In the main event, a pair of former UFC talents face off, as UFL bantamweight champ Hunter Azure puts his title on the line against Vince Morales. The bout is also the final fight of the five-match Team Phoenix vs. Team Vegas, with Azure and Morales the captains of their respective teams, under coaches Henry Cejudo and Frank Mir.

A $50,000 bonus goes to the fighters on the winning team, not to mention bragging rights. The night’s co-headliner, meanwhile, sees another pair of UFC veterans face off as Sheymon Moraes takes on TJ Brown.

Where to Watch UFL 5

The United Fight League set up shop at the Gila River Hotels & Casinos in Chandler, Arizona on Friday, August 30, 2024 for UFL 5; the card streams live on Rumble. Full results from the event can be found below.

UFL 5: Phoenix vs. Vegas Results

Main Card

Phoenix vs. Vegas: Vince Morales def. Hunter Azure (c) by submission (modified D’arce choke), Round 3, 4:06 – for the UFL bantamweight championship
Phoenix vs. Vegas: Sheymon Moraes def. TJ Brown by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Phoenix vs. Vegas: Trent Miller def. Marcus Nash by KO, Round 1, 1:59
Phoenix vs. Vegas: Ray Waters def. William Gibson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Phoenix vs. Vegas: Jackson Santa Cruz def. Anvar Boynazarov by submission (short choke), Round 1, 2:17

Preliminary Card

Yevgeni Shinkarevsku def. Richard Mahan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Desmond Manabat def. Angel Atoigue by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Kaleo Meheula def. Cris Mims by TKO (strikes), Round 1, 2:54

Team Vegas wins the $50,000 bonus for winning the team versus team showdown over Team Phoenix.

The post UFL 5: Phoenix vs. Vegas Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

A different UFC veteran than previously scheduled will be welcoming Marlon Moraes to the PFL on November 25th.

The promotion announced on Monday that Sheymon Moraes will be replacing the injured Shane Burgos against the former WSOF champion at the 2022 Championship event.  Per a press release, Burgos will now make his debut in the 2023 regular season.  The bout was previously set to be part of the pay-per-view portion of the event.  After the change in opponents, the PFL announced that Moraes vs Moraes will take place on the prelims while the promotional debut of Aspen Ladd against Julia Budd will be moved to the pay-per-view.

OFFICIAL: Due to Injury, Shane Burgos is out of his bout against @MMARLONMORAES. Marlon now faces @sheymonmoraes.

Here is your Updated 2022 #PFLWorldChampionship bout order pic.twitter.com/HBVCRpnm16

— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 7, 2022

Sheymon Moraes (23-6) will be looking to close out his year on a high note. after falling to two-time season winner Lance Palmer in the regular season.  A UFC veteran himself, Moraes competed in the Octagon from 2017 to 2019 where he posted a 2-3 record.  Moraes was immediately signed to the PFL after being released from the UFC where he has been more active in competing six times in two years.  Previously unscheduled to compete on the Championship card, Moraes steps in on roughly three weeks notice for the bout.

Marlon Moraes (23-10) enters the bout looking to snap a four fight skid.  A former WSOF champion, “Magic” notably holds UFC victories over current champion Aljamain Sterling and former featherweight champion José Aldo.  His current skid dates back to 2020 and while the losses are all to top ranked competition, Moraes nonetheless made the decision to retire after he was released from the UFC.  Moraes will be returning to compete as a featherweight for the first time in his career for his upcoming bout.

The 2022 Championship event is scheduled to take place at the Hulu theater in Madison Square Garden and will feature the six tournament finals as well as several showcase bouts.

The post Sheymon Moraes Steps In to Fight Marlon Moraes on Final PFL Card of 2022 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Moraes has not fought since July 13, 2019, when he was knocked out in the first round by Andre Fili. Following the loss to Fili, which was his second in his row, the UFC released the featherweight. After being released, Moraes contemplated retirement, despite being at the young age of just 29.

