One of the biggest upsets in MMA took place last season when Kayla Harrison lost her first pro fight in the PFL finals against Larissa Pacheco. What will happen this year? The Professional Fighters League is ready to start its fifth season with a bang.
The latest season for the PFL kicks off with PFL 1 on April 1. Las Vegas will be the destination for the start of the tournament format, with The Theater at Virgin Hotels hosting. Featherweights and light heavyweights will be in action first.
The main event will see 2022 featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane face former UFC contender Marlon Moraes.
Loughnane turned pro in 2010 and fought on Dana White's Contender Series in 2019. Not chosen to compete in the UFC, he joined the PFL in 2019 and has gone 8-1 with the promotion. Last season, Loughnane beat Bubba Jenkins via TKO in the PFL Finals.
Moraes is a former World Series of Fighting (the organization before the PFL took over) bantamweight champion. He went 5-6 with the UFC and has lost five in a row. His last bout was a TKO defeat in his PFL debut.
MORE: Sign up to watch the PFL 2023 season, exclusively on ESPN+
PFL light heavyweight tournament winner Rob Wilkinson competes on the card, facing another former UFC contender in Thiago Santos.
Wilkinson turned pro in 2011 and only lost two fights in the UFC. Joining the PFL in 2022, he won all four bouts that year, including a victory over Omari Akhmedov to win the PFL Finals.
Santos joined the UFC in 2013 and was 14-10 with the promotion. Facing Jon Jones in 2019 for the UFC light heavyweight title, Santos lost a close fight, even after tearing his left ACL, PCL, MCL, and meniscus. Since that fight, Santos is 1-4 in his last five. He lost to Jamahal Hill in August, his final bout with the UFC.
Also on the card will be UFC, ONE, and PFL veterans Krzysztof Jotko, Movlid Khaybulaev, Chris Wade, and Bubba Jenkins.
Here is a full rundown of the PFL’s 2023 debut, including matchups, start times, odds, and more.
When is 2023 PFL 1?
- Date: Saturday, April 1 | Sunday, April 2
- Start time: 6 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. GMT | 9 a.m. AEDT
- Main card: 9 p.m. ET | 1 a.m. GMT | 12 p.m. AEDT
- Main event: 12 a.m. ET | 4 a.m. GMT | 3 p.m. AEDT (approx.)
The first fight card of the 2023 PFL season is on April 1. The fights start at 6 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. GMT | 9 a.m. AEDT, with the main card at 9 p.m. ET | 1 a.m. GMT | 12 p.m. AEDT. Brendan Loughnane and Marlon Moraes should make their way to the cage for the main event around 12 a.m. ET | 4 a.m. GMT | 3 p.m. AEDT, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
MORE: Explaining PFL's season, points system and playoff format
How to watch 2023 PFL 1
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. April 1 | ESPN+, ESPN, FUBO |
| Canada | Sat. April 1 | YouTube |
| United Kingdom | Sun. April 2 | DAZN |
| Australia | Sun. April 2 | Stan. Sport |
In the United States, the prelims of 2023 PFL 1 will begin on ESPN+. The main card will air on ESPN and ESPN+. It is also available to stream on FUBO, which includes a free trial.
MORE: Join DAZN to watch the 2023 PFL season
Fight fans can watch the 2023 PFL season on DAZN, while those in Australia can watch via Stan. Sport.
2023 PFL 1 price: How much does the event cost?
You can pay $9.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $99.99.
MORE: Sign up to watch the PFL 2023 season, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $12.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
Where is 2023 PFL 1?
The first fight card of the PFL's 2023 season takes place inside The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The venue can hold up to 4,500 people.
How much do tickets for 2023 PFL 1 cost?
Ticket prices start at $26, per TicketSmarter.
Prices then range from $30, $50, $70, $100, $200, and $461.
Betting odds for 2023 PFL 1
Odds have not been released yet for 2023 PFL 1. The Sporting News will provide more information when released.
MORE: How to bet on combat sports
2023 PFL 1 fight card
Main card
- Brendan Loughnane vs. Marlon Moraes; Featherweights
- Rob Wilkinson vs. Thiago Santos; Light Heavyweights
- Krzysztof Jotko vs. Will Fleury; Heavyweights
- Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Ryoji Kudo; Featherweights
- Chris Wade vs. Bubba Jenkins; Featherweights
Prelims
- Marthin Hamlet vs. Mohammed Fakhreddine; Light Heavyweights
- Joshua Silveria vs. Sam Kei; Light Heavyweights
- Alejandro Flores vs. Daniel Torres; Featherweights
- Sung Bin Jo vs. Jesus Pinedo; Featherweights
- Delan Monte vs. Ty Flores; Light Heavyweights
- Cory Hendricks vs. Impa Kasanganay; Light Heavyweights