Everything you need to know about the PFL Finals
Everything you need to know about the PFL Finals.
The Professional Fighters League wraps up its fourth season in November, and all of the tournament matchups are set for the belt and the one million dollar prize. The card is yet to be finalized, but the championship bouts are set.
Who is competing in the 2022 PFL Playoffs?
- Heavyweight: Ante Delija vs Matheus Scheffel
- Light heavyweight: Rob Wilkinson vs Omari Akhmedov
- Welterweight: Sadibou Sy vs Dilano Taylor
- Lightweight: Stevie Ray vs Olivier Aubin-Mercier
- Women’s lightweight: Larissa Pacheco vs Kayla Harrison
- Featherweight: Brendan Loughnane vs Bubba Jenkins
The defending champion in the women’s lightweight division, Kayla Harrison (15-0), will make her third straight championship appearance with hopes of securing her third title and third million-dollar check. Harrison submitted Martina Jindrova to punch her ticket to the championship and will take on Larissa Pacheco (18-4). Pacheco is riding a five-fight win streak, all being by knockout in the first round. Harrison and Pacheco last faced off in 2019, with Harrison winning by unanimous decision. This will be Pacheco’s third chance to unseat the undefeated Harrison.
The lightweight championship will feature former UFC vets Olivier-Aubin Mercier (16-5) and Stevie Ray (25-10). Tristar gym standout Aubin-Mercier is on a five-fight win streak and hasn’t lost since joining the PFL last season, he most recently defeated Alexander Martinez by unanimous decision. Ray had to go through former WEC champion Anthony Pettis twice to earn his championship spot.
Another pair of former UFC fighters will face off for the light heavyweight championship. Robert Wilkinson (16-2) will face American Top Team’s Omari Akhmedov (24-7-1). Wilkinson is on a five-fight win streak, all by knockouts, and hasn’t lost since 2018. Wilkinson knocked out Delan Monte to advance. Akhmedov beat prospect Josh Silveira by unanimous decision to earn his first championship fight.
The heavyweight championship will feature a fighter who’s been there and one who just got there. Ante Delija (22-5) will make his second straight appearance in the finals, hoping to capture the gold and money this time. The Mirko Cro Crop protege Delija ground and pounded Renan Ferreira for his third straight win to get to the championship. Brazilian Mattheus Scheffel (17-8) knocked out Juan Adams on short notice to advance. Scheffel has won nine out of his last 12 bouts.
The featherweight championship will feature a couple of newcomers to the playoffs. Bellator vet Bubba Jenkins (19-5), who is 5-1 since joining the PFL, got his first finish for the organization when he submitted Ryoji Kudo to advance. Manchester’s Brendan Loughane (24-4), who is 10-1 in his last 11 fights, beat last year’s runner-up Chris Wade by unanimous decision to punch his first ticket to the final.
The final championship fight will be in the welterweight division. Sweden’s Sadibou Sy (12-6-2) beat Carlos Leal by a unanimous decision to advance. Sy, who has one loss in his last 7 fights, had his toughest challenge at PFL 7 in the form of Rory MacDonald and beat the former champion by unanimous decision. Sy’s opponent, Dilano Taylor (10-2), came in on short notice and shocked the arena when he knocked out Rory MacDonald to advance. Taylor is 9-1 in his last 10 fights.
Where and when are the PFL Finals?
The PFL Finals will take place on Friday, Nov. 25 with a time and location to be announced, most likely in Las Vegas but other cities which have been rumored are New York and Dubai.
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