Louis Taylor had a memorable New Year’s celebration that was a little different from the typical party scene. While many were out enjoying themselves, Taylor was focused on making history and securing a substantial amount of money. Despite working through the holiday, Taylor’s celebration was extra special as he walked away with an impressive $1 million in prize money. He is now planning to establish a gym in the vibrant community of Chicago’s South Side.
In a swift 33-second fight on December 31st in New York during the inaugural Professional Fighters League season, Taylor defeated Magomed “The Propeller” Magomedov. This victory placed him among the elite group of six fighters who earned significant sums in the league. The 39-year-old martial artist is now shifting his focus to making a mark in the welterweight division this year.
For those who may not be aware, the 2019 PFL structure has undergone some changes. The middleweight division will no longer feature in the PFL, while there are reports of a women’s division being introduced this year. The organization will maintain a total of six weight divisions.
Taylor, the reigning PFL champion, will now compete in the welterweight division. He has been a professional fighter since 2007 and previously competed in organizations like Bellator and Strikeforce. In 2015, he was signed by the UFC on short notice to face Uriah Hall at UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver on McGregor’s undercard. Unfortunately, Taylor had to withdraw from the fight due to a back injury, leading to the termination of his contract by the UFC. A Chicago native, Taylor made his debut at World Series of Fighting (WSOF) 29 against Cory Devela.
Expressing his aspirations, Taylor mentioned, “I need to adjust my goals,” adding, “As I move down to a lower weight class, I aim to leverage any size advantage I can.”
