The Professional Fighters League hosts their third regular season card on April 19th, featuring the welterweights and featherweights. They will be presenting a tremendous main card, and this will provide you the crucial info you need before you tune in.
Andrey Koreshkov (27-4) vs Magomed Umalatov (14-0) – Welterweight Regular season bout
In the main event of PFL 3: Chicago, we have former Bellator Champion Andrey Koreshkov taking on PFL staple Magomed Umalatov. Koreshkov is a devasting striker riding a 5 fight win streak, with his most notable finish coming over Chance Rencountre with a spinning backfist that broke his ribs at Bellator 274, and most recently a split decision win over Lorenz Larkin. He’s looking to start his PFL career with a win, but across from him is the unbeaten Magomed Umalatov, who has long been one of the PFL’s most skilled fighters. Despite his talent, Umalatov has struggled to stay active, dealing with visa issues, injuries, and various other undisclosed pullouts. When he is in the cage, he is an elite talent with tremendous wrestling and extreme power. If all goes according to plan for Umalatov in 2024, he could very well be the favorite to win $1 million at the end of the season.
Brendan Loughnane (27-5) vs Pedro Carvahlo (13-8) – Featherweight Regular Season Bout
In the comain event of the evening, we have another former champion in Brendan Loughnane making his return after a disappointing season that ended in a knockout loss vs rising start Jesus Pinedo. Despite this small setback, Loughnane has been one of the biggest success stories for the PFL. He was denied a contract on Dana White’s Contender series, but later signed with the PFL and has amassed a record of 9-2 with the promotion and won the million dollar championship in 2022. Loughnanes calling card is his crisp striking and devasting lowkicks, as he showcased when he finished Marlon Moraes last year. His opponent, Pedro Carvalho, is a Bellator veteran and has a tall task ahead of him for his PFL debut. Known primarily as a grappler, Carvalho has lost two fights in a row and is looking to get back on track this Friday vs Loughnane.
Logan Storley (15-2) vs Shamil Musaev (16-0-1) – Welterweight Regular Season Bout
Logan Storley is known has one of the best wrestlers in all of MMA, and boasts an extremely impressive collegiate record, as he was a 4 time All American for University of Minnesota. He’s Shamil Musaev, a capable grappler yet devastating striker, coming off a run with Polish promotion KSW and Russian promotion RCC. This fight could very well be one of the highest level clashes of the night.
Gabriel Alves Braga (12-1) vs Justin Gonzalez (14-3) – Featherweight Regular Season Bout
Gabriel Alves Braga is coming off a successful season in which he came just short of a shot at the title, but he’s back looking to make the featherweight division his. A high level striker with a deep background in many combat sports, he is coming off a tragedy of suddenly losing his coach and father just a few months ago. Despite this, he’s back ready for the 2024 season fighting in honor of his father. He will be taking on Bellator staple, who holds a win over fellow fighter on this card Kai Kamaka. Alves Braga is a top level talent for the PFL, and expect for him to start his season on a high note.
Goiti Yamauchi (28-6) vs Neiman Gracie (12-4) – Welterweight Regular Season Bout
Two Brazilians face off in this welterweight season bout, with Goiti Yamauchi facing off with perhaps the best Gracie still fighting MMA, Neiman Gracie. Gracie has been training with Alex Pereira in preparation for this season, as Yamauchi is coming off a brutal TKO loss vs Michael Venom Page in which he shattered his kneecap. Both fighters are extremely high level ground fighters, so expect this fight to play out on the feet and for Gracie to have the advantage.
Bubba Jenkins (21-7) vs Kai Kamaka III (12-5-1) – Featherweight Regular Season Bout
In perhaps one of the most exciting matches of the evening, Bubba “Bad Man” Jenkins is back looking for another run at the PFL title, but this time he’s taking on Bellator veteran and Hawaiian standout Kai Kamaka III. A training partner of Max Holloway, Kamaka is looking to feed off the momentum of Holloway’s massive performance at UFC 300. Bubba Jenkins is an elite wrestler, while Kamaka looks to get it done on the feet so this will be an exciting clash of styles with season points on the line.
Watch PFL 3: Chicago on ESPN+ on Friday, April 19th, 6 PM Central Standard Time.
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