PFL 7 Playoffs 2024: Nashville Municipal Auditorium; Nashville, Tennesse
You could easily say the outcomes were not totally shocking as the PFL started its Playoff run. It opened up with the heavyweights, and the debuting season of the female flyweights. And in the land of the giants, it will be a pair of Russians fighting for it all. Strap and one million dollars in November.
As it turned out the opening fights in each divisions pairing went to the score cards. While the co-main and main event, to wrap up those contests didn’t get out of the opening rounds. Oleg Popov was able to crash space and use a heavy wrestling attack in his victory. The grinding skills he used easily got him the unanimous decision win over Linton Vassell.
Taila Santos fired some hard right hands at Liz Carmouche, and controlled her enroute to a unanimous decision as well. Dakota Ditcheva, who the organization has pushed to be a “face” of the company remained undefeated. She cracked Jena Bishop with vicious knees and a straight right for her finish at the 3:54 mark.
Then in the main event, Tim Johnson had his three-fight win streak come crashing down. Denis Goltsov had to fight off the forward attack of Johnson early, then used push kicks and a long right hand to keep Johnson at range. When he felt the timing was right, he clinched up and dragged Johnson to the ground. From there it was all ground and pound till referee JASON HERZOG saw enough at the 2:26 mark.
Russians Fight For It All Next
While Vladimir Putin is back watching in Moscow, he has to be smiling. As a massive sports fan, the next heavyweight champion, will be coming from Russia. And it will be a fantastic chess match at that. Popov, has the longest winning streak in all MMA as far as heavyweights go. It’s now at 16.
His cardio is underrated, but has judo skills to go along with his heavy grappling. And he goes side to side quite well. But he might be fighting too much the next time out. Goltsov enters his second PFL finals in a row, and he’s been locked in all season. He has the size and reach advantage here. He can match the ground game of Popov, but his takedown defense is actually better. And he throws heavy hands. Popov will need again to come forward, but he needs to look out for knees up the middle and leather coming at him.
As for the ladies, Ditcheva has been continuing to prove she’s not just hype. However, Santos is patient in her game. If Ditcheva tries to start a firefight, her chin will be tested more than it’s ever been. While Ditcheva is getting better on the ground, Santos is not a fish out of water there. Will she try that gameplan? Probably not. Santos might go with a counter attack type fight, then clinch and make it ugly.
But we shall see in three-months.
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