NEW YORK (March 3, 2023) – The sixth week of the 2023 Professional Fighters League Challenger Series continued live from Universal Studios, in Orlando, Florida, and featured a four-fight card with eight fighters from the Featherweight division. At the conclusion of the evening, the all-star judging panel consisting of Tyron Woodley, Megan Anderson and Tim Kennedy helped award the sixth contract of the 2023 Challenger Series to Brahyan Zurcher.
Zurcher joins Women’s Flyweight Desiree Yanez, Heavyweight Abraham Bably, Women’s Featherweight Amanda Leve and Welterweight Thad Jean, as PFL Challenger Series contract winners this year. The event was streamed exclusively on Fubo Sports, the live, free-to-consumer TV network from FuboTV Inc. (NYSE: FUBO), the leading sports-first live TV streaming platform.
Zurcher and David Evans headlined tonight’s Featherweight card. Zurcher kept his undefeated streak intact with a rear-naked choke submission win over David Evans. The finish came at the 1:37 mark of the second round. The victory improved Zurcher’s career record to 5-0, including three wins inside the PFL SmartCage.
The co-main event of the night featured Ireland’s Nathan Kelly, who collided with Zack Hicks, a High School teacher in Nashville, Tennessee. Kelly, who fights out of the famed SBG Ireland gym in Dublin, needed just 2:30 to finish off Hicks by arm-triangle choke submission. The win is the seventh straight for Kelly.
“Tonight the Featherweight division put it all on the line at 2023 PFL Challenger Series, in the hopes of earning a life changing PFL contract,” said Ray Sefo, President of Fighter Operations of PFL. “Congratulations to Brahyan Zurcher on an outstanding performance, welcome to the PFL.”
Further action saw Ago Huskic, who took Brendan Loughnane the distance in the 2022 PFL Regular Season, face off with Brazilian Gabriel Braga, making his U.S. debut. Braga put on a dominant showing, as he cruised to a unanimous decision victory, 30-25, 30-27, 29-28. Braga remains undefeated in his career at 9-0.
Kicking off the Featherweight card, Vikas Singh Ruhil, the PFL’s first-ever fighter from India, matched up with American James Gonzalez. Ruhil entered the bout having won seven of his last 10 fights, while Gonzalez had never been finished in 14 career fights. Gonzalez dropped Ruhil late in the first round and overwhelmed him with strikes from the mount position to secure a TKO finish at the 4:20 mark of Round 1.
The PFL Challenger Series returns to Universal Studios next Friday night, March 10, with the Light Heavyweight division. All PFL Challenger Series events stream live on primetime, exclusively on Fubo Sports leading up to the 2023 PFL Regular Season.
PFL is the #1 fastest growing company in MMA and the #2 MMA company on a worldwide basis. PFL is the only league in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in sports-season “win and advance” meritocracy like all other major sports. The PFL fighter roster is global and world-class, with fighters from over 20 countries and 25% independently ranked in the top 25. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage powering real-time betting and next-gen viewing experience. PFL is aired primetime live in the U.S. on ESPN and ESPN+ and in 140 countries via 25 leading broadcast and streaming partners.
Fubo Sports is the exclusive home of the PFL Challenger Series. FuboTV subscribers can stream the PFL Challenger Series plus more thrilling MMA on Fubo Sports as part of FuboTV’s subscription packages featuring 125+ leading sports, news and entertainment channels. Fubo Sports is also available for free on Amazon Freevee, LG Channels, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Vizio WatchFree+, Tubi, Plex, and XUMO with even more fresh content across Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Twitter and YouTube.
About Professional Fighters League
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is the fastest growing and most innovative sports league. PFL is the #2 MMA company worldwide on all key metrics and the only with the sports-season format where individual fighters compete in Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship. The Company has four global live fight franchises: PFL League Season, PFL Challenger Series, PFL PPV Super Fights, and PFL Europe.
PFL airs primetime in the U.S on ESPN and ESPN+ and is broadcast and streamed to 140 countries with 25 international leading media partners, including DAZN, DirectTV, Viaplay, Sky Sports, and MBC. PFL has dozens of major brand sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, GEICO, Bose, US Marine Corps, and Celsius Energy Drink.
PFL is backed by blue-chip investors including Ares, Luxor Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, Knighthead, Legends, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners.
MMA is the growth sport of this decade, with over 600 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demo of any sport, and true global revenue streams.
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About Fubo Sports
Available on more than 155 million devices, Fubo Sports is the live, free-to-consumer TV network featuring sports stories on and off the field. Launched by live TV streaming platform FuboTV (NYSE: FUBO) in September 2019, Fubo Sports airs live sports, movies and documentaries, award-winning original programming and partner content from Lights Out Xtreme Fighting, Professional Fighters League, World Poker Tour and BeIN Sports Xtra, among others. Produced by Fubo Studios with a mission to bring the voice of the athlete to fans, Fubo Sports’ original programming is hosted by iconic athletes and current stars including Gilbert Arenas, Terrell Owens, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Orlando Scandrick and R.J. Hampton with legendary sports figures appearing as guests each week.
Stream for free on Amazon Freevee, LG Channels, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Vizio WatchFree+, Tubi, Plex, XUMO and anywhere podcasts are found. Fubo Sports is also available as part of FuboTV’s subscription packages featuring 125+ leading sports, news and entertainment channels. To watch even more original programming, follow Fubo Sports on Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Twitter and YouTube.
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