Former UFC title challenger suffers shock leg-kick TKO at PFL 1 event
In a stunning turn of events, former UFC Bantamweight title challenger Marlon Moraes faced yet another loss, this time at the hands of Brendan Loughnane at the PFL 1 event on Saturday night. The event took place at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Loughnane, the reigning PFL featherweight champion, brought his A-game with a strategic game plan of leg attacks. The strategy paid off as Moraes struggled to defend against the relentless calf kicks. Despite some early success in the first round, Moraes was knocked down twice towards the end of the round and was saved by the bell. The cage-side physician allowed Moraes to continue, but it proved to be a futile decision.
The Brazilian fighter came out swinging in the second round, knowing he had to finish the fight quickly. However, the damage to his legs was too much to bear as Loughnane continued to attack with kicks. 'Magic' was ultimately unable to continue, and the referee called the fight a technical knockout in favor of Loughnane.
This is the sixth straight loss for Moraes, who is struggling to regain his form after a string of defeats. Loughnane, on the other hand, has won five straight fights, with his last two victories coming via technical knockout.
Brendan Loughnane stops Marlon Moraes with leg kicks
#2023PFL1
https://t.co/byEJT6rOJY
Results from PFL 1
As mentioned above, the main event saw Brendan Loughnane ultimately emerge victorious with a leg-kick in the second round, that handedd Moraes his sixth straight defeat. Rob Wilkinson also earned a win in the co-main event, defeating Thiago Santos via unanimous decision.
The event featured several other exciting fights, including a split decision victory for Will Fleury over PFL newcomer Krzysztof Jotko and a unanimous decision win for Bubba Jenkins over Chris Wade.
The preliminary card also showcased some impressive performances, with Marthin Hamlet securing a victory via submission with a face crank in the first round of his bout against Mohammad Fakhreddine. Josh Silveira also earned a win via submission with a swift rear-naked choke in the first round of his fight against Sam Kei.
Overall, the PFL 1 event proved to be a fantastic start to the promotion's 2023 season, leaving fans eager for more action in the coming weeks. With a stacked lineup of talented fighters and exciting matchups, the fight event promises to deliver some of the most thrilling fights of the year.