The ''PFL 1''

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

event for the 2022 season of the

Professional Fighters League The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American mixed martial arts league founded by venture capitalist Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018, following the acquisition and restructuring of the former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) promot ...

was held on April 20, 2022 at the

Esports Stadium Arlington Esports Stadium Arlington (ESA) is a North American esports facility, convention center, and theater located in Arlington, Texas. The 100,000 sqft venue originally was the largest dedicated esports facility in North America and holds 2,500 sp ...

Arlington, Texas Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, Tarrant County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal c ...

. This marked the first regular season event of the tournament and included fights in the

Lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing (sport), rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) boxing weight classes, weight class in the spor ...

and

Light Heavyweight Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight (boxing), cruiserweight. The light heavyweight class has ...

divisions.

Background

The event was headlined by a lightweight clash between

Clay Collard Clay Collard (born March 10, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former Professional boxer. A professional since 2011, he formerly competed for the UFC. He currently competes in the lightweight division of the Professional ...

and UFC veteran

Jeremy Stephens Jeremy Dean Stephens (born May 26, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist, Bare-knuckle boxing, bare-knuckle boxer and professional boxer, who currently competes in the Lightweight (MMA), Lightweight division of the Ultimate Figh ...

, while 2021 champion

Raush Manfio Raush Manfio Lourenço (born November 3, 1991) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional since 2011, Manfio is most notable for winning the 2021 Professional Fighters League Lightwe ...

faces two-time UFC veteran Don Madge in the co-main event. The remaining two fights of the main card saw defending light heavyweight champion

Antônio Carlos Júnior Antônio Carlos Coelho de Figueiredo Barbosa Júnior (born 16 March 1990), also known as Antônio Carlos Jr. and professionally by his nickname Cara de Sapato (as well as its English translation Shoeface), is a Brazilian mixed martial artist wh ...

face off against Delan Monte, while 2019 champion

Natan Schulte Natan Silveira Schulte (born February 20, 1992) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division. He has previously competed in the Professional Fighters League, where he won the 2019 and 2018 PFL Lightweight Seasons. ...

took on

Olivier Aubin-Mercier Olivier Aubin-Mercier (; born February 23, 1989) is a Canadian retired mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight division. Fighting from 2011 to 2023, Aubin-Mercier competed for the Professional Fighters League, where he won the 2022 ...

. A lightweight bout between former WEC and UFC Lightweight Champion

Anthony Pettis Anthony Paul Pettis (born January 27, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist, and professional boxer. Pettis formerly fought in the Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ...

and Bellator veteran Myles Price was scheduled for the event but the bout was later moved to PFL 3.

Results

Standings After Event

The PFL points system is based on results of the match. The winner of a fight receives 3 points. If the fight ends in a draw, both fighters will receive 1 point. The bonus for winning a fight in the first, second, or third round is 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point respectively. The bonus for winning in the third round requires a fight be stopped before 4:59 of the third round. No bonus point will be awarded if a fighter wins via decision. For example, if a fighter wins a fight in the first round, then the fighter will receive 6 total points. A decision win will result in three total points. If a fighter misses weight, the opponent (should they comply with weight limits) will receive 3 points due to a walkover victory, regardless of winning or losing the bout; if the non-offending fighter subsequently wins with a stoppage, all bonus points will be awarded.

Light Heavyweight

Lightweight

References