Picks and predictions are locked in for another busy double-header with MMASucka staff picks.
Ending the Professional Fighters League’s first half of the Regular Season sees PFL 3 2023 set for action later tonight, April 14th from The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada. A different scheduling will take place with the main card at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT) on both ESPN and ESPN+ followed by the “late card,” or “postliminary card,” at 9:30pm ET (6:30pm PT) solely on ESPN+.
PFL will return to fight action and staff picks on Thursday, June 8th.
Live results from tonight’s PFL 3 2023 will be available here at MMASucka.
Stay tuned Saturday morning for the second-half of our double-header weekend with UFC on ESPN 44: Holloway vs. Allen from Kansas City, Missouri.
The Fights
Lightweights (155 pounds) and welterweights (170 pounds) make up the final two weight classes of fighters competing for points en route to a possible shot in the PFL playoffs later this year. The two ultimate finalists from each of the six divisions will then square off for a chance at the promotion’s one-million dollar grand prize. See PFL’s website here for formatting information.
Headlining the main card sees Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Shane Burgos set to square down in the lightweight division. Montreal, Quebec’s Aubin-Mercier claimed the 2022 tournament with a second-round knockout over Stevie Ray, extending his current win streak six in-a-row dating back to his lengthy tenure competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His opponent, Burgos, looks for success in the tournament as he makes his PFL debut following his eleven-fight UFC run.
Additional lightweights will meet in the co-main event between 2021 semifinalist Clay Collard and former Shooto champion Yamato Nishikawa. Collard targets a rebound after his playoff hopes were cut short last year while Nishikawa aims to stretch upon his current ten-fight victorious run.
The additional three fights at 155 pounds will take place on the ESPN+ postliminary card: two-time tournament winner Natan Schulte squares off against last year’s finalist Stevie Ray;Β former Titan FC lightweight champion and 2021 tournament winner Raush Manfio takes on 2022 semifinalist Alexander Martinez; and Challenger Series standout Bruno Miranda against debutant and recent Brave FC lightweight title victor Ahmed Amir.
For the Regular Season welterweights, two fights will see action on the televised main card portion. 2022 playoff semifinalist Carlos Leal returns hungry as he takes on PFL newcomer but seasoned veteran David Zawada. Opening the ESPN card sees the undefeated Magomed Umalatov, who was forced out of last year’s bracket due to visa issues, set to return in a matchup with last year’s finalist of 26-year-old Dilano Taylor.
Last year’s crowned 170-pound champion, Sadibou Sy, will fight 2022 Challenger Series contract winner Jarrah Al-Silawi in the featured ESPN+ bout.
After just missing out on the 2022 playoffs, 2018 tournament champion Magomed Magomedkerimov returns in a bout with newcomer and Oregon-native Ben Egli.
The final welterweight playoff fight will come between two more debutants of Australia’s Shane Mitchell and Mexico’s undefeated Nayib Lopez.
Find our PFL 3 2023 picks further below.
Lightweights and Welterweights write their first chapter of the season π§π’π π’π₯π₯π’πͺ π‘ππππ§
[Friday, April 14th | 7pm ET on ESPN| #PFLRegularSeason | ποΈ https://t.co/hxZi2fEbA9] pic.twitter.com/junWzpEdcu
β PFL (@PFLMMA) April 14, 2023
2023 Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of five promotions: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator MMA, ONE Championship, the Professional Fighters League (PFL), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS). UFC and Bellator events feature picks from only main cards. PFL will feature select fights from the main and preliminary card while DWCS sees all fights counted from the event. ONE Championship returns to picks for the first time since 2020 and will feature only mixed martial arts (MMA) fights selected from cards with a minimum three matchups.
The WINNER of staff picks at the end of 2023, who picked the most victorious fighters, will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBeltsΒ or a chain fromΒ Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2022 was won by Wesley Riddle with a record of 264-135.
Check out who the MMASucka staff are picking to win at PFL 3 2023.
Staff Records after UFC 287:
1. Ben Jamieson: 62-34
2. Nate Freeman: 60-36
3T. Frazer Krohn: 59-37
3T. Tim Wheaton: 59-37
5T. Jeremy Brand: 58-38
5T. Wesley Riddle: 58-38
7. Michael DeSantis: 57-39
8. Julio Monteros Jr.: 51-37
9. Roemello Reyes: 51-29
10. Jack Goodwillie: 49-30
11. Andrew Benjamin: 43-48
12. Brian Knight: 42-30
13. Brandon Joint: 12-9
14. Jonathan Andrade: 11-13
15. Andrew Harbaugh: 10-7
16. Joshua Yule: 7-6
*Note β not all staff pick for every event*
Magomed Umalatov (12-0), -280
vs.
