The Professional Fighters League’s playoffs are underway as our MMASucka staff picks are locked in.
Tonight, August 5th will see PFL 7 2022 take place from the Hulu Theater in New York City, New York, the promotion’s return to the busy city for the first time since the 2019 season finale. Four playoff pairings will take place on the main card from two different weight classes beginning at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT) live on both ESPN and ESPN+.
Results from the entire PFL 7 2022 fight card will be available here at MMASucka.
Stay tuned to MMASucka tomorrow afternoon for our UFC Vegas 59: Santos vs. Hill picks and this upcoming Tuesday for our Dana White Contender Series 50 picks.
The Fights
Lightweights (155 pounds) and light heavyweights (205 pounds) will be up first as the promotional playoffs kick off with fighters looking for a spot in the one-million dollar playoff finale on November 25th.
A rematch will come in the main featured main event between lightweight veterans Anthony Pettis and Stevie Ray. Moments were shared from each in their June matchup, but Ray would secure the second-round modified twister over Pettis. Tonight’s winner will be paired against the victor of Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Alex Martinez. Aubin-Mercier will look for a fifth straight win in his first PFL playoffs appearance as Martinez aims for three in-a-row including a decision win over the aforementioned Ray.
Among the light heavyweights will see American Top Team teammates battle in the co-main event as undefeated finisher Josh Silveira fights 15-fight UFC veteran Omari Akhmedov. Knockout specialists Rob Wilkinson and Delan Monte look for their big playoff opportunity on the main card.
Find our staff picks for the PFL 7 2022 main card further below.
Staff Picks
Staff picks in 2022 will follow the same set of rules from the 2021 season. Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from both UFC and Bellator events. Main card fights and selected preliminary fights will be included for PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will be composed of the entire fight card.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2022 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a chain from Championship Chains. A winner is determined simply by the individual correctly picking the most victorious fighters at the year’s end. Nate Freeman secured his first victory with MMASucka in 2021 with a compiled record 243-136.
See who the MMASucka staff is picking to win at PFL 7 2022 below.
Staff Records after Dana White’s Contender Series 48:
1. Nate Freeman: 152-75
2. Wesley Riddle: 151-76
3. Michael DeSantis: 149-78
4. Frazer Krohn: 146-81
5. William Dong: 144-83
6. Julio Monteros Jr.: 142-74
7. Jeremy Brand: 138-83
8. Chris Presnell: 135-86
9. Andrew Benjamin: 129-98
10. Mike Lynch: 123-74
11. Tim Wheaton: 121-66
12. Brandon Joint: 111-72
13. Ash Camyab: 105-77
14. Jack Goodwillie: 100-42
15. Brian Knight: 94-65
16. Coby Weinsier: 87-47
17. Chinyere Okafor: 72-38
18. Jacek Okninski: 69-54
19. Matt Bricker: 24-22
20. Joe Porter: 11-2
21. Roemello Reyes: 6-4
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Rob Wilkinson (23-7-1), -340
vs.
Delan Monte (9-2), +280
Light Heavyweight Playoffs
– 205 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Wilkinson via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Wilkinson via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Wilkinson via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Wilkinson via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Wilkinson via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Wilkinson via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Wilkinson via Round 1 TKO
Chris Presnell: Wilkinson via Round 2 TKO
William Dong: Wilkinson via Round 1 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Wilkinson via Round 2 TKO
Brian Knight: Wilkinson via Round 2 TKO
Jack Goodwillie: Wilkinson via Round 2 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Wilkinson via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Wilkinson: 13
Staff picking Monte: 0
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (15-5), -265
vs.
Alex Martinez (10-2, 1 NC), +225
Lightweight Playoffs
– 155 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Aubin-Mercier via Split Decision
William Dong: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Aubin-Mercier via Round 3 SUB
Jack Goodwillie: Aubin-Mercier via Split Decision
Roemello Reyes: Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Aubin-Mercier: 13
Staff picking Martinez: 0
Omari Akhmedov (23-7-1), +195
vs.
Josh Silveira (9-0), -230
Light Heavyweight Playoffs
Co-Main Event
– 205 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Silveira via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Silveira via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Silveira via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Silveira via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Akhmedov via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Silveira via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Akhmedov via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Akhmedov via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Akhmedov via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Akhmedov via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Silveira via Split Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Silveira via Round 2 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Silveira via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Akhmedov: 5
Staff picking Silveira: 8
Anthony Pettis (25-13), -120
vs.
Stevie Ray (24-10), +100
Lightweight Playoffs
Main Event
– 170 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Ray via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Pettis via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Ray via Split Decision
Nate Freeman: Ray via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Pettis via Round 2 SUB
Brian Knight: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Ray via Split Decision
Roemello Reyes: Pettis via Split Decision
Staff picking Pettis: 9
Staff picking Ray: 4
*Fight odds from DraftKings*
PFL 7 2022 FEATURED IMAGE:
Rob Wilkinson – PFL 7 Ceremonial Weigh-In at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Cooper Neill / PFL)
