PFL 2023 Will See New Light Heavyweight King

PFL

With Rob Wilkinson being forced out of the ongoing 2023 PFL light heavyweight tournament, a new king of the 205-pound division will be crowned this year.

PFL To Crown New Light Heavyweight Winner

Rob Wilkinson’s exit from the 2023 PFL light heavyweight tournament means a new champion will be crowned later this year.

The division returns live on ESPN for PFL 4 on June 8 from Atlanta, Georgia and the Overtime Elite Arena. Dan Spohn battles Ty Flores, Marthin Hamlet meets Sam Kei and Josh Silveira faces off with Delan Monte on the main card.

Prelim light heavyweight action will see Impa Kasanganay take on Tim Carson and Andrew Sanchez battle Taylor Johnson.

The card is headlined by reigning featherweight winner Brendan Loughnane going up against Jesus Pinedo.

Marthin Hamlet, Josh Silveira In Driver’s Seat At Moment

Heading into this round of action, Hamlet has secured six points, same as Silveira. The two each scored first round finishes and have six points, with Flores behind at three.

Those three should all have strong chances to advance to the semifinal round of the playoffs, especially with wins here upcoming.

However, that does leave a spot for a fourth to really make it interesting and cause some trouble.

A lot can change, though, with a quick finish here by any number of fighters that have been cast into the season including Sanchez.

The former UFC veteran picked up several wins while competing inside the Octagon and went the distance with Marvin Vettori back in 2019.

Kasanganay also has UFC experience, winning two fights on Dana White’s Contender Series and two more in the UFC. He is on a three-fight win streak that started with a finish of Jared Gooden back in 2022.

Featherweights will take up much of the rest of the fight card following the main event between Loughnane and Pinedo.

The Rest Of The Fight Card

Movlid Khaybulaev meets Tyler Diamond in another main card contest. Bubba Jenkins vs. Sung Bin Jo, Chris Wade vs. Ryoji Kudo, Gabriel Alves Braga vs. Marlon Moraes and Alexei Pergande vs. Akeem Bashir completes that portion of the lineup.

In women’s featherweight action, Abigail Montes and Brandy Hester square off.

Jenkins, Khaybulaev and Braga all have three points and are currently situated in the semifinals behind Loughnane.

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