PFL Challenger Series 2023: Week 5 Results

PFL returns for their fifth installment of the 2023 PFL Challenger Series at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Tonight will feature 4 bouts in the women’s flyweight division where each fighter will have a chance to earn a PFL contract.

Kicking off the night will is a bare knuckle boxer Helen Peralta (6-3) and Team Oyama’s Lisa Mauldin (4-3). Despite starting her combat sports career at 27 years of age, Peralta has had quite the journey fighting in Invicta, LFA and even for a UFC roster spot on the most recent season of the Ultimate Fighter. Coming off an upset win over Aline Pereira, GLORY Kickboxer and sister of UFC Middleweight Champion Alex Pereira, Peralta intends to gain so more hype in the opening bout tonight. Mauldin on the other hand has not been to active with just one fight in the last 2 years. Although she lost in that recent outing, Mauldin showed glimpses of her top control on the ground and her ability to make it all three rounds despite the inactivity. With both fighters known for their ability to last, this fight should show who has the most grit in this matchup.

This next match up is projected to play out at a pretty high pace when Maíra Mazar (8-5) and Desiree Yanez (6-4) enter the cage. Mazar has seen a lot of high level competition in combat sports participating on Brazil’s National Team for Sanda. She also has rounded out her game with a purple belt in BJJ and training with the likes of former UFC champion Meisha Tate. Yanez has spent the majority of her fight career in MMA fighting in Bellator, LFA and Combate. With 18 second knockout in her last fight, Yanez is ready to crack the moment the fight begins. While Mazar has had experience on the national level, Yanez has spent her entire career focusing on MMA. Tonight should show how each fighter’s specific backgrounds factor in during the bout.

The penultimate fight should reveal some familiar faces when former UFC fighter Shanna Young (8-5) takes on former DWCS contestant Sandra Lavado (11-3). With experience over fighters such as Miranda Maverick, Macy Chaisson, and a hard fought win over Gina Mazany, Young’s resume is arguably deeper that everyone competing tonight. With a black belt in Karate and lifetime an almost endless experience in combat sports. Shanna’s fight knowledge could be her clearest advantage tonight. Lavado is no slouch though boasting the most wins out of the flyweights. Finishing 4 if her 11 wins by submission, you do not one to get caught with a limb exposed in her guard. Both ladies are ready to make a statement that they belong on the next level.

The main event of the night will be Syndicate MMA’s Kaytlin Neil (6-4) and the returning Katherine Corogenes (3-1). Neil has had quite the career resurgence coming off an impressive run on the last season of the Ultimate Fighter. With an impressive win over fellow TUF competitor Hannah Guy in her most recent outing for Invicta, Neil is ready to show that she’s as legit as they come in flyweight. Coming off a rough performance against rising prospect Dakota Ditcheva, Corogenes is eager to get back on the winning track. Corogenes showed she’s always in shape and ready for a fight when the PFL called her up when the card needed a replacement. We’ll see which fighter can handle the pressure of a last minute opponent when Neil and Corogenes close out the event.

MMA Sucka will have live coverage for PFL Challenger Series 2023: Week 5 as it airs live on fuboTV at 9pm E.T./6pm P.T.