PFL Challenger Series starts Friday. Michelle Montague of ATT fights on the series March 4
Video interview with up-and-coming MMA fighter Michelle Montague, who is an integral part of the new Professional Fighters League MMA Challenger Series, which begins Friday from Universal Studios Orlando.
Montague is from New Zealand, training in MMA there and at American Top Team in Coconut Creek.
With a background in rugby, “The Wild One” transitioned to wrestling and then jiu-jitsu via MMA. She went 10-1 as an amateur MMA fighter. She is a former IMMAF champ and was a member of the New Zealand wrestling team. Her home gym is City Kickboxing, home to MMA champions Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski.
Montague’s pro debut is in the women’s lightweight division of the PFL Challenger Series on the Friday, March 4 edition against Olivia Parker (4-2) on fubo TV from Universal Studios Orlando.
Montague, 28, grew up on a farm before traveling the world, including Florida where she became a lifeguard at Walt Disney World. That is a footnote on her journey. She is an inspiration to others in New Zealand as she works toward proving an MMA pro career is possible.
Montague is a go-getter. She ventured to South Florida on her own and impressed the coaches at the award-winning American Top Team. She helped train two-time PFL MMA champ Kayla Harrison.
ATT is complete with many outstanding coaches and fighters, and Montague is elevating her game with that experience under her belt, one day a title belt. She continues to train in MMA in New Zealand where she lives, but plans on returning to South Florida to train at American Top Team.
PFL Challenger Series: Michelle Montague
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced that the PFL Challenger Series will continue from Universal Studios in Orlando on Friday, March 4 at 9 p.m. with women’s lightweight action, and Michelle Montague will be part of that on fubo TV.
Montague, 28, spent much of 2021 in South Florida as a sparring partner for two-time PFL MMA champ Kayla Harrison.
She was a member of the New Zealand wrestling team. At 10-1 as an MMA amateur, she will be making her professional debut on March 4 against Olivia Parker (4-2).
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MishMontague
The PFL continues to innovate the sport of MMA by expanding opportunities for exceptional fighters from around the globe.
The PFL Challenger Series has seen more than 500 fighters from around the world apply to compete. Out of the applicants, eight, one per week, will earn a PFL contract which will put them in the 2022 Regular Season or set them on a development path with the league in hopes of joining a future Season.
“On March 4th the women take center stage in The PFL Challenger Series and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Ray Sefo, President of Fighter Operations of PFL. “We have seen the women in MMA take the leap into the main event. The PFL is a meritocracy and we cannot wait to further show the world what our women can do in the SmartCage.”
French Olympic wrestler Cynthia Vescan is slated to make her professional debut, too. She was a member of the French team that competed in London in 2012. She is a two-time bronze medal winner in the European Championships in 2018 and 2021.
American wrestler Jackie Cataline Surber will also be in action and looking to show she belongs among the top women’s lightweights in the world. The former Olympic trials competitor and former Pan American champion will be a force to be reckoned with.
Germany’s Julia Dorny (2-0) comes to the PFL off of a pair of TKO victories. She has a history in Judo and is the 2018 IMMAF world champion. She is also a television journalist and anchor in her spare time.
The women’s division will also include the Czech Republic’s Martina Jindrova (3-1), Jacqueline Cavalcanti (2-0) from Portugal and Americans Jeslen Mishelle (0-0) and Olivia Parker (4-2).
PFL Fan Interaction
Viewers watching the PFL Challenger Series can also interact with the live competition through fuboTV’s popular predictive, free-to-play games.
During the bouts, fans can answer predictive questions about the action all on one screen using their remote control.
Fubo Sportsbook, now live in Iowa and Arizona, is also the exclusive gambling sponsor of the PFL Challenger Series.
Fubo Sports Network is fuboTV’s linear TV network dedicated to featuring sports stories on and off the field.
Fans can stream Fubo Sports Network for free on LG Channels, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Vizio Channels, Sports on Tubi, Plex, Hisense Smart TVs, and XUMO or as part of fuboTV’s subscription packages of 100+ sports, news and entertainment channels.
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This story was originally published February 15, 2022 at 3:22 PM.