During PFL 1 media day this week, Moraes spoke about his release and noted that, “he almost stopped fighting.” A media member would ask him to expand on just why he nearly hung up the gloves.

“Well, when I got released, I didn’t make enough money, and my head stayed kind of confused with a lot going on,” Moraes said. “The pandemic started, you know, and I didn’t feel motivated to train. My son started to grow up, and I had to try and start to make money.”

Eventually, Moraes decided to get back in the gym and give it one more go.

“After I took a long break, I just stopped by the gym, to see if this was still inside of me. I went during the sparring day, and ‘I said I’m going to do three rounds; I’m going to do my best; if someone knocks me out – I’m done. If I did well, without eight months of training – I’m back, I’m gonna train and keep going.'”

Moraes smiled and said, “I’m here.”

Watch the full PFL 1 2021 media day interview with Sheymon Moraes above. This year’s PFL 1 card takes place live in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Friday, April 23. The event airs on ESPN+ and ESPN 2.

The post PFL 1’s Sheymon Moraes Was Almost Done Fighting appeared first on Cageside Press.

While the English fighter has been fighting professionally since 2010 and has fought worldwide, including one fight inside the UFC against Mike Wilkinson in 2012, he might be known to most people as the guy Dana White didn’t sign on season three of Dana White’s Contender Series.

In 2019, Loughnane dominated Bill Algeo on the premiere of the third season of the popular fighting series. At the end of the night, White passed on Loughnane, which shocked the MMA world. Nevertheless, the English fighter hopes to shed that memory but doesn’t think it will happen.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of that, to be honest, that seems to the first thing that comes up in every interview,” Loughnane said to Cageside Press during the PFL 1 media day on Tuesday. “I don’t think I’ll be losing that title. ’10 second Brendan’ won’t be going away anytime soon…”

“Whether you call me 10 second Brendan, it doesn’t really matter to me know because, as I said, [I’m on a] five-fight win streak, and I have some really tough tests this year, so we’ll see how good I really am. If you don’t believe me, we’ll see this, won’t we.”

Watch the full PFL 1 2021 media day interview with Brendan Loughnane above.

The post PFL 1: Brendan Loughnane “’10 second Brendan’ won’t be going away anytime soon” appeared first on Cageside Press.

On Tuesday, Professional Fighters League officials announced via press release the full line-up for the promotion’s first event of 2021. Taking place April 23, PFL 1 (2021 edition, as the promotion resets its numbers each season) will be headlined by lightweight action as Anthony Pettis (24-10) takes on Clay Collard (18-8, 1NC). The bout will be Pettis’ first since exiting the UFC as a free agent, and landing with the league — which provides an opportunity for fighters to earn one million USD should they claim the championship at the end of the season.

The 34-year old Pettis has won his last two fights. “Showtime” is, of course, a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion. Collard is himself a UFC vet, and will also be making his UFC debut.

Joining Pettis on the card, in the co-main event, will be two-time PFL champ Natan Schulte (20-3-1). He’ll face incoming UFC and Bellator MMA veteran Marcin Held. Held (26-7) enters the bout on a four-fight win streak dating back to his final appearance in the UFC, a unanimous decision win over Nasrat Haqparast in 2017. Since then, Held has picked up a trio of wins in ACA/ACB.

Also featuring on the PFL 2021 season opener will be featherweight champ Lance Palmer, taking on former Bellator standout Bubba Jenkins. Canada’s Olivier-Aubin Mercier will debut against Joilton Lutterbach, and Brendan Loughnane, perhaps the most famous Contender Series alum to not earn a UFC deal, will take on former UFC talent Sheymon Moraes.

