Liam Lindsay

The scheduled main card matchup between Khalil Rountree Jr and Azamat Murzakanov is off the UFC Austin Texas card on December 2dn, headlined by Beniel Dariush and Arman Tsarukyan. This news comes directly from Dana White, who announced via Instagram that Murzakanov has pneumonia.

In his place, Anthony "Lionheart" Smith will step in on short notice to face Rountree one week later on December 9th. It will serve as the three-round co-main event at UFC Fight Night 233, headlined by Song Yadong vs. Chris Gutierrez.

Rountree Jr is riding a four-fight win streak, with three of those four victories coming via KO/TKO. He made quick work of Chris Daukaus in his last bout, securing a knockout victory in the first round. 
Anthony Smith is also coming off a victory against Ryan Spann. Smith and Spann had their rematch at UFC Singapore in August, where Smith won a competitive fight via split-decision. He now looks to build another win streak in the division.

So, who do you have winning? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Murzakanov OUT, Anthony Smith Steps In On Short Notice For New Date

Liam Mooney

This Friday will see the conclusion of the 2023 PFL season, with all finalists in each weight class competing not only for the coveted PFL championship but a life-changing $1,000,000 in prize money. The event takes place in Washington, DC, and will be broadcast all over the globe featuring an array of fan favorites, defending champions, and surprise newcomers. With the PFL's recent purchase of Bellator, many eyes will be drawn to this finale.

## Jesus Pinedo Vs. Gabriel Alves Braga


![Pinedo.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f4ec12cc-d75c-4c22-87b6-e9e494b66b00/public 'Credits to PFL.')

Closing the preliminary card will see two PFL newcomers compete for the Featherweight title. This will be a rematch from the first regular season bout, which saw a closely fought battle with Alves Braga taking a split decision victory. Since his PFL debut defeat, Jesus Pinedo finished both of last year's finalists with an impressive first-round TKO against last year's champion, Brendan Loughnane, and a second-round TKO against 2022 runner-up Bubba Jenkins. Relatively unknown to the public prior to his huge upset win against Loughnane, Pinedo wasted no time in winning over fans all over the globe with his back-to-back incredible performances. Pinedo will no doubt be looking to improve on those victories and seek revenge against Alves Braga. 

However, Alves Braga is undefeated with a record of 11-0, with five victories coming via knockout. This season Brage has a split decision victory over his upcoming opponent in his PFL debut, followed by a first-round KO against UFC veteran Marlon Moraes in the regular season. Alves Braga then went on to beat PFL vet and former UFC athlete Chris Wade in the semi-finals via split decision. With two newcomers chasing the title and a million-dollar payday, this fight has everything to kick off the PPV in style and set the tone for the rest of the night. 


## Ray Cooper III Vs. Derek Brunson


![Brunson.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/150eacf8-68e1-4427-76b7-6e5041b78400/public 'Credits to PFL.')

The PFL 2021 welterweight champion Ray Cooper III will kick off the main card and will make his Middleweight debut against UFC veteran and PFL debutant Derek Brunson. Cooper has an impressive record of 25-8-1, with 16 wins coming via KO and seven by submission. Cooper moved up to middleweight as the PFL removed their middleweight division, which explains why he has not fought this year. To welcome newcomer Brunson on the biggest card of the year should give him the opportunity he has been waiting for. 

On the other hand, Brunson is coming off back-to-back defeats in the UFC. Having never lost three fights in a row, he will look to make good of this opportunity on his PFL debut. Brunson was on a five-fight win streak in the UFC until he fell into two knockout losses against Jarod Cannonier and Dricus Du Plessis. With a similar record of 23-9, Brunson is still a very dangerous fighter despite now being 39 years old, and a good performance against Cooper will certainly showcase that he has a lot left in the tank.


## Kayla Harrison Vs. Aspen Ladd


![Harrison.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f88bf0be-8dd2-4256-11ba-960ba29e2000/public 'Credits to PFL.')

The next fight on the card will mark the return of Kayla Harrison in a catchweight bout (150lbs) marking almost precisely one year since her last fight. Harrison has dominated the PFL throughout her career, debuting in MMA in the PFL in 2018; Harrison captured two PFL championships in the women's Lightweight division in 2019 and 2021. Her only career loss came to Larissa Pacheco in her last fight. With an outstanding judo resume, including two Olympic gold medals, Harrison transitioned to MMA with nothing but success. With a record of 15-1 and 12 wins via finish, Harrison is one of the most dangerous women in MMA. 

Her opponent this weekend will be none other than Aspen Ladd, a fighter who made her PFL debut in last year's championship PPV finale. Ladd is 2-1 in the PFL and 11-4 in her MMA career overall, with 8 of those victories coming via finish. Ladd has yet to compete in the PFL season and will undoubtedly be looking to make a massive statement over a two-time winner in Harrison, who, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back after her first defeat in her career.


## Josh Silveira Vs. Impa Kasanganay


![Kasanganay.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6bb34103-beda-414b-2644-73b9305b7700/public 'Credits to PFL.')

Josh Silveira will be looking to make good on his second season in the PFL as he faces off against Impa Kasanganay. Silveira first competed in the PFL challenger series in 2022 before competing in the playoffs later that year. Unfortunately, Silveira would succumb to his only professional defeat at the hands of Omari Akhmedov. Silveira, however, would undoubtedly make the most of his second opportunity in the PFL, racking up three wins, all coming via finish in the first round. Now, he stands just one win away from winning the Light Heavyweight title.

Kasanganay, another PFL debutant this year and fellow PFL challenger series winner, is looking to spoil the party. After being cut from the UFC with a record of 2-2, where he competed as both a Middleweight and Welterweight, Kasanganay moved to Lightheavyweight and has been a driving force ever since. Four straight victories with three finishes mean Ksasanganay is just one more win away from capturing a PFL title and a one-million-dollar cheque.


## Magomed Magomedkerimov  vs. Sadibou Sy


![Sy.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/11cc7cee-fa88-4a74-03cb-0317dfad6000/public 'Credit to PFL.')

The next fight will be for the Welterweight gold, featuring a rematch from the 2021 semi-final. Magomedkerimov, who has an outstanding record of 15-1 in the PFL, will face off against defending champion Sadibou Sy. Both fighters will be looking to add a second title to their trophy cabinet this weekend as they face off for the second time in the PFL. Magomedkerimov has been one of the most successful fighters in the PFL but has only managed to capture the title once, back in 2018. After not competing in the regular season last year, Magomedkerimov still fought at PFL 10 in 2022 against Gleison Tibau in a Catchweight bout. Just over a year later, he will face off against the man who won that year's tournament. 

