A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject.(June 2023) |
Formation | 2021 |
---|---|
Founder | Steve Williams (CEO) |
Website | fightpfc |
The Pillow Fight Championship (PFC) is a professional sports organization that arranges competitive pillow fighting matches. [1] [2] [3] The PFC was founded by Steve Williams in 2021, [4] [5] offering a unique style of combat sport that combines elements of boxing and mixed martial arts through specialized pillows. [6] [7] These pillows are equipped with durable handles and ripstop nylon, enabling swift and forceful movements that generate a distinctive sound upon impact. Each bout lasts for 90 seconds. [8] [9]
The concept for Pillow Fight Championship (PFC) originated during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a demand for socially distanced sports and entertainment. [10] Skilled mixed martial artists and boxers were drawn to the idea of employing pillows as weapons in a sporting context. [11] [12]
On January 29, 2022, the inaugural professional Pillow Fight Championship 1 took place in Florida. [13] [14] [15] The event featured 24 competitors, comprising 16 men and 8 women. Participants engaged in strategic pillow fights using specialized pillows weighing 2 lbs. [16] [17] [18] The tournament followed a bracket-style format and was accessible to viewers as a pay-per-view event. [19] [20] Istela Nunes claimed the women's championship title by defeating Kendahl Voelker in the final match, [21] while Hauley Tillman emerged as the men's division champion after prevailing over Marcus Brimage. Medical Attention was required halfway through the round and provided by John Chandler. [22] [23] Pillow Fight Championship (PFC) is streaming on Fite TV.
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Valentina Anatolievna Shevchenko (born March 7, 1988) is a Kyrgyzstani and Peruvian professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the former UFC Women's Flyweight Champion. As of March 7, 2023, she is ranked #1 in the women’s flyweight rankings, and as of August 22, 2023, she is ranked #3 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.
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