PFL 1, 2021 Full Card:

ESPN 2 Card

Anthony Pettis vs. Clay Collard
Natan Schulte vs. Marcin Held
Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Jason Soares
Lance Palmer vs. Bubba Jenkins

ESPN+ Card

Loik Radzhabov vs. Johnny Case
Joilton Lutterbach vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier
Akhmed Aliev vs. Mikhail Odintsov
Jo Sungbin vs. Tyler Diamond
Brendan Loughnane vs. Sheymon Moraes

The post Anthony Pettis vs. Clay Collard, Natan Schulte vs. Marcin Held Top PFL Season Opener appeared first on Cageside Press.

Ferreira’s signing was originally reported by MMA Fighting back in March.

In all, a total of eight fighters were announced as joining the PFL roster on Tuesday. In a press release, the league revealed that in addition to Ferreira and Moraes, Renan Ferreira, Joilton Lutterbach, Hatef Moeil, Marthin Hamlet, Sung Bin Jo, and Brandon Salyes had also inked deals.

Ferreira (13-8) last fought for the UFC in July 2019. “Mutante” won the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil at middleweight, though he would briefly try his hand in the welterweight division. During his stint in the UFC, Ferreira picked up notable wins over Anthony Smith and Jack Hermansson. He ended his octagon run on a two-fight skid with losses to Ian Heinisch and Marvin Vettori.

For Sheymon Moraes, signing with the PFL is a little bit like a homecoming. The featherweight competed for the league’s precursor, the World Series of Fighting, prior to joining the UFC in 2017. At the time, Moraes’ departure was not amicable, and he felt insulted that WSOF head Ray Sefo would not allow him to sign elsewhere while in an exclusive negotiating window with the promotion.

It’s all water under the bridge, apparently.

Among the other fighters signed, Renana Ferreira (6-2) is a representative of Team Nogueira who will bring his 6 foot 8 frame to the heavyweight division. South Korea’s Sung Bin Jo (9-1) will join Moraes in the featherweight division. Two more heavyweights join the fold, in American Brandon Sayles (5-1) and German Hatef Moeil (10-4). Another German, Joilton Lutterback (34-8, 1NC) brings a wealth of experience with him to the lightweight division, currently ruled by Natan Schulte. Finally, Norway’s Marthin Hamlet (6-1), who previously challenged for gold in U.K.-based Cage Warriors, joins the PFL’s light heavyweight division.

The Professional Fighters League’s 2021 schedule is expected to begin next April.

The post TUF Brazil Winner Cezar Ferreira, Sheymon Moraes Among Additions to PFL Roster appeared first on Cageside Press.

Andre Fili had the best moment of his UFC career to date at UFC Sacramento — as the hometown kid knocked out Sheymon Moraes in round one.

Andre Fili and Sheymon Moraes headed into UFC Sacramento on different paths. Andre Fili had won three of his last four bouts coming into the card, his single loss being a controversial split decision to Michael Johnson last August. However, his wins were all over notable names in Artem Lobov, Dennis Bermudez, and Myles Jury. That win over Jury was in February and put him on the brink of busting into the top-15.

Sheymon Moraes, on the other hand, had gone 2-2 in his last four. Moraes was coming off a loss to Sodiq Yusuff in March at UFC Philadelphia. However, prior to that loss, he was riding a two-fight winning streak over Julio Arce and Matt Sayles. He notably lost to Zabit Magomedsharipov via Anaconda choke in November of 2017 in his UFC debut.

The crowd was going wild for hometown kid Andre Fili during the introductions, and that intensity would continue into the fight. Moraes was hitting Fili with some excellent leg kicks, and landing his jab with ease. Fili connected with some kicks to the body through the first as well. However Fili would soon land a punch, then a head kick that dropped Moraes. Moraes would get back to his feet, where Fili would be patient. He would then land a perfect right hand that dropped Moraes again! Fili would swarm the Brazilian with punches and that was it.

The combo that set up the finishing sequence.@TouchyFili #UFCSacramento pic.twitter.com/UmQO04uBJz

— UFC (@ufc) July 13, 2019

Andre Fili has been in the UFC since 2013, however, he is just starting to hit his stride. This win should give him a spot in the top 15.

