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 2024 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 4, 2024, at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

, United States. This marked the first regular-season event of the tournament and included fights in the Women's Flyweight and

Heavyweight Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling. Boxing Professional Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...

divisions.

Background

The event marked the promotion's second visit to San Antonio and first since PFL 7 (2023) in August 2023. The event was headlined by a heavyweight bout between former interim Bellator Heavyweight Champion

Valentin Moldavsky Valentin Igorevich Moldavsky (; born 6 February 1992) is a Russian mixed martial artist and combat sambo practitioner. He is currently competing for the PFL. He formerly competed for Bellator MMA, where he was an interim Heavyweight World Cha ...

and 2022 PFL heavyweight winner Ante Delija. A trilogy clash between Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion

Liz Carmouche Liz Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American mixed martial arts fighter currently signed to the PFL. She formerly competed in Bellator MMA, where she was the last Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion. Carmouche also competed for ...

and former champion Juliana Velasquez took place at this event. Former UFC Women's Flyweight Championship title challenger

Taila Santos Taila Jaine dos Santos (born June 22, 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). She formerly competed in the Ultimate Fightin ...

was expected to face former Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Champion

Denise Kielholtz Denise Kielholtz (born 30 March 1989) is a Dutch female Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She has competed professionally since 2004 and is the current Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Champion. ...

in a women's flyweight bout. However, a week before the event it was announced that Kielholtz had pulled out and replaced by Ilara Joanne. On March 26, changes to the fight lineup saw 2021 PFL heavyweight winner Bruno Cappelozza replaced by former WSOF Heavyweight Champion

Blagoy Ivanov Blagoy Ivanov (; born October 9, 1986) is a Bulgarian mixed martial artist and Sambo practitioner who is currently signed to the PFL, but on suspension due to testing positive to anabolic steroids. He previously competed for the Ultimate Fighti ...

against Sergei Bilostenniy, and a PFL women's flyweight alternate bout between Kaytlin Neil and Sumiko Inaba removed from the card. Originally, Daniel James was expected to face Tyrell Fortune in a rematch at the event. However, on the fight week it was announced that Fortune withdrew from the event and was replaced by Marcelo Golm. At weigh-ins, Daniel James came in at 267 lbs, 1 pound over the limit for heavyweight, while

Shanna Young Shanna Marie Leonard Young (born February 20, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division. She has previously competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Professional Fighters League (PFL). Back ...

weighed in at 128.6 lbs, 2.6 pounds over the flyweight limit. They were fined a percentage of their purses and given a point deduction in the standings.

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.

Heavyweight

Women's flyweight

References