Sy has become a fan favorite with his exciting style and viral knockouts. However, he has one of his biggest tests standing in front of him this weekend, looking for redemption in what was his last defeat. Both men have a similar record in this year season coming into the fight with three wins, including two TKO victories. This fight undoubtedly has all the potential to be one of the most exciting fights on the card.


## Larissa Pacheco vs. Marina Mokhnatkina


![Pachenco.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/018b3cc8-e7fd-4dd1-cc14-f5fb747f1700/public 'Credit to PFL.')

Challenging for the women’s Featherweight title will be defending champion Larissa Pacheco and Russian sambo star Marina Mokhnatkina. Pacheco will be looking to make it back to back final victories in her third PFL final. Riding a nine-fight win streak with an impressive record of 22-4, Pacheco has proven to be a powerhouse in the Featherweight division on numerous occasions. Pacheco has three wins this season, with her last two ending within the first minute via TKO. Pacheco’s last defeat came back in the PFL 2019 final against Kayla Harrison, who she ultimately got her revenge on last year as she won the upset of the year when she defeated her in the final. 

Her opponent's last loss also came at the hands of Harrison in last year’s opening fight. Since then, Mokhnatkina has notched up a five-fight win streak with an eye-opening performance in her last bout where she submitted Amber Leibrock with an armbar in the semi-finals. Mokhnatkina debuted in the PFL in 2021, defeating Claudia Zamora. Since then, she has been 6-1, with her only loss coming to the aforementioned Harrison.


## Renan Ferreira Vs. Denis Goltsov


![Goltsov Ferreira.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/697e8468-fe5a-4bb7-069d-c231e3903500/public 'Credit to PFL.')

The co-main event of the evening will see the two Heavyweight finalists, Renan Ferreira and Denis Golstov, go toe-to-toe. The 6’8 Heavyweight Ferreira is 2-0 this season after his defeat to Rizvan Kuniev was overturned to a no-contest as Kuniev failed a drugs test. Yet his first-round 50-second knockout against Matheus Scheffel was enough to see him progress into the semi-finals. Ferreira would continue his first-round KO streak against Maurice Greene and book a place in the finals. Ferreira has been fighting in the PFL since 2021 and finds himself in his first final. With 82% of his 11 victories coming by knockout, Ferreira is a dangerous fighter who can turn his opponent's lights out in a split second. 

His opponent, Goltsov, also has a knockout record to boast about with 15 knockouts in his 32 career wins. Futhermore, all three of his victories this season came in the first round, two of which were knockouts and one submission. Goltsov is riding a five-fight win streak and will compete in his first PFL final. Both men possess the ability to finish each other at any instant and this will certainly not be a fight you will want to take your eyes off.


## Olivier Aubin-Mercier Vs. Clay Collard


The PPV’s main event will see the Lightweight title defended by reigning champion Aubin-Mercier against first-time finalist Collard. Both fighters joined the PFL in 2021 and have continued to shine throughout the past few years. Aubin-Mercier is undefeated in the PFL with a record of 9-0 and holds impressive victories over names such as Stevie Ray, Shane Burgos, and Bruno Miranda. On the other hand, Collard has a PFL record of 6-2, who also has some impressive wins on his resume. These include Shayne Burgos, Stevie Ray, Jeremy Stevens, and Anthony Pettis. 

This season, after a dominant performance against Shayne Burgos in the season’s opener, Aubin-Mercier has back-to-back KO victories showcasing a new-found element to his game. Collard progressed to the finals this season with a dominant performance over Yamato Nishikawa and a KO victory over Stevie Ray in the regular season. Then, a surprise entrance in Shayne Burgos in the semi-finals was not enough to stop Collard from progressing to the finals as he took a unanimous decision victory. 

This year's main event is one of the more captivating and exciting fights on the card, as two of the PFL’s best Welterweights will finally face off for the first time when the stakes are at their highest. 







PFL 10 Preview

Dana White just announced some huge matchups on this Thanksgiving day, as well as some more information on UFC 298, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria. Let's break down all the news we got today.

## Bobby Green Draws Top-15 Replacement

Bobby "King" Green was supposed to face Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan, but due to an injury on Hooker's end, the bout was canceled, and Greens' placement on the card was jeopardized. However, White announced they'd found a short-notice replacement for the card: #11-ranked Jalin Turner. Turner is coming off a Fight of The Year contender against Hooker, where he lost via split decision. Green is coming off one of the biggest upsets of the year when he KOed Grant Dawson in his second UFC main event. The match serves as the co-main event of the card.

## Joe Pyfer vs. Jack Hermansson Set for February

White also announced that Joe Pyfer will face his first-ranked opponent in Q1 of 2024. The highly rated Middleweight prospect will face the #10 ranked Jack Hermansson, who is coming off a loss to Roman Dolidze, on February 10th inside the UFC Apex in Paradise, Nevada. This fight serves as a real passing of the torch moment, and it will be up to Hermansson to keep Pyfer out of the Middleweight elite and hold onto his ranking.

## Date and Venue Announced For UFC 298

The final announcement came in the form of an update on UFC 298. The PPV, headlined by a Featherweight title fight between Volkanovski and Topuria, will go down inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. This marks the UFC's 10th return to Anaheim and the first since UFC 270, which Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane headlined for the undisputed UFC Heavyweight title.

What are your predictions for the two newly announced fights? And will you be attending UFC 298? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

Joe Pyfer Main Events, Bobby Green Recieves Late Replacement, Update on UFC 298 

Douglas Vegas Bets

The championship fights are finally here as we prepare for the grand finale of a tremendous PFL season with a stacked card with a mix of title and showcase fights to watch. I went over the card and gave my predictions and best bets for each fight, so let's get into it. 

**Odds provided by Stake.com accurate as of 11/23/2023 7:00 AM EST** 

## Clay Collard +200 vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier -294

The headliner for this card is the highly anticipated Lightweight championship. Clay Collard is an extremely high-volume puncher with tremendous boxing, although he has taken a lot of damage to the lead leg this season, which is hard to ignore entering a tough five-round fight. Olivier Aubin-Mercier has dominated since coming to the PFL and is still only getting better, with finishes in three of his last four wins, including last year's championship against Stevie Ray.

This will be a wild fight where Collard will put the pace on early, but if Aubin-Mercier can survive, he will have a chance to take over down the stretch.