Andre Fili def. Sheymon Moraes by knockout, Round 1, 3:07

The post UFC Sacramento Results: Andre Fili KO’s Sheymon Moraes appeared first on Cageside Press.

With the UFC Sacramento main event official (it’s Germaine de Randamie vs. Aspen Ladd), the card continued to fill out on Wednesday. The latest additions? At featherweight, Andre Fili vs. Sheymon Moraes. And at light heavyweight, Gian Villante is set to take on Mike Rodriguez. The UFC revealed the bouts on the event’s official fight card.

Fili (19–6), who fights out of Sacramento, is 3-1 across his last four bouts. He bounced back from a loss to Michael Johnson last time out, when he defeated Myles Jury at UFC Phoenix. Fili’s other two wins in that span came against Artem Lobov and Dennis Bermudez.

Opponent Sheymon Moraes (11-3), meanwhile, had a two-fight win streak snapped against Sodiq Yusuff at UFC Philadelphia in March. He’d earned wins over Julio Arce and Matt Sayles prior to that.

Light heavyweights Gian Villante (17–11), who is 2-2 in his last four bouts, and Mike Rodriguez (10-3) will also clash at UFC Sacramento. Rodriguez will enter the fight off a win over Adam Milstead. 1-1 in the UFC, Rodriguez is 5-1 in his past six bouts.

UFC Sacramento (UFC Fight Night 155) takes place July 13, 2019 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA.

The post Fili vs. Moraes, Villante vs. Rodriguez The Latest Additions to UFC Sacramento appeared first on Cageside Press.

Sodiq Yusuff was just 6-1 when he received his shot at the Contender Series last year. That one loss was in a title fight for well-respected regional promotion Titan FC. After a Brave CF first-round win and a Contender Series decision victory, Yusuff made his UFC debut in December. The Nigerian-born fighter’s brother had unfortunately passed away just days before Yusuff stepped in the Octagon, and “Super” Sodiq was able to win by first-round knockout and earn a performance bonus in his honor.

Sheymon Moraes was undefeated at 7-0 when he received a WSOF title shot against promotional kingpin Marlon Moraes. Sheymon lost by third-round stoppage, then bounced back with a pair of wins before signing with the UFC. He was welcomed to the Octagon by phenom Zabit Magomedsharipov, losing by submission, but has since won a pair of decision victories.

Sodiq Yusuff marches down Moraes to start the match. He pops the Brazilian with a jab followed by a hard leg kick. The veteran fighter, Moraes responds with a teep kick. They battle with tons of kicks with Yusuff getting the better of the exchanges. Moraes touches Yusuff with an uppercut. The African-born fighter hits Moraes with two hard calf kicks and then blasts him with a perfectly timed right hand.

Yusuff grabs double underhooks and starts to knee Moraes’ legs before the two fighters get separated by the referee. They exchange inside leg kicks and then Moraes attempts to go high. Both fighters land clean right hands and Yusuff grabs the double underhooks once again. He peppers the legs with some knees but can’t trip Moraes down.

The Brazilian is able to change the position. Both fighters start to trade knees in the clinch. They break and Yusuff finishes the round with another calf kick.

Cageside Press Scored the First Round 10-9 Yusuff

Moraes goes to the body with a kick. He attempts it again but gets struck with a clean 1-2. Yusuff clinches and presses Moraes against the cage. The Brazilian is able to spin off the cage and fires a high kick that is mostly blocked.

Moraes kicks the body, while Yusuff goes to the calf. Moraes catches a kick and throws a high kick of his own. It grazes Yusuff, who counters with a combination. Moraes grabs the clinch but the Nigerian pushes him off.

Moraes opens up with a high kick and two low kicks. Yusuff responds with a combo of his own. Moraes clinches again and presses Yusuff against the cage. Yusuff hits the body with a knee and is able to break free.

