The fight-filled action continues for our MMASucka staff picks this week with the second of four total events.
Taking place this afternoon, August 13th sees PFL 8 2022 move forward with their divisional playoffs from the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, a debut for the Professional Fighters League to both the venue and city. An earlier start time of 2:00pm ET (11:00am PT) will kick off the main card on both ESPN and ESPN+.
Stay tuned to MMASucka for live results from the entire PFL 8 2022 playoff card.
Be sure to recap our staff picks from Friday night’s Bellator 284 event from Sioux Falls. MMASucka staff picks will carry on with UFC on ESPN 41 later this afternoon from San Diego and with Dana White’s Contender Series 50 picks this Tuesday the 16th from Las Vegas.
The Fights
Two significant changes have occurred for tonight’s playoffs as fighters look to earn their spot for a shot at one million dollars on the November 25th finale. Vissa issues on Thursday have forced both welterweight (170 pounds) Magomed Umalatov and heavyweight (265 pounds) Denis Goltsov out of the tournament. In turn, Dilano Taylor takes the place for Umalatov while Juan Adams fills the spot for Goltsov.
Taylor will look to rebound after a knockout defeat to Magomed Magomedkerimov in July as he meets former Bellator welterweight champion and UFC veteran Rory MacDonald in the featured main event. Adams will look for his third straight knockout against Brazil’s Matheus Scheffel who most recently ended the dominant run of 2021 heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza by decision.
Also on the main card sees the heavyweight pairing between Croatian veteran Ante Delija and dangerous finisher Renan Ferreira and a welterweight matchup between Sweden’s Sadibou Sy and the well versatile Carlos Leal. Find our staff picks for these fights at PFL 8 2022 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 our PFL 8 2022 staff picks below.
Staff Records after Dana White’s Contender Series 49:
1. Nate Freeman: 162-79
2. Wesley Riddle: 161-80
3. Michael DeSantis: 158-83
4. Frazer Krohn: 155-86
5. William Dong: 153-88
6. Jeremy Brand: 147-88
7. Julio Monteros Jr.: 145-75
8. Chris Presnell: 143-92
9. Andrew Benjamin: 137-103
10. Tim Wheaton: 131-70
11. Mike Lynch: 123-74
12. Brandon Joint: 111-72
13. Ash Camyab: 105-77
14T. Brian Knight: 103-70
14T. Jack Goodwillie: 103-43
16. Coby Weinsier: 87-47
17. Chinyere Okafor: 72-38
18. Jacek Okninski: 70-58
19. Matt Bricker: 24-22
20. Roemello Reyes: 15-9
21. Joe Porter: 11-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – Bellator 284 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
Carlos Leal (17-3), -105
vs.
Sadibou Sy (11-6-2, 1 NC), -115
Welterweight Playoffs
– 170 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Leal via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Leal via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Leal via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Leal via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Sy via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Sy via Split Decision
Ben Jamieson: Sy via Split Decision
Staff picking Leal: 8
Staff picking Sy: 6
Matheus Scheffel (16-8), +130
vs.
Juan Adams (10-4), -150
Heavyweight Playoffs
– 265 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Scheffel via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Scheffel via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Scheffel via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Scheffel via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Adams via Split Decision
Nate Freeman: Scheffel via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Adams via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Scheffel via Round 1 TKO
William Dong: Scheffel via Round 2 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Adams via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Scheffel via Round 2 TKO
Jack Goodwillie: Scheffel via Round 1 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Adams via Round 1 TKO
Ben Jamieson: Adams via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Scheffel: 9
Staff picking Adams: 5
Ante Delija (21-5), -105
vs.
Renan Ferreira (9-3, 1 NC), -115
Heavyweight Playoffs
Co-Main Event
– 265 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: Ferreira via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Delija via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Delija via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Delija via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Delija via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Ferreira via Round 2 TKO
Chris Presnell: Delija via Unanimous Decision
William Dong: Ferreira via Round 2 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Ferreira via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: Delija via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Delija via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Ferreira via Round 1 TKO
Ben Jamieson: Ferreira via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Delija: 8
Staff picking Ferreira: 6
Rory MacDonald (23-9-1), -205
vs.
Dilano Taylor (9-2), +175
Welterweight Playoffs
Main Event
– 170 lbs. –
Jeremy Brand: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: MacDonald via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: MacDonald via Round 1 SUB
William Dong: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Brian Knight: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Ben Jamieson: MacDonald via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking MacDonald: 14
Staff picking Taylor: 0
*Fight odds from DraftKings*
PFL 8 2022 FEATURED IMAGE:
Ante Delija (left) and Renan Ferreira (right) ahead of their PFL 8 2022 playoff fight taking place Saturday, August 13th from the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Wales (photo credits to PFL MMA).
