The PFL season this year experienced some abrupt changes after a series of positive drug tests from athletes in Las Vegas. These results led to the suspension of ten fighters for testing positive for substances that were banned. The majority of the positive drug tests came from heavyweights or light heavyweights, although this was not limited to these divisions.

Flores and Torres were both removed from the 2023 season, representing the featherweight division. This is significant for the promotion since none of this would have occurred without confirmation from the Nevada Athletic Commission. The current PFL featherweight champion, Brendan Loughnane, took a very strong stance on this issue since it is indeed a great concern.

Loughnane expressed his displeasure in an interview where he talked about how dangerous the sport is and how fighters already have their health and lives on the line, which are enough risks without additional enhancements from banned substances. Loughnane was lucky enough not to face anyone who had been using performance-enhancing drugs and gave his personal account of how it is not hard to tell. He added that it creates an uneven playing field in combat sports, which is unfair to fighters who are clean.

The banned substances used ranged from anabolic steroids to fertility drugs that also alter testosterone levels among other things. The Nevada Athletic Commission took decisive action and removed all the athletes who had tested positive from the 2023 PFL season to maintain the integrity of the competition.

The PFL will now take place in Atlanta for the next few cards, and Loughnane hopes that there will be more stringent testing done soon to avoid future occurrences of such issues within the sport. This should happen as the semifinals and finals approach.