Anik’s Super Six Takeaways from the second half of the 2023 PFL regular season | FightBook MMA
With ten drug suspensions and former UFC stars losing most fights in the first half of the PFL’s 2023 regular season, many had concerns. However, the second half of the regular season was filled with highlight reel knockouts and Cinderella stories.
The PFL has become the land of opportunity, where fighters are always within four victories of becoming a world champion and earning a million dollars. Their performances often dictate their destinies, and many lives have been changed as a result. Many champions have used their million dollars for college funds, buying a house, paying back debt, and visiting their countries of birth.
The PFL is entering the knockout stages of its 2023 season tournament, with the playoffs beginning on August 4th. Here are some takeaways from the second half of the regular season:
Despite a controversial lightweight playoff decision, barnburners are coming The morning after PFL 6, the PFL announced that Natan Schulte would be disqualified from the playoffs. Their statement read: “All fighters in their PFL Fight Agreements agree to use their ‘best efforts… skills and abilities as a professional athlete to compete… and defeat any opponent.’ It was very clear that Natan and Raush [Manfio] did not meet that contractual standard in [their] bout.” With this ruling, bonafide superstar Shane Burgos was granted a spot in the playoffs and will face Clay Collard in a semifinal matchup that is expected to be a war. This could be a fight-of-the-year contender that fans have hoped for since Burgos’ signing. This will headline the PFL 9 card at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Pressured featherweights stole the show with spectacular finishes Defending champion Brendan Loughnane was the only featherweight to win via stoppage at PFL 1 and was a favorite to cruise into the playoffs. In a shocking turn of events, every featherweight fight finished within two rounds at PFL 4. In the upset of the night, Jesus Pinedo knocked Loughnane out and snatched his playoff spot. Movlid Khaybulaev was close to going 2-0 and still missing the playoffs but turned on the urgency to win via second-round submission. Chris Wade rebounded from a defeat by scoring a quick six finish in his next fight and replacing the injured Khaybulaev in the playoffs. When the pressure was on, the featherweights delivered. That only adds more hype to the playoffs, with Pinedo looking to upset 2022 finalist and top-seeded Bubba Jenkins. The other semifinal matchup features an intriguing battle of the undefeated Gabriel Braga and Wade.
The welterweight division might have the most intriguing playoff matchups, as everyone looked their best at PFL 6. The second half of the regular season showed some of the highest skill levels in the welterweight division. Iron sharpens iron when everyone is at their best, and that is what seems in store for the playoffs. 2018 champion Magomed Magomedkerimov has won both of his fights by quick six knockouts to earn him the top seed. He will face training partner Magomed Umalatov. With nine points, many are the top seeds of their divisions, however, Umalatov is the lowest seed in the welterweight playoffs, which proves how high-level the competition is. On the other half of the bracket, Sadibou Sy won four decisions en route to his 2022 title. At PFL 6, he won by his second straight highlight reel knockout of the season with a spinning wheel kick, which was all over ESPN. He will face Carlos Leal, who has improved immensely, winning by two knockouts this year, in a rematch of last year’s semifinal. True MMA fans are in for a treat to see some of the best welterweights in the world compete.
Larissa Pacheco looks like she is on her way to becoming the organization’s first-ever multi-division champ Larissa Pacheco had a rare decision victory over Julia Budd at PFL 1. She returned to her old ways by starching Amber Leibrock in 45 seconds at PFL 4. Her power looked as if it was too much for anyone, and barring any bad weight cuts, she is the clear favorite to become the featherweight champion.
The light heavyweight division provided many feel-good stories with underdogs Josh Silveira’s father Conan is a former UFC veteran. In last year’s semifinals, he suffered his first defeat in a disappointing performance against American Top Team teammate Omari Akhmedov. He has burst onto the scene this year with two first-round stoppages and has claimed the top seed for the playoffs. If he were to win the title, odds are his father will wrap the belt around his waist. On the other hand, number three seed and challenger series standout Impa Kasanganay won his third fight in three months to earn a spot in the playoffs. After jumping up two weight classes to the light heavyweight division, his ability to stay ready has paid off.
The top two heavyweight seeds look violent as ever Denis Goltsov earned the fastest finish in promotional history by knocking out fan favorite Yorgan De Castro in 18 seconds at PFL 5. On the same card, Renan Ferreira stood and traded with last year’s runner-up Matheus Scheffel and knocked him out. Fans could be in for a dream final between Goltsov’s dynamite hands and the six-foot-eight Ferreira.
Despite all the obstacles this season, viewers are in for breathtaking matchups in the PFL playoffs. Will current superstars’ reign of stardom continue, or will new heroes emerge?
Anik Subramanian is an aspiring MMA journalist based in the United States. He discovered his passion for MMA when the sport was the first to return to live action during the pandemic. He is also a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has been a lifelong sports fan.