Pick: Aubin-Mercier O/U: Over 4.5 -135

## Renan Ferreira +190 vs. Denis Goltsov -297

The Heavyweight championship will be on the line as these two big-time finishers go head to head. Renan Ferreira is an athletic and massive guy, even for a Heavyweight, and with that comes big punching power, although he has struggled when facing a grappler before. Denis Goltsov has dominated this season with three finishes in round one, coming by a mix of knockouts and submission, showing his well-rounded game on the road to this title opportunity. 

This is a dangerous fight, but I see Goltsov as the rightful favorite with his more well-rounded game and Ferreira's inconsistency. 

Pick: Goltsov O/U: Under 1.5 -185

## Larissa Pacheco -1111 vs. Marina Mokhnatkina +500

The Featherweight championship on the line here as we see a champion from last year look to claim a new weight class. Larissa Pacheco enters this off of two knockout wins that took her less than a minute combined; she is a powerful puncher with no real holes in her game. Marina Mokhnatkina earns a championship opportunity here after a strong season where she finished two of her three fights, including a first-round submission in the semi-finals to show her dangerous submission attack. 

I see Pacheco getting another early knockout finish here and claiming her second title in two years. 

Pick: Pacheco O/U: Under 1.5 +140

## Magomed Magomedkerimov -175 vs. Sadibou Sy +126

This is a Welterweight rematch with much more on the line than the first meeting, as this will be for the million-dollar championship. Magomed Magomederimov has been incredible in the PFL, winning a championship with his well-rounded game and now showing a further evolved striking game with two knockouts this season. Sadibou Sy has not lost since the last meeting between these two, having evolved his game to be better defensively and finishing fights with his dangerous kickboxing style. 

I'll take Magomedkerimov here, as although Sy has improved his wrestling, I'm not sure he has done enough to close the gap between the two here.

Pick: Magomedkerimov O/U: Over 4.5 -185

## Impa Kasanganay -204 vs. Josh Silveira +144

Two fighters who go for the finish will battle for the Light Heavyweight championship. Impa Kasanganay burst onto the PFL scene with three impressive wins this season, showing a complete game in the process. Josh Silveira is a dangerous finisher with three first-round wins in his last three fights; he has both submission and knockout capabilities early in the fight. 

I lean with Silveira as the underdog here as I give him the finishing edge in this close matchup. 

Pick: Silveira O/U: Under 2.5 -108

## Kayla Harrison -1250 vs. Aspen Ladd +540

This is a Featherweight matchup between two of the PFL's most prominent names as they go head to head in this featured bout. Kayla Harrison returns here after her first career loss to Larissa Pacheco at the end of last season; she has had a dominant wrestling game, although she has never faced much tough competition and is moving down in weight here. Aspen Ladd stepped in here and looks to establish herself as a threat in the PFL; she competed at the top of the UFC and showed bursts of real top-level potential and finishing ability.

I'll take Ladd at these odds, as I don't see Harrison as worth this price against any decent competition, and Ladd is certainly not a bad fighter. 

Pick: Ladd O/U: Over 2.5 -135

## Ray Cooper III -208 vs. Derek Brunson +148

This Middleweight bout features a former champion up against a newcomer to the organization. Ray Cooper III is a hard-hitting former champion who moves up from his usual weight here, which could help him as he has had some trouble on the scales. Derek Brunson looks to be in great shape for his first post-UFC fight; he is a standout wrestler with an awkward standup and questionable durability.

I know former UFC fighters have yet to have much success debuting in PFL, but I like Brunson as the underdog here as I see him having a clear path with his wrestling.

Pick: Brunson O/U: Over 1.5 -147

## Jesus Pinedo -119 vs. Gabriel Alves Braga -115

Rematch here for the Featherweight championship. Jesus Pinedo got here with two massive upset wins in which he knocked out last year's champion, Brendan Loughnane, and top-seeded Bubba Jenkins. Gabriel Alves Braga is still undefeated entering this one, having won two split decisions this season to keep that record; he is a solid striker who is comfortable going the distance in his fights. 

I like Pinedo in this one, as I see him being the cleaner striker with more power in his strikes and taking a decision with more clarity this time. 

Pick: Pinedo O/U: Over 3.5 -147

## Bubba Jenkins -189 vs. Chris Wade +134

A Featherweight rivalry will write its next chapter here as these two matchup for a third time, each holding a victory over the other. Bubba Jenkins is a very strong wrestler with good top control and an improved striking game, although it is still not his preferred place to fight. Chris Wade just barely missed out on getting to the championship, losing a split decision to Gabriel Alves Braga, his game is well-rounded, and he is very aggressive. 

I'll pick Jenkins here as last time he looked levels ahead in the wrestling game, and if Wade can't keep Bubba off of him, he is going to be in for a long night.

Pick: Jenkins O/U: Over 2.5 -263

2023 PFL Championship Predictions

Benjamin	Zeltser

Most of the best athletes in other sports have seemingly prepared for the moment they would reach the pinnacle for their entire lives. Even MMA greats like Henry Cejudo started working toward his wrestling accolades as a kid.

The road to athletic greatness came differently for Impa Kasanganay, whose first brush with organized competition came in the form of American football as late as his senior year of high school.

## The Immigrant Mentality

![Boulevard-du-30-Juin-street-Kinshasa-Democratic (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/abd6f15a-fe35-4089-379a-2863f2b97e00/public "Impa Kasanganay's parents come from Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo by Britannica.")

Kasanganay is the first-born son of Congolese immigrants who moved to America from Kinshasa to create better opportunities for their family. Born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and growing up in the countryside of Okeechobee, Kasanganay moved to North Carolina at 12, where he would spend his formative years.

Like many immigrant households, Kasanganay's family would work unfathomable hours to provide a good life for Impa and his brother & sister. As a nurse, his mother sometimes worked 17-hour days to make ends meet.

His parents were determined to send their kids to college, so the focus growing up was on academics. Kasanganay attended an Art School for Music, where he learned to play Tuba and Trombone, and was initially focused on working his way toward becoming a music major in college.

Impa is one of those guys who gives you the feeling that if it weren't fighting, he would've been famous at something. His commitment to become the best in whatever his given interest was at the time showed through in his love for music, but his athletic prowess was what would ultimately take him places. In his senior year of high school (age 17), Kasanganay started pursuing football under coach Bellissimo in North Carolina, leading him to score a scholarship to Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2016.

![Impa_71.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4d648b79-c06d-465a-239a-aa49e9fdc400/public "Impa's athletic career started on the football field. Photo by Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics.")

