NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most
innovative sports league, today announced that the PFL Challenger
Series will continue from Universal Studios in Orlando, FL on Friday,
March 18 at 9 p.m. ET with
lightweight action. The PFL Challenger Series airs live
exclusively on Fubo Sports Network, the live TV network from
sports-first live TV streaming platform fuboTV Inc. (NYSE:
FUBO).
The PFL Challenger Series is a platform in which MMA fighters
can earn a PFL contract and an opportunity to compete in the PFL
Regular Season. The PFL continues to innovate the sport of MMA by
expanding opportunities for exceptional fighters from around the
globe.
The PFL Challenger Series has seen more than 500 fighters from
around the world apply to compete. Out of those applicants, eight,
one per week, will earn a PFL contract which will put them in
the 2022 Regular Season or set them on a development path with the
league in hopes of joining a future Season.
"We could not be more excited about the lightweight talent
entering the inaugural PFL Challenger Series," said
Ray Sefo, President of Fighter
Operations of PFL. "When the lightweights square off, with a
potential PFL roster spot up for grabs, on March 18 MMA fans are guaranteed action and
excitement."
Brazilian ace Bruno Miranda will
take on American Carson Frei in a
matchup of well-rounded fighters. Miranda has fought around the
world boasting a 13-3 record and brings a four-fight winning streak
to the Smartcage. Frei (9-4) is coming off of an impressive first
round win, his third in four fights. The Oregon native will look to impress in hopes of
making the jump to the 2022 PFL Season.
Damir Ferhatbegovic is the Valor
FC lightweight champion and he is looking to make the jump to the
big show. The "Bosnian Barn Cat" claimed the title with a second
round knockout this past June to run his record to 5-2-1. He will
face his toughest challenge to date when he steps into the cage
with City Kickboxing product BJ Bland. Bland (16-10) has a wealth
of experience and trains with top fighters like Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski.
Michael Dufort (8-4) is a
training partner of Olivier
Aubin-Mercier and is looking to make a mark of his own by
joining his friend in the PFL lightweight division. The Canadian is
a finisher with all eight of his wins coming by way of stoppage
while three of his defeats have come by split-decision. He'll take
on hard-hitting Armenian Arut Pogosian out of the talent-laden
Elevation Fight Team in Colorado.
Pogosian (9-3) comes in on a three-fight win streak, two by way of
first round knockout.
Israeli newcomer Yanal Ashmoz is set to take on American
Dennis Hughes to round out the
lightweight slate. Ashmoz (6-0) sports a spotless record with five
straight finishes including four knockouts. Hughes (7-3) is a
Mississippi native who enters the
Challenger Series on a three-fight winning streak of his own. Of
his seven wins, only one opponent has made it to the final bell. He
has been an equal opportunity finisher with three submissions and
three knockouts.
Lightweight Matchups:
Bruno Miranda vs. Carson Frei
Damir Ferhatbegovic vs. BJ Bland
Michael Dufort vs. Arut Pogosian
Yanal Ashmoz vs. Dennis Hughes
Viewers watching the PFL Challenger Series can also interact
with the lightweight live competition through fuboTV's popular
predictive, free-to-play games to earn points and compete for a
cash prize. During the bouts, fans can answer predictive questions
about the action all on one screen using their remote control. Fubo
Sportsbook, now live in Iowa and
Arizona, is also the exclusive
gambling sponsor of the PFL Challenger Series.
Fubo Sports Network is fuboTV's linear TV network dedicated to
featuring sports stories on and off the field. Fans can stream live
sports, original programming and partner content on Fubo Sports
Network as part of fuboTV's subscription packages of 100+ sports,
news and entertainment channels.
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SOURCE Professional Fighters League (PFL)