The Professional Fighters League (PFL) returns April 20 with former UFC lightweight and PFL debutant Jeremy “Lil’ Heathens” Stephens facing MMA/boxer “Cassius” Clay Collard in the main event. The event has 10 bouts on the card featuring Light Heavyweight champion Antonio Carlos Jr. facing Delan Monte, and Lightweight camp Raush Manfio fights debuting South African Don Madge.
The PFL is one of the most exciting, blossoming MMA promotions not named UFC. Formed in 2018, the PFL operates in a sports-season format. Fighters contend for playoff positions to eventually compete for a chance at the final: the title fight of their weight class and $1 million.
No climbing up the ranks — your fights are set for the year and a title fight is yours if you make the playoffs.
The 2022 PFL season starts with five Light Heavyweight and five Lightweight bouts on April 20 at the Esports Arena in Arlington, TX. Ahead of the event, a few fighters from both divisions spoke to the media.
Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Delan Monte (Light Heavyweight bout)
Jiu-jitsu specialist Carlos Jr. beat Marthin Hamlet in the first round of the Light Heavyweight tournament final via rear-naked choke to win the title and the million-dollar prize. His record stands at 13-5-2 as a professional. As the native Brazilian will tell you, it’s a better vibe but stricter mentality heading into fight camp.
“What a good feeling to be a champion, it’s awesome,” chuckled Carlos Jr. “Since I won the final, since I’ve gotten the belt, I’ve gone to different training camps trying to improve every aspect of the game.” .
Monte will face Carlos Jr., for his first-ever PFL fight with a record of 8-1. Without having a fight go to decision, Monte, also from Brazil, will now face one of the best grapplers in the PFL. A calm and collected Monte has been adamantly training every discipline but will seek the knockout on Wednesday.
“I’m ready to fight three, five rounds – whatever it takes but what we’re looking for is the knockout, especially given the PFL format and how they value points here.” said Monte. “I’m not going to let him take me down, that’s a non-starter…I’m going for a first-round finish.”
Raush Manfio. vs. Don “Magic Man” Madge (Lightweight bout)
PFL’s Lightweight Champion Raush Manfio went the distance last year and won the belt and the million dollars last season.
He says that he’s gotten recognized more often, lives more comfortably and only really wants one fighter to fight in the final: Natan Schulte. Both are very close, Schulte being the godfather of Manfio’s daughter, and now see themselves fighting in the same organization.
“[Shulte] is the only fighter that I want to see in the final…He’s a brother to me. I don’t accept fighting him before the final,” says Manfio. “For the history we’ve made in the show, if we’re in the final, we would need to be in the main event.”
Both are Brazilian born and both struggled financially to live their dreams as professional fighters, borrowing money from each other. Although Manfio admits he never fought for the money, the million dollars awarded to him changed everything.
“No more concerns to pay the rent, my family is happy, we’ve achieved our life goals, we always wanted to be comfortable.” said Manfio.
Madge, on the other hand, will face Manfio to take him down a peg and climb the ladder in the first PFL week matchup. This, being the co-main event, means everything for Madge. Representing one of a few South Africans fighting on a stage like this is a big deal for the 31-year-old “Magic Man.”
“I want to get the champion out the way first,” says Madge. “I really want to test myself against the guys here that have been through it.”
“Cassius” Clay Collins vs. Jeremy “Lil’ Heathens” Stephens (Lightweight bout)
After getting beat by Manfio back in August 2021, Clay Collins picked up three more losses, both in the octagon and in the boxing ring. Collins feels he’s the “real PFL champ”, a true fighter in both disciplines and will always boast his 20-9 professional record.
“I’ve done stuff in this sport and other sports that none of these fools have done, it’s my show, baby, PFL’s my show.” said Collins.
Manfio, after being told about Collins’ comments said that “he’s a terrible loser” and noted that he’s being the more respectful one. “I need to knock this guy out for the next fight.” said a reserved Manfio. “I don’t know why he’s talking about it. I won against him by unanimous decision and the point score.”
Someone who has the gift of gab, and the gift of jab is the tenured Stephens who will headline the main event. Stephens will look to bounce back from his UFC Fight Night loss to Mateusz Gamrot last year, leading to UFC rejecting his contract extension. After being a UFC mainstay for over a decade, in his own words, it’s just a different atmosphere and nothing has changed. Stephens is just being himself.
“This is just a different promotion, I’m still doing the same thing, going in there, crackin’ skulls, getting paid and getting laid and that’s it. There’s really nothing to it.” said Stephens.
For Collard, it’s clear the name of the game will be to control the cage. “Keep distance”, Collard says, and run the pace of the fight against Stephens. Stephens’ game plan is simple: “Throw heat. Nonstop. All gas, no brakes.”
“I know he’s game.” says Stephens. “Prepared to go the distance but you know me, bro, I got great power in my hands, my shins, my knees and I’m feeling pretty electrifying so I’m here to rock the show.”
When and how to watch
PFL 2022 Week One will be shown on live on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. EST and shown later ESPN at 9 p.m. EST.
ESPN Card
- Lightweight: Clay Collard (155 lbs) vs. Jeremy Stephens (156 lbs)
- Lightweight: Raush Manfio (156) vs. Don Madge (155.8)
- Light Heavyweight: Antonio Carlos Junior (205.6 lbs) vs. Delan Monte (205 lbs)
- Lightweight: Natan Schulte (156 lbs) vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier (155.8 lbs)
ESPN+ Card
- Light Heavyweight: Emiliano Sordi (205.4 lbs) vs. Corey Hendricks (205.8)
- Lightweight: Alexander Martinez (156 lbs) vs. Stevie Ray (155.6 lbs)
- Light Heavyweight: Marthin Hamlet (205.8 lbs) vs. Teodoras Aukštuolis (204.6 lbs)
- Light Heavyweight: Omari Akhmedov (204.6 lbs) vs. Viktor Pešta (205.6 lbs)
- Light Heavyweight: Rob Wilkinson (205 lbs) vs. Bruce Souto (204.6 lbs)
- Light Heavyweight Showcase: Simeon Powell (205.8 lbs) vs. Clinton Williams (204.6 lbs)
 returns April 20 with former UFC lightweight and PFL debutant Jeremy “Lil’ Heathens” Stephens facing MMA/boxer “Cassius” Clay Collard in the main event. The event has 10 bouts on the card featuring Light Heavyweight champ Antonio Carlos Jr. facing Delan Monte, and Lightweight camp Raush Manfio fights debuting South African Don Madge.){kind=link}