Kasanganay credits his parents' open-mindedness as a critical factor in his life's direction. As an immigrant parent, it isn't easy to understand that being exceptional in athletics could lead to a free education. Their willingness to trust Impa's journey gave him a massive boost toward his future.

After a productive college career, Kasanganay would go on to play with future NFL star Kyle Dugger and earn three degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, and Finance. The guy has always been a well-rounded workhorse.

While Impa's initial plan was to play Tuba or Trombone professionally, he wanted to be realistic about his professional future, making plans to get his CPA and pursue Accounting full-time. However, his athletic prowess was undeniable, and it was in 2017 that he stepped into an MMA gym for the first time.

## MMA Beginnings

![50259429008_ca671794dd_z.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8e3cf5de-fca7-4ca4-80ff-38a2a45e3c00/public "Bryan Battle getting his hand raised against Impa Kasanganay in the amateur ranks. Who knew this fight would age so well? Photo by The Combat Sports Tribune.")

Let's recap: in just six years, Impa went from not playing any sport whatsoever to playing high-level college football and then fighting his first amateur MMA fight. He finished his first two amateur fights in just one minute and would incur his first-ever loss to future UFC veteran Bryan Battle. This fight was a valuable turning point in Impa's career, showing him that his takedown defense and grappling experience needed to be improved.

Impa's relentless mindset sent him to the gym to work heavily on improving his grappling to ensure he wouldn't make the same mistake again. "I wasn't mature enough to handle it at that time," he said.

"But then I didn't lose again 'till the Buckley fight."

The only two fighters to make their professional debut and Dana White's Contender Series debut in the same year? Bo Nickal and Impa Kasanganay.

![download (1).jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f5256aa7-2437-4f4f-b8e3-8234c7fbbe00/public "Impa putting it on Kailan Hill in his first Contender Series fight. Photo by Jeff Bottari, Zuffa LLC.")

Impa quickly built a 5-0 record in the span of six months and went on DWCS in August of 2019 to earn his spot in the UFC. He won by unanimous decision, but the performance needed to be better to earn a contract at that time.

Despite the lack of a UFC contract, Dana White said something about Impa that night that would foreshadow the rest of his career: "If one of these other organizations sign him, he could be top five in the world or world champion one day." That day could be Friday.

## Welcome to the Big Show

While Impa was technically 1-0 under the UFC banner, coming home without the contract was enough reason for him to go to his parents and admit defeat. With three degrees and an exceptional musical background in his back pocket, Impa didn't need to fight.

"When I finished college, I was either going to the Military or getting a CPA," he said. "I told my parents I had one amateur fight and left my accounting job to pursue fighting. I was working at a restaurant, bouncing around, even training clients for $10 a session. I told my parents that if I'm not in the UFC in two years, I'll go back and get my CPA. When I didn't get the contract (the first time on DWCS), I told my parents that I'd go back. But they pushed me to keep doing MMA," he said.

Suddenly, his parents were entirely on board. They saw his skill and commitment level and the avenues that sports could afford their family. His brother played college basketball, and his sister committed to West Point. Just like Impa, they were now all in.

"Don't come home if you lose," his father said.

![9d17ad8e-dc64-11ea-b1d3-42d340dc91a3_972x_154701 (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ccd7464a-8f6c-4c61-e883-d71b73a39c00/public "Kasanganay finally made it into the UFC after winning for a second time on Contender Series, this time against Anthony Adams. Photo by South China Morning Post.")

Impa was invited back to DWCS for the second time almost a year later. He wasn't going to let this opportunity go to waste. After securing the contract he worked hard for, Kasanganay was finally in the UFC.

## The Brutal Truth About the Fight Game

Kasanganay instantly made waves in one of the quickest debuts in history after a DWCS win. Just 18 days after securing the contract, he stepped into the octagon for his official UFC debut against Maki Pitolo. He scored a decision win in the debut against a fighter with more than twice as many fights on his record, setting him up for a major step in competition.

![1311819110.0.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/951b5150-d74e-4eee-f4b6-b5de52ea6700/public "During his UFC run, Impa's father sewed the flags together for him. Photo by MMA Mania.")

On another quick turnaround, Impa Kasanganay fought Joaquin Buckley on October 10, 2020, just a month and a half after his debut. He was still fighting out of his original fight camp, "Gym-O" in North Carolina, home to Scott Holtzman and Bryan Barbarena.

"Scott Holtzman was my first MMA mentor, I remember talking to him for over two hours one time about the future over the phone with him," he said.

![scott-holtzman-hero.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/27795a38-c489-4e8a-906e-5b9a8f89b700/public "Gym-O is led by Scott Holtzman, UFC veteran (pictured). Photo by Jeff Bottari, Zuffa LLC")

"Training with Bryan (Barbarena) was great, but he wasn't always at the gym. I needed more people who could beat me up."
 
With limited resources in a short time frame, Kasanganay stared at high expectations so soon into his young MMA career, even coming in as a -255 favorite. He started strong in the first round, but everybody knows what happened in the second round. 
 
 Impa Kasanganay was caught with a jump-spinning back kick that proved incredibly unpredictable, given he caught Buckley's other foot before the kick was thrown. In a chance moment, Kasanganay was on the receiving end of what people called the greatest knockout of all time and easily the knockout of the year.

"It didn't bother me as a fighter; this is what we came here to do," he said. "The first thing I could remember, I was with Bryan, my dad, and my teammate Diego at the time. I was like, 'What happened?' And they said, 'You got hit with a head kick, but it wasn't just a regular head kick.' They told me not to look into my phone right away."

![16x9.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/15a986d0-9095-4729-d6be-fd028a023e00/public "Buckley's KO over Kasanganay put Impa in the headlines for the wrong reasons. Photo by ESPN.")

He continued, "So everyone's kind of looking at me like, 'Is he okay?' From the time I walked out of the cage to when I got to the back, I didn't remember anything. When I finally looked at my phone, I thought it was a great shot (from Buckley). It wasn't lucky. I caught the kick three times, and I didn't respond to it well, but I looked at my dad, and I said, 'Don't worry, I'll finish the next guy.'"

This knockout could have easily defined Kasanganay's career. To some fans, it does; he says he gets tagged in that video 3-4 times a week. But he now has an opportunity to redefine the story of his career entirely, and he knew that was the case as soon as he took that first professional loss.

"We were on our way to the hospital in Abu Dhabi (after the Buckley fight), and I'm looking out, marveling at the desert, feeling like I'm in a whole new world, thinking, 'I'm gonna be a champion one day,'" he said.

