The PFL 1: Loughnane vs. Moraes mixed martial arts event for the 2023 season of the Professional Fighters League will be held on April 1, 2023, at the The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. This marked the first regular-season event of the tournament and included fights in the Featherweight and Light Heavyweight divisions.
Main card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Featherweight Brendan Loughnane vs. Marlon Moraes
Light Heavyweight Rob Wilkinson vs. Thiago Santos
Light Heavyweight Krzysztof Jotko vs. Will Fleury
Featherweight Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Ryoji Kudo
Featherweight Chris Wade vs. Bubba Jenkins
Preliminary card (ESPN+)
Light Heavyweight Marthin Hamlet vs. Mohammed Fakhreddine
Light Heavyweight Joshua Silveria vs. Sam Kei
Featherweight Alejandro Flores vs. Daniel Torres
Featherweight Sung Bin Jo vs. Jesus Pinedo
Light Heavyweight Delan Monte vs. Ty Flores
Light Heavyweight Cory Hendricks vs. Impa Kasanganay
Background
The first event of 2023 will feature a headline bout between Brendan Loughnane (26-4) and Marlon Moraes (23-11-1) in the featherweight division. Meanwhile, Rob Wilkinson (17-2) will face Thiago Santos (22-11), a former UFC title challenger, in the co-main event.
A light heavyweight bout between Omari Akhmedov and Will Fleury was expected to take place at the event. However, Akhmedov was forced to withdraw due to suffering an injury and was replaced by Krzysztof Jotko.
The Professional Fighters League, the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, today announced the card for its 2023 Regular Season kickoff, PFL 1, taking place on Saturday, April 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of Curio Collection by Hilton, live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. 2022 PFL Featherweight World Champion Brendan Loughnane headlines the card against Marlon Moraes, as he looks for his second PFL World Championship.
In the co-main event, 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight World Champion Robert Wilkinson returns to the PFL SmartCage against Thiago Santos. Santos will be making his highly anticipated PFL debut.
Further action will see 2021 PFL Featherweight Champion Movlid Khaybulaev take on Ryoji Kudo, as both fighters look to take their first step towards a berth in the 2023 PFL Playoffs.
In a contest between two Americans, 2022 PFL Featherweight Runner-Up, Bubba Jenkins matches up with Chris Wade, a former PFL Featherweight Finalist, for a rematch of the 2021 PFL Featherweight Semifinal.
PFL CEO Peter Murray: “We look forward to delivering fans access to our unprecedented MMA season and follow the season-long journeys of world-class fighters competing for one step closer to the $1 million prize.”
“The 2023 PFL Regular Season is shaping up for our best season yet, and I’m excited to watch our Featherweight and Light Heavyweight divisions compete on April 1,” said PFL President of Fighter Operations, Ray Sefo. “From returning PFL World Champions, to league debuts from MMA stars, fight fans across the world are in for a treat starting with PFL 1 in Las Vegas.”
