Two down, one to go. The PFL Playoffs conclude Wednesday at the Theater at Madison Square Garden to see who will fight for the $1 million prize in November. Four divisions have solidified their matchups. The Men’s Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Featherweight, and Women’s Featherweight are locked in. The Men’s lightweight and Welterweight semi-finals will finalize the event’s card featuring six divisions that fight for the loot on November 24th.
Hurricane Shane Burgos vs top seeded Clay Collard in the PFL main event at Lightweight Wednesday at MSG to see who moves on to November finale at 155 @CCCcollard @HurricaneShaneB #PFLWorldChampionship #PFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/SY5B6M74P2
— hoosierpete (@peter_maiorano) August 22, 2023
The Main Event
The main event will feature lightweights Shane Burgos taking on top-seeded Clay Collard. Burgos recently left the UFC and signed on to the PFL. He moved up to lightweight and is 1-1 in his new division. A little bit of luck got him into the semis, as two fighters that had more points than him were suspended. Burgos went 8-3 in the UFC as a featherweight. His opponent had a run in the UFC which ended eight years ago. He was 1-3 in the UFC and has fared much better in the PFL, where he is 9-3. Expect this matchup to stay on the feet and be a very entertaining fight. Collard has the advantage when it comes to landing heavier strikes. Burgos is the more technical and well-rounded fighter. Lady luck is on Shane’s side to get the UD upset to venture forward to the November card.
Battle in the Lightweight Division
Second-seeded Olivier Aubin-Mercier will take on third-seed Bruno Miranda on the other side of the lightweight bracket. Aubin-Mercer is 8-0 since coming to the PFL including winning the 2022 PFL Lightweight Tournament. Expect him to have his way with Miranda and cruise to a unanimous decision victory, setting up the finale with Shane Burgos. He defeated Burgos on the judge’s card in Shane’s PFL and lightweight debut in April. The rematch will be must-see TV.
Welterweights
The welterweight semis will feature top-seeded Magomed Magomedkerimov taking on Solomon Renfro. Not expecting too much here as the 2018 PFL Welterweight Winner Magomedkerimov clearly outclasses his opponent. He knocked out his last two opponents in the first round and this should be no different. Expect a stoppage late in round one and Magomedkerimov to advance to his third career finals appearance.
Weight Miss
On the other side of the welterweight bracket, second-seeded Carlos Leal faces third-seeded and the reigning 2022 PFL Welterweight Champ Sadibou Sy. Expect fireworks in this matchup as Sy finished his opponent with a fantastic spinning wheel kick knockout in his last fight. These two faced off in this situation last year with Sy taking the decision in that one. Leal weighed one pound over the limit in this bout. The bad weight cut may play a part if this fight goes into the later rounds. The rematch will be intense, but the outcome will be no different except for the possibility of a late knockout by Sadibou Sy.
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