The Professional Fighters League returns to Europe to kick off the inaugural PFL Europe regular season on Saturday afternoon. The first event of the season, which emanates from Newcastle, England, will feature a light heavyweight main event contested between Simeon Powell and Mohamed Amine. England’s own Dakota Ditcheva, one of the strongest prospects in women’s MMA, will meet Sweden’s Malin Hermansson in the co-main event.
Fight fans can catch PFL Europe 1 2023 streaming live on DAZN beginning at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.
Main Event – Powell vs. Amine
England’s own Powell has been a promising talent in the PFL system for quite some time. He competed twice for the company during last year’s regular season and ran his professional record to a perfect 6-0. He finished both of those fights and will be looking for another against Amine. Equipped with an 85-inch reach and a height of 6-foot-5, Powell’s light heavyweight measurables surpass that of Jon Jones, the greatest fighter in the history of the division. “Smooth” has been to a decision just one time in his MMA career, and also had a 6-1 amateur career. He has not lost since his first amateur fight.
Amine will probably need to employ a grappling-heavy approach to get the better of Powell, but he could find that tough being primarily a stand-up fighter himself. Three of his five fins have come on the feet, and his only loss came by way of Americana to Kevin Oumar at UAE Warriors 27.
Co-Main Event — Ditcheva vs. Hermansson
Manchester’s Ditcheva has all the makings of a future star in the sport. The 24-year-old has good athleticism for the division in addition to a proven background in Muay Thai. She is also marketable and brings a killer instinct to the cage seldom seen by fighters at this stage in their career. She has also been as active as any women’s flyweight, compiling a 7-0 record in spite of making her professional debut less than two years ago. Prior to debuting at the professional level, Ditcheva went 4-0 as an amateur with one of those wins coming against unbeaten Invicta flyweight, Shauna Bannon.
Ditcheva will be looking to put on a show for the English fans against Sweden’s Hermansson, who is looking to snap a three-fight skid. Hermansson started her career on a 5-1 run and has competed on big stages for promotions such as Bellator and BRAVE CF.
Ditcheva was originally scheduled to take on Clara Ricignuolo, but Ricignuolo pulled out with an injury earlier this month.
Rest of the Card
Other fights of note to kick off the PFL Europe regular season include Italy’s Riccardo Nosiglia taking on Jakob Nedoh in the light heavyweight division. Nedoh will be looking to make it five wins in a row (and perhaps five finishes in a row) against a fighter in Nosiglia who most recently competed against fellow PFL light heavyweight Viktor Pesta in OKTAGON. Saturday will mark Nosiglia’s third fight since 2019.
Another bout to watch will take place in the light heavyweight division when France’s Anthony Salamone fights Spain’s Daniel Ladero. Both fighters are looking to establish themselves as fighters worth watching from countries that have just begun to dip their toes in MMA. Talented English prospects Louis Lee Scott and Lewis McGrillen-Evans are set to compete on the prelims, and both fighters have the necessary skillsets to have long careers competing at the highest level.
PFL Europe 1 2023 Results
Main Card
Simeon Powell def. Mohamed Amine via Submission (Arm Triangle) at 4:59 of Round 2
Dakota Ditcheva def. Malin Hermansson via Submission (RNC) in Round 1
Lewis McGrillen-Evans def. Salih Kulucan via Knockout (left straight) at 2:36 of Round 1
Jakob Nedoh def. Riccardo Nosiglia via TKO (punches) at :51 of Round 1
Anthony Salamone def. Daniel Ladero via TKO (punches) at 2:20 of Round 1
Cornelia Holm def. Marta Waliczek via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Abdelah Er-Ramy def. Madalin Pirvulescu via TKO (punches) at 2:18 of Round 1
Valentina Scatizzi def. Lizzy Gevers via Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Louis Lee Scott def. Sam Robinson Knockout (Head Kick) at :21 of Round 1
Oscar Ownsworth def. Lewis Monarch via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
