McGrillen demands main event in Manchester following submision of Philpott at PFL Belfast fight.
Rewritten Article:
Lewis McGrillen Secures Another Victory in a Thrilling Bout Against Alan Philpott
Lewis McGrillen, the 24-year-old sensation, emerged victorious in a pulse-pounding contest against Alan Philpott at PFL Belfast this past Saturday night. Fueled by the roaring crowd, he left little doubt about his dominance, calling for a main event showdown in his hometown of Manchester for his next fight.
McGrillen seized control from the very start, unleashing a series of powerful punches aimed at catching Philpott with his signature left hook. The Northern Irishman, unafraid and determined, countered with a surprising takedown, leaving the crowd chanting in excitement.
As the first round continued, McGrillen pressed on with relentless intensity, nearly knocking Philpott out with a stunning left hook, causing his eyes to momentarily roll back. But Philpott displayed an impressive display of resilience, managing to hang on and survive the round.
Undeterred, McGrillen began the second round with a thunderous slam, sending a shockwave throughout Belfast's SSE Arena. He then expertly transitioned to Philpott's back, unleashing a barrage of damaging elbows that left fans on edge. As the fight neared its conclusion, McGrillen locked in a rear-naked choke, forcing Philpott to tap out.
With his latest victory, McGrillen moved to 11-1 in his professional MMA career, having lost only once to Weslley Maia via unanimous decision in December 2023. The four-fight win streak has been marked by impressive victories over Dean Garnett and Alexander Luster, earning him a $100,000 prize.
Looking ahead, McGrillen has set his sights on main-eventing a card in Manchester. Speaking to the media after the bout, he expressed his fervent desire for a hometown showdown, "Give me PFL Manchester! Not PFL Liverpool, PFL Manchester!"
According to McGrillen, a move to the global stage could be next, highlighting his determination to claim the $500,000 prize. However, the PFL's recent changes to its regular-season format have halved its prize money, with the tournament now adopting a single elimination format that includes a first round, semi-finals, and finals.
Although there's no official word yet on upcoming PFL events in Manchester, fans can keep an eye on the PFL website or follow MMA news outlets for the latest updates. Meanwhile, Dakota Ditcheva, the women's flyweight tournament champion from Sale, Greater Manchester, is set to return to competition in July during PFL's inaugural African season, led by former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
- Lewis McGrillen, a MMA sensation, showed his dominance yet again in his victorious bout against Alan Philpott in the 2023 PFL Belfast event.
- The 24-year-old McGrillen asserts his desire for a main event showdown in Manchester for his next fight, upholding his professional MMA record of 11-1.
- McGrillen's impressive victory was marked by a series of powerful elbows and a rear-naked choke that forced Philpott to tap out.
- In the Premier League of MMA, McGrillen aims to move to the global stage, hoping to win the $500,000 prize, despite the recent changes to the tournament format.
- Meanwhile, in the women's flyweight tournament, hometown hero Dakota Ditcheva from Manchester is set to return to competition in July during the PFL's inaugural African season, with Francis Ngannou leading the charge.