He knew it wasn't all bad; Joe Rogan shared the knockout, and while it wasn't his highlight, his followers still shot up. He told his dad that night, "Don't worry, when I'm a champion, I'll have my highlight too."

## The Comeback

While Gym-O holds a special place in Kasanganay's heart, he knew that he was at a turning point in his career that many fighters have faced, deciding that he needed to change camps to get more looks. He packed his bags and went down to Florida.

![17084272_mb5_8507_jpg_matt_ferris_20230823_160724.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/36b291ec-7167-4e05-58c9-68d50e0acb00/public "Kasanganay went to Killcliffe FC to get more looks and to take his career to the next level. Photo by Sports Illustrated.")

Kasanganay’s new home would be Sanford MMA, now known as Kill Cliff FC. A fighter's life isn't the easiest – he spent his early training days in Florida living and sleeping out of his car.

"Every time I walk past that parking spot, I'm like, 'Man, now I'm going home; I've got a house with a garage,'" he said.

"I'm pretty sure my teammates would have let me in, but I was like, 'No, you got yourself in this situation; you've got to get yourself out of it.' One day, Henri (Hooft) was in the gym, and he was like, 'Hey, are you sleeping in your car? Because security said the car is here a lot, and it could be one of the fighters.' Funnily enough, as challenging as sleeping in a car was, it was a peaceful time, too."

Now living out of a house in Florida, Kasanganay can look back on his previous living situation with pride, knowing that he did what he needed to do to gain the experience he needed. While he would go 1-1 in his last two UFC fights, Dana White would eventually decide to cut him, with fans still generally associating him with that viral knockout.

![maxresdefault.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/bb5521cd-ed62-4135-4c0f-d296c321b900/public "Impa had to go back to the regional scene and rebuild himself before getting the PFL call. Photo by The Combat Sports Tribune.")

Kasanganay didn't give up, returning to the regional scene to build himself back up. He would go 1-1 in his next two, with the loss coming by a controversial split decision in Khabib's Eagle FC against a Dagestani opponent and with the win coming by KO against former UFC veteran Jared Gooden. This earned him a spot on the PFL Challenger Series, making his PFL debut just this past March.

"I was willing to fight from welterweight to heavyweight after my XMMA and EFC fights. I was praying in the shower for a call from any organization. 'The Story I'll Tell' by Maverick City Music came on, and I hadn't heard that song since I was in Abu Dhabi before the UFC fight (against Buckley. When I got out of the shower, I got a text from my agent," he said.

He won the fight by KO, giving him a spot in the 2023 regular season, fighting at 205. Kasanganay crossed paths with the late, great Anthony "Rumble" Johnson at Kill Cliff, and the two shared an ability to hop around weight classes; Kasanganay has fought at welterweight in the UFC and has even climbed up to heavyweight in the amateur ranks – a true warrior.

## The PFL Season

Impa's early career showed the pace at which he felt most comfortable competing; he prefers to stay active, meaning that the PFL's format works well with his style.

He said, "In the UFC, it was challenging to get fights. When I was released, I was relieved because in the PFL I get to stay active. It was a blessing in disguise."

![Sasha-Impa (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/22dc1962-388b-4ccd-64ab-49c0fa5ae400/public "Impa's UFC run ended with a 2-2 record. Photo by Cageside Press.")

Impa made it clear that he holds no ill will toward the UFC and is mainly grateful for the attention he received from the staff. He also maintains that the care from PFL staff is of equal quality.

"Seeing the organization grow the way it is, it's an exciting time," he said. "It's cool to see them grow in their own unique way and leave a footprint on MMA. Being a part of this is a super cool thing to be on the inside of. I commentated for the first time (with PFL). Being an ambassador of Africa has also been cool. I feel that I'm really valued as an athlete and as a person."

Impa has always received proper care from the PFL staff, but he had to earn commercial attention on his own. After winning the Challenger Series, he stamped his spot in the 2023 playoffs with two regular-season wins, one by submission. His move to Kill Cliff helped him continue his journey toward becoming a well-rounded mixed martial artist who presents danger from all positions.

![Hamlet-Impa.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ce9d1bee-c355-4e9c-1137-1e68f1532200/public "Impa's win against Marthin Hamlet in the semifinals was electric. Photo by Cageside Press.")

Going into the semifinals of the playoffs, he also reminded everyone of his knockout power, finishing Marthin Hamlet in the first round. Now at 14-3, Kasanganay is undefeated in the promotion, riding five straight wins to the most important fight of his life against Josh Silveira. With a win, he secures $1 million, a championship belt, and MMA immortality.

"Thank god the UFC cut me because now I'm in the PFL," he said.

## Life Beyond Fighting 

When Impa took his fight hopes to Florida, he committed his entire life. He focused on training all day, slept at the gym, and took fights when he could. He's always had high hopes for his fighting career, but that hasn't stopped him from thinking about his life after fighting and the people who helped get him here.

Kasanganay mentioned Tom Brady and LeBron James as athletes who have expertly parlayed their athletic success into generational wealth, and he has the same plans for himself. He sees the $1 million prize as an opportunity to change his parents' lives, to give back to his trainers, and to invest his money intelligently.

![maxresdefault.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6fd61a2f-e716-4e94-718a-2389759a4e00/public "Impa is known to wear his cowboy hat - he says that he used to wear a cowboy hat in sparring because he likes the cowboy work ethic. Photo by Sherdog.")

"I want to turn the $1 million into $20 million," he said, also expressing interest in returning to school to get an MBA. He's already started the pursuit, becoming the head of athlete relations for Live Wealth Group, a one-stop-shop for financial services. This group has helped him gear up for his financial future, and he wants to help sign other athletes and show them how they can incrementally improve their lives by putting their money in the right place.

"I want to show fighters that you can diversify your income to eventually become financially free," he said.

 "You see how (my) life has changed. But I do really like the simple life. I want a farm; I want a ranch."

## A Worthy Opponent

Impa knows that his opponent, Josh Silveira, is no slouch. With a 12-1 record, Silveira has a knack for scoring finishes, only seeing the scorecards in one of his wins. The son of Conan Silveira, co-founder and head coach of American Top Team, Josh will be holding the weight of the whole gym on his shoulders as two rival Florida gyms go to battle for $1 million.

![Josh-Silveira.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/bd6fee88-7d1a-4664-6d5c-e64aa4a94300/public "Josh Silveira will face Impa in the finals, and it's anyone's fight. Photo by Cageside Press.")

