Skilled Fighters League (PFL) is again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for its 2024 World Championship occasion early tomorrow (Fri., Nov. 29, 2024) on ESPN+ with a stacked lineup which may also characteristic the first-ever PFL MENA season championships. The PFL foremost card winners will every earn a $1 million examine, whereas the PFL MENA winners get $100,000.
Headlining the occasion can be Brendan Loughnane as he makes an attempt to wins his second Featherweight match when he battles unbeaten (17-0) Timur Khizriev. Additionally, Dakota Ditcheva — who’s undefeated at 13-0 — will face off in opposition to UFC castaway, Taila Santos, for the ladies’s Flyweight title within the co-main occasion.
Brendan Loughnane vs. Timur Khizriev
In 2022, Brendan Loughane received the PFL 145-pound match by defeating Bubba Jenkins by way of fourth-round technical knockout (TKO), and now he’s out to win his second championship. Since that win two years in the past, Loughnane has gone a formidable 4-1 with three finishes. However his highway to a second championship win won’t come simple as a result of he’s dealing with an absolute monster in Khizriev. The Russian grappler is undefeated at 17-0, with three of these wins coming below the Bellator banner and three extra with PFL. The one knock on him is that out of these 17 victories he has solely managed to safe 4 stoppages, three by knockout and one by way of submission. That’s as a result of Khizriev’s forte is the grappling division, the place he shines higher than most. Loughnane’s finest shot at profitable the $1 million is to maintain the space and attempt to hold it on the ft as a result of as soon as it hits the bottom it’s sport over.
Prediction: Khizriev by way of unanimous determination
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Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos
After dropping again to again fights to Valentina Shevchenko and Erin Blanchfield, Santos left the Final Preventing Championship (UFC) ranks and joined PFL. And it proved to be transfer as a result of she has since received three straight fights, which features a victory over former Bellator MMA Flyweight champion, Liz Carmouche. Now, she is yet another win away from getting the most important payday of her profession and her first main world title. Standing in her method is rising sensation, Dakota Ditcheva, who’s undefeated at 13-0. Throughout that span, she was stopped 12 of her foes, 11 by way of knockout. Certainly, the kickboxing specialist has put her putting abilities to good use. Throughout her time with PFL, she has received six of her seven bouts within the very first spherical. If she will take Santos out within the method, her inventory will blow up and greater fights and paydays might be across the nook.
Prediction: Ditcheva by way of third-round TKO
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Impa Kasanganay vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
Like Brendan Loughnane, Impa Kasanganay is making an attempt to win his second championship, solely he’ll look to go back-to-back after profitable the entire thing in 2023 by defeating Josh Silveira. He defeated that very same man within the semifinals to go to the title struggle, as nicely. He’s 9-1 over his final 10 fights and is certainly one of many fighters who’ve discovered a lot success with wins and funds since leaving UFC. His solely defeat throughout his sizzling streak got here in opposition to present Bellator Middleweight champion, Johnny Eblen, on the historic “Seize the Throne” occasion earlier this 12 months. As for Yahshimuradov, after developing brief in his bid to defeat Corey Anderson within the Bellator Gentle Heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinals again in 2021, he has gone on a stellar run, which incorporates going 3-0 since making the transfer to PFL.
Prediction: Yagshimuradov by way of unanimous determination
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Shamil Musaev vs. Magomed Umalatov
One of many extra intriguing bouts of the evening is the Welterweight championship that may see two undefeated monsters go at it. Musaev is 17-0-1, 3-0 contained in the “SmartCage.” He received back-to-back fights in opposition to Murad Ramazanov to get to the large struggle, and now he’s out safe his first main world title, together with the million-dollar examine. As for Umalatov, he’s additionally undefeated at 17-0, 8-0 below the PFL banner together with wins over Neiman Gracie, Andrey Koreshkov and Brennan Ward. He has 11 knockout wins to his credit score, so regardless of being a grappling professional like his opponent, his may be very expert along with his arms. All of that mentioned, I do count on this to be a grappling heavy bout that may go all the best way.
Prediction: Umalatov by way of unanimous determination
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Brent Primus vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
To get to the finals, former Bellator Light-weight champion, Brent Primus, defeated 2023 finalist Clay Collard, his third straight win below the PFL banner. Now, Primus is one win away from securing one other main world title in a distinct group, which is able to assist him make up for his misplaced to present Bellator 155-pound king, Umar Nurmagomedov, at Bellator 300. He should be on the prime of his sport, nevertheless, as a result of Rabadanov is scorching sizzling with 9 straight wins, 5 below the Bellator umbrella and three with PFL. Each males are on a roll and each are out to safe the bag. This one ought to be enjoyable.
Prediction: Rabadanov by way of unanimous determination
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Denis Goltsov vs. Oleg Popov
One of many fights that would present the most important payout for the winner is the Heavyweight showdown between Goltsov and Popov. That’s as a result of other than profitable the $1 million, the victor will greater than seemingly be the subsequent opponent for Francis Ngannou, who made a formidable PFL debut by starching final 12 months’s winner, Renan Ferreira, in lightning-quick vogue a month in the past. And because it was reported when Ngannou inked a cope with PFL, all of his foes would get paid at the least $2 million for dealing with him. That’s why there’s a lot on the road within the opening struggle of the principle card. Goltsov misplaced to the aforementioned Renan Ferreira within the 2023 finals by way of second-round knockout, his lone defeat in his final 9 outings. As for Popov. he has been on a tear the final six years, profitable 17 straight fights within the span, together with going 3-0 contained in the “SmartCage.”
Prediction: Popov by way of third-round submission
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