The PFL’s Challenger Series will return next month with eight events seeking new fighters for the 2023 regular season.
The Challenger Series debuted earlier this year with fights across all eight of the PFL’s divisions. At the end of each event, a PFL contract is awarded to one of the winners by a judging panel. This year, Dilano Taylor won a spot in the regular season and went on to reach the $1 million final.
The opening event of the 2023 Challenger Series will take place Jan. 27 and will feature welterweights. Subsequent events will air on Fridays through March 17 on Fubo Sports Network. A location and venue have not yet been announced; 2022 events took place in Orlando, Fla.
In the welterweight main event to kick off the 2023 Challenger Series schedule, Lucas Barbosa (0-0), whose resume includes a grappling win over UFC standout Gilbert Burns, will take on Itso Babulaidze (2-0).
“The 2023 PFL Challenger Series provides world-class talent a path to the PFL,” PFL president Ray Sefo said in a news release. “The Challenger Series continues the PFL’s commitment to finding the best talent in MMA around the world.”
Also on the card, unbeaten CFFC champion Eric Alequin (7-0) takes on Thad Jean (4-0), who has fought for LFA and CFFC. His career highlight is a win over Taylor, the aforementioned 2022 Challenger Series contract winner and eventual finalist.
Jungle Fights champ Quemuel Ottoni (12-3), the only fighter with an MMA win over current UFC middleweight titleholder Alex Pereira, is set to take on Jozef Wittner (16-2), who has won four straight. And Mostafa Rashed Neda (7-3), a judo standout, meets Nick Alley (7-5), who has five submissions in his seven wins.
The 2023 PFL Challenger Series welterweight lineup includes:
- Lucas Barbosa vs. Itso Babulaidze
- Eric Alequin vs. Thad Jean
- Quemuel Ottoni vs. Jozef Wittner
- Nick Alley vs. Mostafa Rashed Neda