Impa met Josh on a flight to Abu Dhabi when Josh was fighting in LFA; there is mutual respect, as he knows that Silveira is good everywhere. Regardless, Kasanganay enters the fight looking to dominate, seeing a potential early finish on the cards.

With a litany of training partners like Phil Hawes, Gregory Rodrigues, Brendan Allen, Jason Jackson, Dilano Taylor, Vincente Luque, and Gilbert Burns at his disposal, he knows that there's nothing Silveira will bring that he hasn't seen before.

"Mentally, my fight style is to go assassinate them, (to) take them out." I flow.

While Impa Kasanganay is less than ten years into his athletic career, he has been training for this moment his whole life. Being raised by his parents to work tirelessly in his academics and musical pursuits set the stage for a journey fueled by hard work.

![joshua-silveira-conan-silveira.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b56c8133-e5c7-4d23-20da-38031f6fed00/public "Silveira posing with his father Conan. This father-son duo will likely have a strong game plan coming into the fight. Photo by Portal do Vale Tudo.")

His fight nickname, "Tshilobo" " comes from his dad's native tongue in Congo, and it means "King" or "Mighty Warrior under god". He'll take that Tshilobo mentality into the Smartcage on Friday in a fight bound to deliver.

The PFL isn't here to take part; they're here to take over. At the forefront sits their hidden Congolese Cowboy, who won't be so hidden much longer.

From Sleeping in his Car to Competing for $1 Million: The Impa Kasanganay Story

Joey Kolnicki

The PFL Finals have arrived and will take place this Friday in Washington, D.C. Since the inception of the playoff format in 2018, the PFL has separated itself from other MMA organizations with its uniquity. While unique, the concept of points and playoffs in combat sports can be confusing at first glance. Today, we’ll break down the PFL playoff format and explain how it works.

![sadibou1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/00f52df7-750e-47c0-efdc-aeb05a2ed900/public "Sadibou Sy lands a spinning head kick on Shane Mitchell. Credit: Yahoo Sports.")

The PFL was created in 2018 following the acquisition and restructuring of the World Series of Fighting by the MMAX Investment Group. They held their first event that same year and introduced the world to their playoff format. Currently, there are 74 fighters in six different weight classes. The top four ranked fighters make the semifinals in these six weight classes. A point system determines these playoff spots; fighters earn points based on their performance in the regular season. A fighter is awarded three points for winning a fight, whereas you receive zero points for a loss. You receive bonus points for finishing your opponent, which is determined by the speed of the finish; a first-round finish is worth three points, a second-round finish is worth two, and a third-round finish is worth one. Fighters that miss weight are deducted one point and are disallowed from earning points from their fight, regardless of the outcome.

![pachecho1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/fb2d4c23-25a8-43b5-80bb-8fb36e0f4600/public "Larissa Pacheco throws a right hand at Kayla Harrison. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

All fighters compete twice during the regular season, with six regular season events taking place in 2023 in April and June. There have been three playoff events in 2023, all in August, in which the semifinal round took place, determining the championship matchups. This Friday, we will witness the final round of the playoffs, in which six victorious fighters will walk away with a million-dollar prize. This structure has evolved; initially, the top eight fighters from each division made the playoffs, with a quarterfinal round taking place prior to the semifinals. This format led to some fighters having to compete twice in one night and was ultimately changed to just the top four fighters making the playoffs in 2021. The 2023 season is the first season featuring a women’s Featherweight division as opposed to women’s Lightweight, which was the only female weight class in the PFL from 2019 to 2022. The PFL has a few other distinctive features, like using a 10-sided cage and a complete ban on using elbow strikes. 

![oam1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3e0959b9-24a2-493b-5403-a0da72aa5c00/public "Olivier Aubin-Mercier lands a right hand on Shane Burgos. Credit: PFL.")

The PFL continues distinguishing itself from other promotions, introducing the “Super Fight” division this year. This division is not determined by weight but by the fame and notoriety of the fighters within it. Jake Paul co-founded this, and it is planned that fighters who compete in this division will earn 50% of pay-per-view revenue, much higher than the 20% awarded to fighters by the UFC. Looking to find a more direct way to recruit fighters, the PFL introduced the “Challenger Series,” a series of events modeled on Dana White’s Contender Series. Up-and-coming fighters compete for a PFL contract while a panel of celebrity guests hosts the event. They have also introduced PFL Europe and PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa), regional promotions looking to feature and sign top talents from those regions. As of 2021, the PFL broadcasts in 160 countries and recently signed a multi-year extension with ESPN, the premier sports broadcaster in the United States. 


The $1 Million PFL Format Explained

Taylor Dow

## Fighter Spotlight: Olivier Aubin-Mercier     



***Name***: Olivier Aubin-Mercier       
***Record***: 20-5       
***Date of Birth***: February 23, 1989 (age 34)    
***Weight***: 155 lb (71 kg)    
***Height***: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)     
***Reach***: 71 in (180 cm)    
***Nationality***: Canadian               
***Fighting out of***: Tristar Gym, Montreal, Quebec, Canada         
***Next Fight***: Clay Collard at PFL 10: Aubin-Mercier vs. Collard for the finale of the 2023 season.    


## Early Life     
```iframe
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/2gX3f3yOzy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/2gX3f3yOzy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/2gX3f3yOzy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Olivier Aubin-Mercier (@oliaubin)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
```
Olivier Aubin-Mercier was born and raised in Quebec, Canada, learning Taekwondo from a young age. It wasn't until he enrolled in High School that he opted to learn Judo instead, and he was incredible almost immediately.     

Aubin-Mercier progressed rapidly through Judo to finish second at the Canadian Nations and enter the Canadian National Team. 

After High School, at 21, Aubin-Mercier was offered a substantial amount of money to continue competing in Judo for Canada; however, he refused and decided to try a different combat sport instead. This is where he found himself in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes and never looked back.    

Aubin-Mercier also chose to take Muay Thai and Kickboxing classes to become a complete fighter and embark on an MMA career.      

Aubin-Mercier had a few amateur fights, which he won all of, and finally went professional.     








## Professional Debut     

```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ejQXcMGcgm8?si=Q8PKGrsfWjSdSzEg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> 
```

In 2011, Aubin-Mercier debuted as a professional MMA fighter in the Lightweight weight class. He competed in a few regional organizations throughout Quebec, such as Ringside MMA, SLAMM, and Challenge MMA, in which he compiled a perfect record of 4 wins in 4 fights, finishing all his opponents by rear-naked choke submission in the first round.








