For the third time this year, MMASucka staff picks have a triple-header weekend in store. An eventful week of fights it will be with PFL 8 2021 kicking things off tonight, August 19 from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The main card will begin at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT) live on both ESPN and ESPN+. This Professional Fighters League marks the continuation of the organization’s one-million dollar tournament, with four exciting semifinal pairings in two separate weight classes.
Stay tuned to MMASucka on Friday for our Bellator 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov staff picks, as well as Saturday for our UFC Vegas 34: Cannonier vs. Gastelum picks.
The Fights
The women’s lightweight and men’s heavyweight divisions will take center stage for tonight’s main card. Dominant Judoka Kayla Harrison will take on kickboxer Genah Fabian in the featured main event. Harrison will look to remain undefeated, as the 2019 divisional champion searches for her eleventh professional win. After withdrawing from the 2019 tournament, Auckland’s Fabian looks for the massive upset in search of her third win of the calendar year as well as a spot in the tournament final.
Due to Larissa Pacheco’s removal from the fight card and tournament after missing weight, the fight between her replacement Mariana Morais and Taylor Guardado will not be counted for our staff picks. The winner of this pairing will take on the winner of Harrison and Fabian in October.
In the co-main event, Bruno Cappelozza and Jamelle Jones will faceoff for a spot in the finals. Number one-seed Cappelozza hopes for a third-straight, first-round knockout, while four-seed Jones aims to better it with a potential fourth-straight knockout inside round one. Either Cappelozza or Jones will take on the winner of main card opponents Denis Goltsov and Ante Delija two months from now.
Find our MMASucka staff picks for PFL 8 2021 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator events and a variety of fights from PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will make its debut in the summer months.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or chain from Championship Chains. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
See below for our PFL 8 2021 staff picks.
Staff Records after Bellator 264:
1. Nate Freeman: 132-77
2. Wesley Riddle: 131-78
3. Michael DeSantis: 127-82
4. Frazer Krohn: 123-86
5. Ash Camyab: 118-82
6. Jeremy Brand: 112-98
7. Mike Lynch: 109-90
8. Mitchell Banuelos: 107-89
9. Andrew Benjamin: 89-97
10. Tim Wheaton: 88-66
11. Kenny Lee: 77-64
12. Brandon Joint: 59-27
13. Matt Bricker: 57-57
14. Chris Presnell: 20-8
15. Maria Morales: 9-1
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Denis Goltsov (27-6) vs. Ante Delija (18-4)
Jeremy Brand: Goltsov via UD
Wesley Riddle: Goltsov via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Goltsov via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Goltsov via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Goltsov via UD
Mike Lynch: Goltsov via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Goltsov via Round 1 TKO
Brandon Joint: Goltsov via UD
Chris Presnell: Goltsov via UD
Al Mac: Goltsov via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Goltsov: 10
Staff picking Delija: 1
Bruno Cappelozza (12-5) vs. Jamelle Jones (12-6)
Jeremy Brand: Cappelozza via UD
Wesley Riddle: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Jones via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Cappelozza via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Jones via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Jones via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Jones via Round 2 TKO
Brandon Joint: Cappelozza via UD
Chris Presnell: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Al Mac: Cappelozza via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Cappelozza: 7
Staff picking Jones: 4
Kayla Harrison (10-0) vs. Genah Fabian (4-1)
Jeremy Brand: Harrison via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Ash Camyab: Harrison via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Harrison via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Harrison via UD
Nate Freeman: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Brandon Joint: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Chris Presnell: Harrison via Round 2 SUB
Al Mac: Harrison via Round 1 SUB
Staff picking Harrison: 11
Staff picking Fabian: 0
PFL 8 2021 FEATURED IMAGE:
PFL 8 2021 weigh-ins at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. (Cooper Neill / PFL)
