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After a week off between events, the
Professional Fighters League postseason rolls on with
heavyweights and women’s featherweights taking over the spotlight.
Barring a last-minute change, it appears that a new heavyweight
champion will be crowned by season’s end, as Renan
Ferreira, Maurice
Greene, Denis
Goltsov and Jordan
Heiderman are all in pursuit of their first PFL crown.
Meanwhile, it looks like a case of Larissa
Pacheco versus the field at featherweight, as the 2022
lightweight queen is a heavy favorite to add another $1 million to
her bank account.

PFL 8 takes place on Friday inside The Theater at Madison
Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at
9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, while prelims stream to ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET/3
p.m. PT.

Now to the PFL 8 “Ferreira vs. Greene” preview:

Heavyweights

Renan
Ferreira (10-3, 4-1 PFL) vs. Maurice
Greene (11-8, 1-2 PFL)

When presented with the right matchup, Ferreira is a sight to
behold. Such was the case at PFL 5, where he faced Matheus
Scheffel—an opponent with a significant reach deficit and a
penchant for brawling. Ferreira capitalized by overwhelming his
adversary ahead a 50-second knockout victory, his fourth career
triumph in less than a minute. At 6-foot-8 with an 85-inch reach,
“Problema” is at his best when he can attack with straight punches
and an arsenal of kicks. However, he does not always control
distance all that well for someone with his physical tools, and his
defensive grappling and wrestling usually leave plenty to be
desired.

Greene, a 6-foot-7 training partner of UFC heavyweight king
Jon
Jones, enters the bracket for the injured Marcelo
Nunes, whom he defeated via second-round TKO in April. “The
Crochet Boss” has decent kickboxing skills and an active submission
game, but he has not fared well against dominant wrestlers.
Fortunately for him, Ferreira is not that type of opponent. Though
he will face a three-inch reach deficit, that is not nearly as
significant as what most of Ferreira’ foes have faced. The
Jackson-Wink MMA representative will want to avoid Ferreira’s
power, and he could have a slight advantage should the action go to
the canvas.

This one should be nothing if not entertaining. If the bout stays
at kickboxing range, Ferreira will have the edge thanks to his
formidable power. Greene should look to keep the Brazilian
off-balance by using his striking to close the distance for level
changes and clinches. Ferreira has been frustrated in the past when
planted on his back, and Greene has the ability to capitalize
should “Problema” become reckless and make a mistake in a scramble.
However, Greene is not the type of grappler who will be able to
impose his will repeatedly in a drawn-out fight, and eventually,
trading with Ferreira will lead to his demise. Ferreira by KO/TKO
is the pick.