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PFL Fighter Spotlight | Shane Burgos

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As the PFL off-season gets underway, it’s time to start looking forward to the 2023 season and what we can expect. When looking at the fighters to keep an eye on, one name jumps off the page. Marquee signing Shane Burgos adds a lot of excitement with his reputation for putting on fight of the year contenders every time he steps into the cage. 

Announcing his signing via The MMA Hour on August 15th, the news came as a surprise to many. Burgos felt at home in the UFC’s featherweight division and had become must-watch entertainment through his 11 fights with the promotion. Though some might see it as a shame for the UFC to lose a top 15 featherweight that was the definition of a fan favourite, ‘Hurricane’ Shane is a huge asset for the PFL.

Burgos went 8-3 in the UFC, only losing to the very best in the division (Edson Barboza, Josh Emmett and Calvin Kattar). In his six years spent competing inside the octagon, he produced several instant classics including all three of his losses. Burgos’ UFC departure came so out of left field partly due to the run of form that he was on, adding to his back catalogue of fight of the year contenders with wins over Billy Quarantillo and Charles Jourdain. 

It’s become clear that regardless of the opponent, the NY native will get a great fight out of them and that’s what makes his arrival so exciting, as well as his ability. In his interview with Ariel Helwani  where he revealed this new step in his career, Burgos also said that he isn’t sure whether he will compete in the featherweight or lightweight division. We don’t think we are being biassed when we say that 2022 featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane vs Shane Burgos is one of the best fights the PFL could possibly make. Not to mention Burgos vs Clay Collard at lightweight. 

The Tiger Schulmann fighter was scheduled to make his debut on the PFL finals card at Madison Square Garden against another former UFC fighter, Brazil’s Marlon Moraes. After having to pull out of the fight due to an injury, we will have to wait until 2023 for his debut but it can’t come soon enough.