Denis Goltsov, Liz Carmouche and Dakota Ditcheva also earn victories in Saudi-backed organization’s season opener SAN ANTONIO: The Professional Fighters League kicked off the 2024 PFL Global Season with Valentin Moldavsky defeating 2022 PFL heavyweight champion Ante Delija in a first-round TKO in the main event at the Boeing Center in San Antonio. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Moldavsky overwhelmed Delija, landing heavy strikes en route to the stoppage in his PFL debut. The former Bellator world champion currently sits atop the heavyweight division with six points. In the co-main event of the evening, 2023 PFL heavyweight runner-up Denis Goltsov faced Linton Vassell, with the former securing a third-round TKO victory and earning four points in the standings. Bellator veterans Liz Carmouche and Juliana Velasquez faced off in women’s flyweight action with Carmouche defeating Velasquez via unanimous decision. The victory gave Carmouche her third win over Velasquez and three points in the PFL Global Season standings while improving her career record to 21-7. The 2023 PFL Europe women’s flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva battled 2023 PFL Challenger Series finalist Lisa Mauldin in a women’s flyweight contest. Ditcheva made quick work of Mauldin with a first-round TKO and earned six points in the division, improving her undefeated record to 11-0. “The toughest test in mixed martial arts, the PFL Global Season, returned to action tonight showcasing the best fighters from around the world,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “In the Professional Fighters League, every fight matters as these elite athletes embark on their $1 million dollar world championship journey, and the 2024 PFL Global Season promises to be the biggest yet.” Ray Sefo, president of fighter operations at PFL, said: “The heavyweight and women’s flyweight divisions kicked off the 2024 PFL Global Season and delivered excitement only the PFL can provide. The PFL continues to show how deep our amazing roster of talent is and we are looking forward to light heavyweight and lightweight action on April 12 in Las Vegas.” Heavyweights Daniel James and Marcelo Golm closed out the night’s undercard action. James defeated Golm by a first-round TKO (4:59), yet only earned five points in the standings after he received a one-point penalty for missing weight. Further heavyweight action saw Sergei Bilostenniy defeat Blagoy Ivanov via unanimous decision and earn three points in the heavyweight division. Bilostenniy’s career record now stands at 12-3. In women’s flyweight action, Taila Santos submitted Ilara Joanne at 3:57 in the first round via rear-naked choke. The victory improved Santos’ professional record to 20-3 and earned her six points in the standings. The 2024 PFL Global Season heavyweight action began with Oleg Popov facing Steve Mowry. Popov, making his PFL debut, defeated Mowry by TKO at 3:47 of the second round. The win was Popov’s 15th straight, giving him five points in the heavyweight standings. Judo black belt Kana Watanabe matched up with Shanna Young in an exciting women’s flyweight division contest. Watanabe earned the unanimous decision victory in her PFL Global Season debut and secured three points in the division. The PFL’s first women’s flyweight division matchup of the 2024 PFL Global Season featured Australia’s Chelsea Hackett and Bellator veteran Jena Bishop. Bishop locked Hackett in an armbar forcing Hackett to tap at 4:50 of the opening round, and the victory earned Bishop six points. In a featherweight showcase bout, Dimitre Ivy handed Lucas Brennan his first career loss via unanimous decision and pushed his career record to 13-7. In a bantamweight showcase bout, Bryce Meredith made his PFL debut and defeated Ty Johnson by unanimous decision, moving his undefeated career record to 6-0. The 2024 PFL Global Season action returns on Friday, April 12 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas with light heavyweight and lightweight action. PFL San Antonio main card results: Valentin Moldavsky (13-3-1 NC) def. Ante Delija (24-6) first-round TKO (2:17) Denis Goltsov (32-8-0) def. Linton Vassell (23-8) third-round TKO (3:11) Liz Carmouche (20-7) def. Juliana Velasquez (12-2) unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Dakota Ditcheva (11-0) def. Lisa Mauldin (6-3-0) first-round TKO (3:54) Early card results: Daniel James (14-7-1, 1 NC) def. Marcelo Golm (10-4) first-round TKO (4:59) Sergey Bilostenniy (12-3) def. Blagoy Ivanov (19-7-1 NC) unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Taila Santos (20-3) def. Ilara Joanne (11-9) first-round submission (3:57) Oleg Popov (17-1) def. Steve Mowry (10-2-1, 1 NC) second-round TKO (3:47) Kana Watanabe (13-2-1) def. Shanna Young (9-6) unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Jena Bishop (7-0) def. Chelsea Hackett (4-2-1) first-round submission (4:50) Dimitre Ivy (13-7) def. Lucas Brennan (9-1) unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Bryce Meredith (6-0) def. Ty Johnson (13-7) unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30)