Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson and Ken Hathaway

Marthin Hamlet’s quick finish in PFL opener makes up for one bad Las Vegas memory

LAS VEGAS – Marthin Hamlet beat Mohammad Fakhreddine with a first-round submission Friday on the preliminary card at 2023 PFL 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Hamlet, who picked up 6 points in the light heavyweight standings with the 65-second neck crank.

Mohammad Fakhreddine vs. Marthin Hamlet

Result: Marthin Hamlet def. Mohammad Fakhreddine via submission (neck crank) – Round 1, 1:05
Updated records: Hamlet (11-4), Fakhreddine (15-5)
Key stat: Hamlet now has back-to-back wins for the first time in two years.

Hamlet on the fight's key moment

Marthin Hamlet

“I had written in different scenarios, but my coach and me discussed if you see this guy standing with his back foot, you shoot and take him down and try to submit him. So that was the game plan. I saw directly, OK, he’s standing flat foot. What’s the deal? OK, we’re shooting and we’ll submit him.”

Hamlet on rebounding in Vegas

Marthin Hamlet

“I had a bad experience with Las Vegas, so it was good to come back. I actually tried to qualify for the Olympics here in wrestling, and I was like five seconds from the Olympic qualifications, and that kind of made me flash back a little bit. It’s good to turn that around and to get this finished. … It’s mixed emotions because I’m grateful also for my losses. All my losses in MMA can’t compare to that Olympic qualification disappointment. That was actually my original dream. So it’s good to be back and try to compete and to win a world championship. That’s my ultimate goal.”

Hamlet on what he wants next

“I’m not a stickler. Let’s see what Ray (Sefo) comes up with”

To hear more from Hamlet, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 1.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.