephens landed his left, and later went to the body.

This is INSANE! Neither fighter backing down#2022PFL1 LIVE on ESPN & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomkWj8 pic.twitter.com/OCOIufoMxw

— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 21, 2022

With about 90 seconds left in the fight, Stephens went to the body, backing Collard up. He then dropped to pursue a takedown; Collard again went to a kimura to escape, but couldn’t reverse. Instead, he ate a wild Stephens punch on the way out. Collard showed a bit of fancy footwork, fired a spinning kick and slipped. Stephens came on late, landing a back elbow, technically illegal under the PFL’s regular season rules.

A full fifteen minutes of brawling, and the final fight of the PFL 1 card headed to the judges. Collard took all three rounds in a unanimous decision win, but Stephens proved he can still take a punch, and land a boatload of them.

Official Result: Clay Collard def. Jeremy Stephens by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

The post PFL 1 2022: Jeremy Stephens and Clay Collard Engage in Back-and-Forth Brawl appeared first on Cageside Press.

As had been well publicized ahead of the bout, it was a match-up Madge had sought out. And it was a bout that was fought at his pace in the early going, with strikes few and far between. With Manfio waiting to play the counter game and Madge picking his spots, it was slow going early in Manfio vs. Madge.

The “Magic Man” from South Africa, Madge utilized some solid body kicks at times, and was at least the busier fighter. Occasionally, he’d put together a combo. Manfio’s output amounted to a single strike here or there for the first half of the round; he brought a little more volume in the second half, attempting a head kick and finishing the frame with a flurry.

Madge relied on his kicks early in the second, but this time, Manfio answered back with his jab. Madge answered with a combo, punctuated by a kick that was blocked. While there was noticeably more action in round two, no real damage or near finishes came of it. Instead, more single strikes, the odd combination, and a lot of attacks coming up short peppered the frame. The pair would trade to end the round, with Madge likely having the edge care of his jab and kicks.

The back-and-forth kickboxing fight continued in the third. Manfio would fire a low kick. Madge would fire a high kick. Madge was doing a better job managing distance, and he landed his left hand a couple of times. And just when it seemed like Don Madge was going to cruise to a decision in a low-action affair, Raush Manfio flipped the script.

IT'S ALL OVER!

Raush Manfio lands a BOMB in the 3rd round! 4 Points for Raush!#2022PFL1 LIVE on ESPN2 & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomkWj8 pic.twitter.com/hp3o1ZKbtX

— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 21, 2022

The former champ came alive in a flash, landing a right hand that sent Madge sailing. The ref was already moving in as Manfio lunged to land some follow-up strikes. In a fight he’d likely been losing, Manfio found a way to win — claiming four points in his first fight of the season.

Official Result: Raush Manfio def. Don Madge by Knockout, Round 3, 2:42

The post PFL 1 2022: Raush Manfio Stuns Don Madge With Third-Round KO In Otherwise Tepid Affair appeared first on Cageside Press.

It turned out to be a rude welcome.

A former UFC standout and TUF Brazil winner, “Shoeface” had won three of his four fights under the PFL banner in 2021, with the lone exception being a No Contest due to a ground strike. Still, he went all the way, finishing when it mattered, and claiming the million dollars at the end of the tournament.

Junior found the finish again on Wednesday night, early. Monte went right after Junior off the opening, showing little respect for the defending champ. But a right hand by Antonio Carlos Junior rocked him! Junior went right into takedown mode, and rather than try to unload ground n’ pound, he went hunting the neck — and found it. He soon had a d’arce choke wrapped up, and Monte was left with no choice but to tap.

28 Second D'Arce Choke for @caradesapatojr!

6 Points and Shoeface is back on TOP of the light heavyweight division standings!#2022PFL1 LIVE on ESPN & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomkWj8 pic.twitter.com/VNPKQuXcEa

— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 21, 2022

Less than thirty seconds is all it took for Junior to secure the submission win, and claim a key six points towards the playoffs.

Official Result: Antonio Carlos Junior def. Delan Monte by submission (d’arce choke), Round 1, 0:29

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The lightweight bout in Arlington, Texas found Schulte looking to start on a path back to gold, after coming up short last year for the first time in his three years with the promotion.

It was the “Canadian Gangster” finding success early, however, first with a body kick, followed up by a knee. That would be a sign of things to come. Schulte appeared hurt, but would weather a brief storm up against the fence. Aubin-Mercier would go back to that body kick again moments later, but the action was halted when a finger grazed the eye of Schulte.

A “hard warning” later, and they were back underway. Schulte continued to press forward, but he ate another hard body kick later in the round. Aubin-Mercier would add a leg kick; Schulte would fire a wild right hand, but a short left would connect. Schulte pressed in the final ten seconds, but the round arguably belonged to “OAM.”

Aubin-Mercier targeted the body again in the second, this time with a jab rather than a kick. He’d rip the body with a hook moments later, keeping his opponent guessing when a low kick followed. Schulte, as in the first, was not deterred, continually moving forward. It was the Canadian, however, who was firing first, throwing short combos. He’d add a jumping knee just past the midway mark, go back to a low kick, then find a home for his left.

While the second was a closer round, it was one that still seemed to favor the Canadian.

A third round would be required to sort out Schulte vs. Aubin-Mercier on Wednesday. It was, arguably, Schulte’s best round. He was just a little more aggressive, a little more persistent in pressing the attack. Where Aubin-Mercier had shown plenty of lateral movement in rounds one and two, in the third, he was outright retreating at times — and slowing. With just under two minutes remaining, Aubin-Mercier changed levels for a takedown, but couldn’t land it. Schulte would then initiate a clinch up against the fence, pinning his opponent.

Just as a third round was necessitated to determine a winner, the judges were as well. After a close three rounds, two of those judges sided with Olivier Aubin-Mercier, who picked up the win over a two-time champ — and earned three points towards the playoffs.

Official Result: Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Natan Schulte by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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