## The Ultimate Fighter Runner Up     
```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hW48VlEuLEk?si=JrlS9qbqsYnfLE99" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
```

Following his fourth professional fight, Aubin-Mercier was offered a shot on the UFC's reality TV show, The Ultimate Fighter, to secure a potential UFC contract.   

Aubin-Mercier dominated his first 2 fights on the show, defeating Jake Matthews and Richard Walsh to advance to the live finale.    


In the finale, Aubin-Mercier took on fellow Canadian Chad Laprise and lost a close split decision. However, this loss didn't deter Dana White, as he signed him for a UFC contract anyway.    










## UFC Days    
```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uRmLQsPZUAY?si=r44qeQDJdajvF-6B" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
```

Aubin-Mercier's first 7 fights in the UFC mainly came in Canada during 2014-2016. As stated, he lost his debut; however, after the fact, he found himself on a 3-fight win streak over Jake Lindsey, David Michaud, and Tony Sims, with 2 submissions and 1 decision.    


Aubin-Mercier's fifth fight would see him take his second career loss at the hands of Carlos Diego Ferreira by unanimous decision.     





Aubin-Mercier jumped back into his winning ways over his following 4 fights, securing all wins over impressive names such as Drew Dober, Anthony Rocco Martin, and Evan Dunham.      


Aubin-Mercier's final 3 UFC fights would see him face back-to-back-to-back decision losses over Alexander Hernandez, Gilbert Burns, and Arman Tsarukyan. Due to these consecutive losses, Aubin-Mercier was not offered an opportunity to resign to the UFC and instead looked for other opportunities.     

 









## Road to a Million Dollars in the PFL         
```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/elsTeaIemHY?si=QrH7jKfgtJRwPSQa" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
```


Aubin-Mercier made his PFL debut during the 2021 season, facing Marcin Held in his first fight. Aubin-Mercier won the fight unanimously and moved his record to 12-5.     


Later the same year, Aubin-Mercier faced Darrell Horcher, who missed weight by 3 lbs, forcing the bout to be a catchweight. Aubin-Mercier won the fight unanimously and claimed 30% of Horcher's purse. Aubin-Mercier did not make it to the finale this year, and Raush Manfio ended 2021 as the PFL Lightweight champion.     


2022 was Aubin-Mercier's best year of fighting. This year saw him win 3 decisions in the playoff stages of the 2022 tournament over  Natan Schulte, Raush Manfio, and Alex Martinez in the process. These wins earned him a shot in the finale against Stevie Ray. Aubin-Mercier would knock Ray out in the second round to become PFL champion and 1 million dollars richer.     


For the current 2023 season, Aubin-Mercier faced ex-UFC fighter and PFL debutant Shane Burgos in the first leg of the tournament, beating him by unanimous decision. Aubin-Mercier followed this up with back-to-back knockouts over Anthony Romero and Bruno Miranda to advance to the finale against Clay Collard on November 24, 2023.    


Olivier Aubin-Mercier is now 20-5, with 4 knockouts and 8 submissions. He has never been finished in 25 fights.     












## Next Fight     

```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0f6juQwVXyE?si=GCwaF-1UJ4FVrpEy" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
```


Catch Olivier Aubin-Mercier in his next fight against Clay Collard at PFL 10 for a shot at his second PFL title and another million dollars.     

Fighter Spotlight: Olivier Aubin-Mercier

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig Results

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig is going down tomorrow. Here's the place to be to stay informed about all the weigh-in results.

## Main Card (ESPN+ 5PM ET)

**_Middleweight:_** Brendan Allen **(186 lbs)** vs. Paul Craig **(186 lbs)**

**_Welterweight:_** Jake Matthews **(170.5 lbs)** vs. Michael Morales **(171 lbs)**

**_Lightweight:_** Chase Hooper **(155.5 lbs)** vs. Jordan Leavitt **(155.5 lbs)**       

**_Bantamweight:_** Nick Aguirre **(136 lbs)** vs. Payton Talbott **(136 lbs)**      

**_Women's Strawweight:_** Luana Pinheiro **(115.5 lbs)** vs. Amanda Ribas **(115.5 lbs)**

**_Welterweight:_** Uros Medic **(171 lbs)** vs. Myktybek Orolbai **(170 lbs)**

## PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass 2PM ET)    

**_Featherweight:_** Joanderson Brito **(145 lbs)** vs. Jonathan Pearce **(145.5 lbs)**

**_Bantamweight:_** Chad Anhelinger **(134.5 lbs)** vs. Jose Johnson **(136 lbs)**

**_Middleweight:_** Christian Duncan **(186 lbs)** vs. Denis Tiuliulin**(186 lbs)**

**_Heavyweight:_** Caio Machado **(250 lbs)** vs. Mick Parkin **(262.5 lbs)**

**_Featherweight:_** Lucas Alexander **(148 lbs)*** vs. Jeka Saragih **(146 lbs)**

**_Women's Bantamweight:_** Ailin Perez **(136.5 lbs)** vs. Lucie Pudilova **(135.5 lbs)**

**_Lightweight:_** Nikolas Motta **(155 lbs)** vs. Treg Ogden **(155.5 lbs)**

**_Flyweight:_** Rafael Estevam **(128 lbs)** vs. Charles Johnson **(125 lbs)**

- Lucas Alexander missed weight by 2lbs over the Featherweight limit.

- Ailin Perez missed weight by 0.5lbs over the Women's Bantamweight limit.

- Rafael Estevam missed weight by 2lbs over the Flyweight limit.

Check back here to see the rest of the weigh-in results.

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig Weigh-In Results

The UFC is back in the Apex this weekend, headlined by Middleweights Brendan Allen -400 and Paul Craig +320 going head to head. I went over that fight and the entire card to give my predictions and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Stake.com accurate as of 10:20 AM EST 11/17/2023**

## Brendan Allen -400 vs. Paul Craig +320

Middleweights looking to prove they belong in title contention battle it out in our main event. Brendan Allen has rounded out his game and become a dangerous threat in this division with clean striking and a dominant ground attack. Paul Craig is a submission specialist who has worked to add some striking to his arsenal, although he will always be most dangerous from his full guard, where he has caught many in his wide array of chokes.

This is a good matchup for Allen as I see him fighting smart to defend from Craig's ground game, dominate the striking, and eventually find a knockout. 

