Joshua Silveira has had quite the early run in professional MMA so far. Prior to the PFL, Silveira went 5-0 in the LFA, becoming middleweight and light heavyweight champion. A self-described pressure-based fighter with expertise in Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling, Silveira earned a third-round submission in his PFL Challenger Series appearance in February 2022. Four months later, Silveira scored an impressive first-round TKO of Marthin Hamlet to advance to the playoffs despite just one regular-season bout. He dropped a decision to Omari Akhmedov in the semifinals, the sole loss on Silveira’s MMA record entering tonight.
Silveira scored a first-round submission of Sam Kei in April for a strong start to his 2023 season.
In his first season with the PFL last year, judo expert Delan Monte went 1-1 in the regular season, getting submitted by former trainee Antonio Carlos Junior and scoring a first-round finish of former PFL champion Emiliano Sordi. This was enough to earn him a playoff spot, but he’d be knocked out in the semifinals by eventual champion Rob Wilkinson.
Monte dropped a unanimous decision to Ty Flores in his first 2023 season bout in April.
Silveira has already earned a playoff spot tonight through Ty Flores’s weight miss and win via decision and is now just looking for seeding. Monte needs a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt.
Round 1
The two feel each other out, as Silveira lands a couple of kicks to the body. Monte looks to come forward but Silveira lands another couple of kicks to the body. Silveira gets around Monte’s punching as he continues to kick at Monte’s body. One-two by Silveira before he dodges Monte. Monte lands upstairs, but Silveira goes in for a double-leg takedown.
As the takedown occurred, Monte’s right knee seemed to buckle underneath him, as Monte cried out in pain. The replay showed one of his toes getting stuck on the mat, leading to what seemed to be collateral damage to the knee. The fight ends in the first round via a TKO due to an unfortunate injury.
Note: The finish also means Impa Kasanganay clinches a playoff spot
Unfortunate situation in our opening bout. Delan Monte suffers an injury. This one is over.#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 9, 2023
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OFFICIAL RESULT
Joshua Silveira def. Delan Monte via first-round TKO (injury, 1:30)