PFL Lightweight Raush Manfio Shares Ideal Scenario for 2023 Season

After winning $1 million and the lightweight championship in the 2021 PFL season, Raush Manfio was prevented from taking part in last year’s postseason due to a loss against eventual 155-pound winner Olivier Aubin-Mercier.

Ten months have passed since that defeat, and now the Brazilian is ready to kick off his 2023 campaign against Alex Martinez as part of the PFL 3 card. PFL 3 takes place on Friday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Manfio vs. Martinez is part of the “late card” that begins on ESPN+ at 9:30 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The main card airs earlier, on ESPN and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

"Since last year I’m working hard in all areas in order to evolve technically, and that’s what I’m bringing Friday, a much better version of myself for this season,” Manfio told Sherdog.com.

Even though close friend and two-time PFL champ Natan Schulte will face Steven Ray on the same night, Manfio says the American Top Team stablemates didn’t train together ahead of their respective fights.

"Our opponents have totally diferent features,” Manfio said. “My main partner was ‘Netto BJJ’ [Joaquim Silva], and Natan trained more with [Francisco Trinaldo], who is also a southpaw like Ray.”

Manfio hopes to not only win against Martinez, but to earn a first-round finish and the six points that comes with it to virtually guarantee his place in the playoffs.

"Martinez deserves all respect and proved how tough he is last season, but I’m coming in great shape,” Manfio said. “I see my main sparring partner, ‘Netto BJJ,’ as being more complete than Martinez everywhere, so I´m coming to get the ‘Big 6.’”

Manfio already has an ideal scenario in mind for how he’d like the 2023 PFL lightweight season to play out for him.

"There are a bunch of tough guys this year,” he said. “I see Aubin-Mercier beating [Shane] Burgos via decision, but that doesn’t guarantee a place in the playoffs. If I could choose an ideal playoff, it would be me eliminating Aubin-Mercier in the semifinal and fighting in the final against Natan. That would be the perfect scenario.”