Pick: Allen O/U: Over 1.5 -118

## Jake Matthews +240 vs. Michael Morales -294

A big Welterweight prospect gets his toughest test to date here. Jake Matthews is a solid veteran who has grown up in the UFC, developing a solid striking game to go with his dangerous ground game. Michael Morales is a very big and athletic prospect, and although he has shown talent, he is very hittable and leaves many openings that top-tier opponents will take advantage of.

I took Matthews here as the underdog as I like how he has rounded out his game and think his experience will play a huge factor in this matchup.

Pick: Matthews O/U: Over 1.5 -200

## Jordan Leavitt +180 vs. Chase Hooper -217

Lightweight grapplers square off in this fun matchup. Jordan Leavitt is a good grappler who can hold position well, although he lacks much finishing ability. Chase Hooper looked great after moving up to Lightweight his last fight, his striking is still a question, but his grappling is very solid.

I lean with Hooper as he will not have to fear the strikes coming back and will have an edge on the ground; however, this price makes him tough to back.

Pick: Hooper O/U: Over 2.5 -152

## Payton Talbott -769 vs. Nick Aguirre +540

An intriguing Bantamweight prospect makes his debut here. Payton Talbott is an undefeated young talent with a high-pace striking style; he is willing to trade punches, which has worked for him as he has finished five wins by knockout. Nick Aguirre is a solid submission grappler who has proven tough to finish, although he struggled when facing an opponent with good grappling in his UFC debut against Dan Argueta.

I'm excited to watch Talbott here as I think he drowns Aguirre with volume and gets a late finish. 

Pick: Talbott O/U: Over 1.5 -185

## Amanda Ribas -233 vs. Luana Pinheiro +190

Strawweights who are looking to enter contention clash here. Amanda Ribas moves back down in weight here, and I'm not entirely sure why, as I thought she was having success at Flyweight; either way, she is a skilled grappler who doesn't take punches well. Luana Pinheiro comes into this one off a close win over Michelle Waterson-Gomez, where she left some to be desired in a step up in competition.

I'll pick Ribas here, as she should have the edge in grappling and striking to take a clear decision. 

Pick: Ribas O/U: Over 2.5 -213

## Uros Medic +118 vs. Myktybek Orolbai -139

Short notice matchup here to open the main card at Welterweight. Uros Medic is a dangerous striker with good takedown defense, and he scored a big comeback knockout in his debut at this weight last time out against Matt Semelsberger. Myktybek Orolbai comes in here on just days' notice; he is a powerful striker with solid experience outside of the UFC, showing he is ready for this level.

This is going to be a great fight where both guys will land big shots, but I'm taking Orolbai to hold up better and get a knockout win late, although I would be much more confident if it were not such late notice.

Pick: Orolbai O/U: Over 1.5 -189

## Jonathan Pearce -132 vs. Joanderson Brito +112

Fantastic fight here at Featherweight between two very fun-to-watch fighters. Jonathan Pearce is a very high-paced grappler, his striking needs work, but he is durable and will keep the pressure on. Joanderson Brito is a dangerous finisher with powerful hands and a solid submission game, although, with the early danger, he can fade later in fights. 

I like Pearce here as he is relentless on the ground and very skilled, leading him to take over this fight late if it gets past the first round. 

Pick: Pearce O/U: Over 2.5 +117

## Chad Anheliger +160 vs. Jose Johnson -192

Intriguing matchup here at Bantamweight. Chad Anheliger is a tough fighter with great cardio, which has helped him outlast several opponents. Jose Johnson is very tall for the weight class and has a dangerous ground game, although he lacks much high-level experience. 

I lean with Anheliger at this price as he has more high-level and late-fight experience. 

Pick: Anheliger O/U: Over 2.5 -125

## Christian Leroy Duncan -455 vs. Denis Tiuliulin +360

Short notice Middleweight matchup starts off the card. Christian Leroy Duncan is an explosive striker with a unique style, his grappling is also solid, but he uses it sparingly. Denis Tiuliulin steps in here on short notice; he has decent kickboxing but has significantly struggled when forced to grapple.

Duncan is the rightful favorite here, but there is no way to lay this pricetag after his last showing. 

Pick: Duncan O/U: Under 1.5 -111

## Mick Parkin -345 vs. Caio Machado +280

Up and coming Heavyweights clash here. Mick Parkin comes into this off an impressive debut where he showed good hands. Caio Machado makes his debut here, and based on what I have seen, I'm not sure he is ready to compete at this level.

Parkin should take this one, and he will likely get his first UFC finish here.

Pick: Parkin O/U: Under 1.5 +131

## Lucas Alexander -526 vs. Jeka Saragih +400

Featherweight finishers matchup early on the card. Lucas Alexander is a good kickboxer with a kick-heavy style; his grappling is a weak point, as he has been submitted in each of his losses. Jeka Saragih comes in off the Road to UFC, he is a flashy striker, but he lacks some fundamental skills that are needed at this level. 

Alexander should take this one, as he is a more experienced and dangerous striker; I see him getting a knockout finish here. 

Pick: Alexander O/U: Over 1.5 -172

## Lucie Pudilova +160 vs. Ailin Perez -189

Bantamweights looking to gain momentum in the division face off in this one. Lucie Pudilova continues her second UFC stint here. Ailin Perez got her first UFC win last time out in a good showing where she dominated using her grappling. 

I'll pick Perez here as she looked good her last time out, but I can't pay this price to bet her. 

Pick: Perez O/U: Over 2.5 -294

## Nikolas Motta -130 vs. Trey Ogden +110

Veteran Lightweights go head to head in the featured prelim. Nikolas Motta is a hard-hitting striker with an aggressive style, although he isn't the most durable fighter. Trey Ogden has struggled in the UFC as he has little power in his hands or wrestling to get fighters to the ground.

I've got Motta in this one, as he is the much more dangerous and aggressive fighter here.

Pick: Motta O/U: Under 2.5 -105

## Charles Johnson +125 vs. Rafael Estevam -147

Undefeated debutant takes on a tested veteran at Flyweight. Charles Johnson is a striker with a lot of movements that are tough for opponents to deal with; he also has a good submission game but can be held in the bottom position. Rafael Estevam won his fight on the Contender Series with heavy top pressure; although his opponent did not fight very smart, Estevam remained composed and got the win to his credit.

I've got Johnson here as he has proven very difficult to finish, and he can go for three rounds, which I am not sure Estevam can. 

Pick: Johnson O/U: Over 2.5 -244

## [DougLasVegasBets.net](https://douglasvegasbets.net) Plays

Jake Matthews

Jonathan Pearce

Nikolas Motta

Charles Johnson

Geoff Neal