10-BOUT CARD FEATURED AT PFL PLAYOFF

THE Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest-growing and most innovative sports league in the world, announced the finalized ten-fight card for the first Playoff event of 2023 featuring semi nalists in the Featherweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. The event will be hosted at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, TX on Friday (August 4 US Time) and aired over ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

The PFL’s debut in San Antonio will be headlined by top-seeded Featherweight Bubba “Bad Man” Jenkins, who will take on Jesus Pinedo. Jenkins is looking to advance to the PFL Featherweight Championship nals and capture his rst title and milliondollar purse. Standing across the PFL SmartCage will be Pinedo, who shocked the MMA world after stopping 2022 PFL Featherweight Champion Brendan Loughnane to advance to the win-or-gohome PFL Playo s.

The co-main event will feature topseeded Light Heavyweight Josh Silveira, son of legendary MMA coach Conan Silveira, in a matchup against Ty Flores. Silveira was a 2022 PFL Challenger Series competitor who brings an impressive 11-1 record into his second PFL Playo appearance.

“We are excited to kick o the 2023 PFL Playo s in San Antonio at the Boeing Center at Tech Port,” said PFL President of Fighter Operations Ray Sefo. “This is what that the PFL athletes have worked for all season, a Playo opportunity and the chance to advance to the PFL World Championship.”

In a battle of undefeated Featherweights, Gabriel Braga will face statement. again—especially those who dream of ying the Philippine ag on sports’ grandest stage,” said Esteban.

After she got accepted by her new teammates, Esteban is now the no. 1 ranked bet of Cote d’Ivoire, with Jennifer Danielle Ko and Bintou Samira Soro joining her. She and her teammates are now getting ready for the World Championships in Milan from July 23 to 26.

Esteban won’t forget her contributions as a Filipina fencer, having been a bronze medalist in the FIE Junior World Cup 2018 and in the Senior Satellite World Cup 2018 and her silver medal nish in the Senior Satellite World Cup, 2021. She also got a bronze medal in European U23 in 2022, aside from being an eight-time national

University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion while a studentathlete with Ateneo de Manila.

“I have fought long and hard for our country, encountering failures along the way. But I have also savored the thrill of winning for our ag. I remember being the only Filipino to win a medal in the Junior World Cup, back when I also was ranked 16th among juniors in the world, and also being the only Filipino to medal twice in the Senior Satellite World Cup,” said Esteban.

Early this year, Esteban was cut from the Philippine national team to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games while she was recovering from the injury she sustained while competing in Egypt last year.

The decision may not have gone well with Esteban, who went on with the process of switching nationalities while recovering from her injury.

“Sometimes, we must give ourselves enough respect to walk away from something that doesn’t value our worth. I want everyone to know that I did everything humanely possible to ful ll this long-time dream with the Filipino ag sewn on my uniform. But a series of unfortunate events—very little of which I had any control over— forced me to chase my dream in a distant, yet familiar land,” wrote Esteban. Peter Atencio

2 Pinoy Kickboxers Cop Golds In Wka Championships

TWO Filipino kickboxers won gold medals in the World Kickboxing Association (WKA) World Championships held recently at the Mira Boxing Stadium in Bali, Indonesia.

Jethro Saba, fighting in the 61 to 63 kilograms class, bagged two gold medals after beating Indonesian Joydi Sigarlaki and American Dean Rosenwald both by unanimous decision.

Saba used a vicious combination of straight punches and back kicks to conquer his opponents.

Andrei Amerkhan, competing in the 63.5 kg class, defeated Australian Rahullah Sarwari via unanimous decision.

Amerkhan thrilled the crowd by unleashing two flying knee strikes and a straight punch to his opponent’s jaw en route to his win.

“Every time I fight I utter a short prayer that says: All my heart all for God’s glory,” said Amerkhan who also secured an international professional contract with the WKA.

Founded in 1976, the WKA also known as World Kickboxing and Karate Association is one of the oldest and largest amateur and professional sanctioning body for kickboxing and karate.

The WKA is now led by its president Dave Sawyer with headquarters based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Eddy Lee is the regional director of WKA East Asia while Ramil Serit is the president of WKA Philippines.

Basketball Camp With Pba Legend Vince Hizon

THE Point Guard Academy Dasmarinas City Cavite and Vince Hizon will hold a basketball camp at The Orchard Golf and Country Club, Dasmariñas City Cavite starts July 10 and will run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Beginners class will place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. while Advance/ Shooters Camp is scheduled from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The enrollment Fee is P6,000.00 (Members) and P7,000.00 (NonMembers/Guests). There will be eight sessions.

Movlid Khaybulaev. Khaybulaev, 2021 PFL Featherweight Champion, is seeking his 22nd career victory and a return trip to the PFL World Championship, while Braga is looking for his rst $1 million opportunity. Rounding out the Playo matchups will be a Light Heavyweight matchup between Marthin Hamlet and Impa Kasanganay. It’s a win-or-go-home scenario as both athletes will be looking to make their rst PFL World Championship appearances.