Dilano Taylor (10-3), +235
Welterweight Division
– 170 LBS. ~ 77.1 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Umalatov via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Umalatov via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Umalatov via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Taylor via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Taylor via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Umalatov via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Umalatov via Round 1 TKO
Brian Knight: Umalatov via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Taylor via Split Decision
Roemello Reyes: Umalatov via Round 2 TKO
Ben Jamieson: Umalatov via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Umalatov: 8
Staff picking Taylor: 3
Carlos Leal (17-4), -210
vs.
David Zawada (18-7), +180
Welterweight Division
– 170 LBS. ~ 77.1 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Zawada via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Leal via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Leal via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Zawada via Split Decision
Roemello Reyes: Leal via Split Decision
Ben Jamieson: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Leal: 9
Staff picking Zawada: 2
Clay Collard (21-10, 1 NC), -240
vs.
Yamato Nishikawa (21-3-6), +200
Lightweight Division
– Co-Main Event –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Collard via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Collard via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Collard via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Collard via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Collard via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Collard via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Collard via Round 2 TKO
Brian Knight: Collard via Split Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Collard via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Collard via Unanimous Decision
Ben Jamieson: Collard via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Collard: 11
Staff picking Nishikawa: 0
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (17-5), +100
vs.
Shane Burgos (15-3), -120
Lightweight Division
– Main Event –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Burgos via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Burgos via Split Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Burgos via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Aubin-Mercier via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Aubin-Mercier via Round 2 SUB
Jack Goodwillie: Burgos via Round 3 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Ben Jamieson: Burgos via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Aubin-Mercier: 6
Staff picking Burgos: 5
Bruno Miranda (14-3), -110
vs.
Ahmed Amir (12-3-1), -110
Lightweight Division
– Postlim Fight –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Miranda via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Miranda via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Miranda via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Miranda via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Miranda via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Miranda via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Miranda via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Amir via Round 2 TKO
Jack Goodwillie: Amir via Round 1 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Miranda via Unanimous Decision
Ben Jamieson: Miranda via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Miranda: 9
Staff picking Amir: 2
Shane Mitchell (13-4), +245
vs.
Nayib Lopez (15-0), -295
Welterweight Division
– Postlim Fight –
– 170 LBS. ~ 77.1 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Lopez via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Lopez via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Lopez via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Lopez via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Lopez via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Lopez via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Lopez via Round 1 SUB
Brian Knight: Lopez via Round 2 SUB
Jack Goodwillie: Lopez via Round 2 SUB
Roemello Reyes: Lopez via Round 1 TKO
Ben Jamieson: Lopez via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Mitchell: 0
Staff picking Lopez: 11
Raush Manfio (16-4), -110
vs.
Alexander Martinez (10-3, 1 NC), -110
Lightweight Division
– Postlim Fight –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Martinez via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Manfio via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Manfio via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Manfio via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Manfio via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Martinez via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Manfio via Round 1 TKO
Brian Knight: Martinez via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Martinez via Split Decision
Roemello Reyes: Martinez via Split Decision
Ben Jamieson: Martinez via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Manfio: 5
Staff picking Martinez: 6
Natan Schulte (23-5-1), -380
vs.
Stevie Ray (25-11), +310
Lightweight Division
– Postlim Fight –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Ray via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Schulte via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Schulte via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Ray via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Ray via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Schulte via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Ray via Round 1 SUB
Brian Knight: Ray via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Ray via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Schulte via Split Decision
Ben Jamieson: Schulte via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Schulte: 5
Staff picking Ray: 6
Magomed Magomedkerimov (30-6), -975
vs.
Ben Egli (14-4), +675
Welterweight Division
– Postlim Fight –
– 170 LBS. ~ 77.1 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Magomedkerimov via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Magomedkerimov via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Magomedkerimov via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Magomedkerimov via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Magomedkerimov via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Magomedkerimov via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Magomedkerimov via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Magomedkerimov via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Magomedkerimov via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Magomedkerimov via Round 2 SUB
Ben Jamieson: Magomedkerimov via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Magomedkerimov: 11
Staff picking Egli: 0
Sadibou Sy (13-6-2, 1 NC), -210
vs.
Jarrah Al-Silawi (18-4), +180
Welterweight Division
– Postlim Fight –
– 170 LBS. ~ 77.1 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Ben Jamieson: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Sy: 11
Staff picking Al-Silawi: 0
PFL 3 2023 FEATURED IMAGE:
Sadibou Sy at weigh-ins ahead of his Regular Season PFL 3 2023 fight with Jarrah Al-Silawi taking place Friday, April 14th from The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada (photo credits to Cooper Neil, PFL MMA).