Moraes hits Yusuff with a head kick which causes him to pick up the pressure. He gets the double underhooks and trips Moraes down. The Brazilian pops right back up, but Yusuff does not let go of the body lock. He fights off several trip attempts from the Team Llyod Irvin product. Once they break, Moraes misses a head kick. Yusuff finishes the round with a combination. Very close round that could go to either fighter.

Cageside Press Scored the Second Round 10-9 Moraes

Yusuff starts the action with a kick to the body. He lands two shots to the body. Moraes grabs the clinch but Yusuff presses him against the cage. They break and both hit each other with right hands. Moraes lands jab and fires off a hard body kick. Yusuff counters with three kicks of his own. The Brazilian catches a kick but can’t capitalize on it.

They both land hooks. Moraes slips on a high kick but gets back to his feet before Yusff pounces on him. Check hook lands for the Nigerian fighter. He touches Moraes with a right hand. Moraes marches forward and hits Yusuff with a body punch. He then hits him with a step-in elbow. Yusuff fires off two jabs. They both land short hooks.

Moraes misses a high kick and an elbow and then is suddenly floored by a straight right hand from Yusuff. He is hurt! Yusuff jumps in him into mount and fires off shots. Moraes somehow survives and scrambles to his feet. The Brazilian is still hurt. They both throw heavy shots.

Moraes misses a few high kicks as the fight comes to an end. The knockdown should win Yusuff the round and the fight.

Cageside Press Scored the Third Round 10-9 Yusuff (29-28 Yusuff)

Sodiq Yusuff def. Sheymon Moraes by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)

The post UFC Philadelphia Results: Sodiq Yusuff Drops Sheymon Moraes Late to Secure Decision Win appeared first on Cageside Press.

Wilmington, DE — Featherweight Sheymon Moraes returns to the octagon this weekend at UFC Philadelphia, taking on Sodiq Yusuff, a hot prospect who shot to fame on the Contender Series. Moraes, in that sense, is looking to play spoiler on the Philadelphia card. And he certainly has it in him. Last time out, the Brazilian was in a bloodbath against Julio Arce. He came away with a split decision.

This time, he told media members including Cageside Press at the UFC Philadelphia media day, it doesn’t matte if it’s bloody or not. Sounding like every James Bond villain ever, he said simply that “I don’t care, the blood is not mine.”

Yikes. Then again, he added, “If it’s a clean fight, it’s better for the people that watch. I hope I can knock him out or win by choke or something like that.”

Wait, a clean fight is better? But isn’t a bloodier fight a way to get more attention? Maybe, maybe not. “Some spectators get scared,” he suggested. Plus, there was the three showers he had to take to get cleaned up after his last fight. “I think three times. It was crazy.”

After going to the judges in his first two UFC wins, Moraes is looking to get that first UFC finish. “Yeah man, I hope so. I’m hungry for a knockout.” While he’s happy with the way his career has unfolded in the promotion so far (his only loss came to Zabit Magomedsharipov, himself a rising star), finishes were something Moraes was used to. “I want to show the division how powerful I am.”

An opponent like Sodiq Yusuff, meanwhile, is “making me train more,” Moraes said. “I feel really challenged because the guy’s young, he’s powerful, he’s explosive. This is making me challenge myself, train more harder, making more motivation for giving you guys a better show.”

Despite the hype train of Sodiq, Moraes doesn’t feel overlooked. “He’s a really good fighter, he’s good in everything. I have to watch out for him all the time.” Moraes doesn’t think he’ll be able to take his eyes off his opponent, so perhaps the hype is well deserved. “We’ll see if he can [take] my power, if I can [take] his power,” the Brazilian finished.

The post UFC Philadelphia: Sheymon Moraes Wants to See if Sodiq Yusuff Can Handle His Power appeared first on Cageside Press.