Preview: 2023 PFL 1 ‘Loughnane vs. Moraes’

Light Heavyweights

Marthin Hamlet (10-4, 4-3 PFL | -115) vs. Mohammad Fakhreddine (15-4, 0-0 PFL | -115): The time is now for Fakhreddine, a two-division Brave Combat Federation champion who will make his PFL debut at 38 years old. With 12 KO/TKO victories to his credit, the Lebanese fighter is the more dynamic finisher in this matchup. Hamlet, a 2021 PFL finalist, prefers a more grinding approach with takedowns, clinch work and top control. The powerful Norwegian will want to slow the pace against Fakhreddine, but his gas tank does not always hold up in longer fights. Fakhreddine by KO/TKO is the pick.

Light Heavyweights

Joshua Silveira (9-1, 1-1 PFL | -500) vs. Sam Kei (8-6, 0-1 PFL | +350): Silveira was one of the most intriguing prospects to come out of the PFL Challenger Series in 2022, but he lacked the seasoning to get past veteran foe Omari Akhmedov as a short-notice replacement in the postseason. Nonetheless, potential abounds for the American Top Team-trained talent. Silveira is a former Division I wrestler at Arizona State University who showcases solid athleticism in his wrestling, striking and grappling. The former Legacy Fighting Alliance two-division champion has proven to be a dynamic finisher against less-skilled opposition, and it is quite possible that Kei fits that bill. A former rugby player who has competed at both heavyweight and light heavyweight, Kei struggled with the size of Juan Adams in his PFL debut in 2022 and is probably better suited to compete at 205 pounds. With that said, the former Superfight MMA titleholder flashed enough power in his hands to hurt Adams in the first round of their encounter, and he also showed a decent ability to return to his feet when taken down. Still, Silveira has more tools at his disposal and should be able to put Kei away inside the distance.

Featherweights

Daniel Torres (14-5, 0-0 PFL | -240) vs. Alejandro Flores Garcia (21-4, 2-1 PFL | +190): Garcia tasted the power of Ryoji Kudo in his last PFL appearance, and the result was a first-round knockout loss. When things are going his way, the former Dana White’s Contender Series competitor likes to control the range with his jab and an arsenal of kicks, picking his spots to flurry with combinations and the occasional flying knee. As his career has progressed, Garcia has not proven to be much of a finisher, so keeping fights at his preferred distance is key to his success. A former KSW and K-1 champion, Torres has experience against solid opposition, including the likes of Borys Mankowski, Salahdine Parnasse and Max Coga. If the Austria-based Brazilian forces the issue and gets inside against Garcia, he has the weapons to make his adversary uncomfortable. Torres wins by KO/TKO.

Featherweights

Sung Bin Jo (10-2, 0-1 PFL | -150) vs. Jesus Pinedo (20-5-1, 0-0 PFL | +120): This is a matchup of former UFC competitors, neither of whom did much to distinguish themselves during brief Octagon stints. Jo also has one PFL appearance to his credit: a decision loss to Tyler Diamond in 2021. Both Jo and Pinedo have racked up finishes on the regional circuit, but that has not yet translated at the highest level. Pinedo is a good athlete with well-rounded skills and at 6-foot, he is accustomed to having the reach advantage. However, that will not be a significant factor against the 5-foot-11 Jo. “The Korean Falcon” is quite hittable, and his penchant for being baited into a brawl could hurt him in a closely contested fight. Pinedo wins a hard-fought decision.

Light Heavyweights

Delan Monte (9-3, 1-2 PFL | -200) vs. Ty Flores (11-4, 0-0 PFL | +160): Monte had a rough go during his first PFL campaign, with bookings against Rob Wilkinson, Antonio Carlos Jr. and Emiliano Sordi—the league’s last three 205-pound champions. While the Evolucao Thai member was quickly dispatched in two of those appearances, he flashed his power in an upset of Sordi, and he also had Wilkinson hurt before being finished. Thus far, Monte has shown himself to be a willing brawler, and his best chance of victory is to clip his opponent during an exchange. Anchored at Elevation Fight Team, Flores has competed for organizations such as Fury Fighting Championships, Legacy Fighting Alliance and Shamrock Fighting Championships during his professional tenure. He also showcased impressive durability in a decision loss to Dustin Jacoby on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020—a trait that could serve him well in a potential firefight with Monte. If Flores can weather the early storm, he should have the ability to pull off a finish against a hittable opponent.

Light Heavyweights

Impa Kasanganay (11-3, 0-0 PFL | -215) vs. Cory Hendricks (9-5, 2-2 PFL | +170): It is difficult to believe that Kasanganay competed as low as 170 pounds during his UFC tenure, especially considering that he missed weight badly for a middleweight pairing with Raimond Magomedaliev at Eagle Fighting Championship 46 in 2022. The move to light heavyweight paid off for Kasanganay on the PFL Challenger Series, as he held off the wrestling of Osama ElSeady before knocking out his fatigued opponent late in Round 1. While the UFC veteran was an imposing presence in his previous weight class, he might not always have the same physical advantages at 205 pounds. Hendricks, with a solid blend of wrestling, knockout power and durability, will provide an interesting second test in that regard. The Syndicate MMA product lost a grind-it-out decision to Marthin Hamlet in his last outing, but Hendricks’ fights typically do not reach the scorecards. At 29 years old, Kasanganay is entering his prime, and he should have the tools to get the job done here and win a decision.