Breaking down the PFL heavyweight and lightweight heavyweight playoffs

All six PFL playoff brackets are set, with the heavyweights and lightweight heavyweights whittled right down to their respective high eights on Thursday.

PFL 6 supplied readability within the postseason image. Denis Goltsov, in his first PFL season, is the highest seed at heavyweight and the clear favourite. Emiliano Sordi stepped up and earned the No. 1 seed at mild heavyweight courtesy of two finishes within the common season.

The quarterfinals and semifinals can be held on the identical evening, Oct. 31, in Las Vegas. The winners then transfer on to the $1 million finals on Dec. 31.

Let’s go combat by combat and break down the brackets in every of those ultimate two weight lessons.

Heavyweight quarterfinals

Denis Goltsov (1) vs. Satoshi Ishii (eight)

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Goltsov is likely one of the breakthrough performers within the PFL this 12 months. He’s an especially expert, multifaceted heavyweight. The Russian is 6-foot-5, fluid and athletic. If he have been within the UFC proper now, he’d be making main waves — and he is simply 29 years outdated. Goltsov is unquestionably the favourite to win right here, coming off stoppages of fellow playoff individuals Kelvin Tiller and Jared Rosholt. However Ishii is not going to make it straightforward. He is sturdy and a former Olympic judo champion. The Japanese fighter has improved his putting immensely since transferring to Croatia in 2017 to coach with Mirko Cro Cop.

Kelvin Tiller (Four) vs. Ali Isaev (5)

Tiller has large energy and a nostril for submissions. The primary flaw in his method? His incapacity to cease sturdy wrestlers. And Isaev simply so occurs to be a former Olympic wrestler from Russia. It isn’t a super matchup for Tiller, however he nonetheless has an opportunity if he can land early. Isaev solely has six profession skilled MMA fights, and he is inexperienced, so the time to get him is now. Alternatively, it is completely doable that Isaev might make all of it the best way to the $1 million ultimate. Isaev beat Valdrin Istrefi and Carl Seumanutafa, two fighters who fell in need of the playoffs, to get right here. Tiller misplaced to Goltsov after stopping eventual No. 2 seed Muhammed DeReese.

Alex Nicholson (Three) vs. Francimar Barroso (6)

There is no such thing as a secret as to what both man will wish to do on this combat. Barroso can be desperately attempting to get the combat to the bottom, whereas Nicholson will do all the pieces in his energy to remain standing, intent on touchdown together with his huge energy. How do we all know this? This can be a rematch from PFL Three, gained by Barroso by break up resolution. Nicholson starched Zeke Tuinei-Wily in his second bout to earn the upper seed. Barroso beat Ben Edwards by unanimous resolution his second trip with superior Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Muhammed DeReese (2) vs. Jared Rosholt (7)

It is wild that DeReese snagged the No. 2 seed after wanting dangerous in a submission loss to Tiller in his first combat. However the charismatic “Mo Muscle” completely smashed Istrefi in his second bout with a first-round TKO, and that is all it took to vault up the standings. DeReese gained an alternate bout in opposition to Mike Kyle throughout final 12 months’s postseason, however he wasn’t finally utilized as a alternative. He has the ability in his palms to make a run within the playoffs, with 5 of his eight profession wins coming by TKO or KO. Rosholt will current a really powerful out together with his wrestling, although; he gutted out a call win over Ishii to make it right here after getting snuffed out by Goltsov in his first combat. This can be one other big-time conflict of kinds.

Gentle heavyweight quarterfinals

Prime-seeded Emiliano Sordi, proper, could have the expertise issue on his aspect within the opening spherical of the PFL mild heavyweight playoffs when he faces Sigi Pesaleli. Ryan Loco/PFL

Emiliano Sordi (1) vs. Sigi Pesaleli (eight)

Incomes the highest seed at mild heavyweight was enormous for Sordi, and he was extraordinarily deserving of the spot after ending each of his regular-season bouts by KO/TKO. This matchup may be very favorable for the Argentine striker. Pesaleli is simply Three-2 as a professional MMA fighter, whereas Sordi has 27 professional fights, together with 19 wins. This ought to be one-sided, particularly contemplating how good Sordi appeared in stopping Vinny Magalhaes and Bozigit Ataev throughout the season. The remainder of this aspect of the bracket seems to be a positive draw for Sordi as effectively, as he already defeated certainly one of two potential semifinal opponents. He needs to be thought of a favourite at 205 to win the $1 million first-place prize.

Bozigit Ataev (Four) vs. Viktor Nemkov (5)

At 40 years outdated, Ataev is the oldest man on this match. Do not let the graying beard idiot you, although. The Russian fighter completely smoked Dan Spohn throughout the common season earlier than falling by TKO to Sordi. He has energy in his palms and a sterling 21-Four profession file. Nemkov might be a bit extra well-rounded, although not almost as spectacular. Nemkov has gained three in a row and can most likely be the favourite right here attributable to his strong wrestling and technical putting. He beat Rakim Cleveland and Rashid Yusupov throughout the common season.

Vinny Magalhaes (Three) vs. Rashid Yusupov (6)

Magalhaes, final 12 months’s runner-up, returned to his 2018 kind in his second combat of the season, submitting Cleveland within the first spherical at PFL 6. That outcome adopted a poor efficiency and TKO loss to Sordi in June. If Magalhaes is ready to get the combat to the bottom, he can submit anybody on this draw. Yusupov is a greater striker than Magalhaes and extra well-rounded; he beat Mikhail Mokhnatkin in his first combat however dropped a break up resolution loss to Nemkov in his second. This one might actually go both method if Yusupov is ready to neutralize Magalhaes’ submissions.

Maxim Grishin (2) vs. Jordan Johnson (7)

One of the intriguing matchups of the PFL postseason — and it is one other rematch from PFL Three. Grishin beat Johnson by very shut break up resolution in June, and each gained their second combat of the common season to arrange this return combat within the playoffs. Johnson, who many observers thought gained that first combat versus Grishin, is a terrific wrestler who left the UFC as a free agent after a Four-Zero run. After three wins at mild heavyweight to start out his UFC profession, Johnson briefly moved right down to middleweight for his final combat within the promotion. His transition again to mild heavyweight for this match wasn’t spectacular the primary trip within the PFL, however Johnson’s efficiency at PFL 6 proved he nonetheless has the wrestling means to win the $1 million. Grishin is well-rounded, has pop in his palms and confirmed the type of expertise to cease Johnson’s takedowns within the first combat. This one figures to be tight as soon as once more, particularly as a result of every quarterfinal combat is barely a two-round contest.