Professional Fighters League announces 2023 PFL Challenger Series Second Chance competitors and bouts

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced the 2023 PFL Challenger Series Second Chance competitors and bouts. The PFL Challenger Series is an eight-part competition which will stream exclusively on Fubo Sports, the live, free-to-consumer TV network from FuboTV. The Challenger Series airs live on Friday nights in primetime and is held on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, with fighters looking to earn the opportunity to compete for a world championship and the $1 million winner’s purse.

In the main event, Lightweight Kendly St. Louis, who pulled off an impressive second round rear naked choke submission in the 27 January Challenger Series event, will match up with Brazil’s Paulo Laia, the first deaf fighter to compete in PFL, who returns after losing a narrow-split decision to Manoel Sousa.

“The second season of PFL Challenger Series has been an incredible success and I’m excited that fight fans have another chance to watch these 10 world-class competitors step foot into the SmartCage and put it all on the line,” said PFL president of fighter operations, Ray Sefo.

The co-main event of the night’s action will feature another matchup of American and Brazilian fighters, with Jackie Cataline taking on Evelyn Martins, a 20-year-old phenom who fights out of American Top Team, in a Women’s Featherweight bout.

In the evening’s Heavyweight matchup, Denzel Freeman, who enters the Challenger Series with an undefeated record of 3-0, will take on fellow American Raiden Kovacs who is making his professional debut. Welterweight Quemuel Ottoni, who holds a 12-3 career record, will step into the SmartCage across from Chris Brown, who dropped a closely contested split decision to Carlos Leal in last year’s Challenger Series. The event’s first matchup also features competitors from the Welterweight division as Sadeck Sanon and Ali Omar will face off.

PFL Challenger Series winners will be determined by a judging panel comprised of combat sports champions and celebrity guests. The PFL is at the forefront of innovation, recently reaching an agreement with Jake Paul, who will compete in, recruit for, and promote the league’s PPV Super Fight division.

PFL is the fastest growing company in MMA and the number two MMA company on a worldwide basis. It leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage powering real-time betting and a next-gen viewing experience. PFL is aired primetime live in the US on ESPN and ESPN+ and in 140 countries via 25 broadcast and streaming partners.