Professional Fighters League continues the 2022 Playoffs, as the promotion makes its U.K. debut on August 13th at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. Fans will see who will advance to the finals as Rory MacDonald takes on Dilano Taylor and in the second semifinal pairing Carlos Leal fights Sadibou Sy. In the heavyweight playoffs, Matheus Scheffel squares off against Juan Adams while Ante Delija dukes it out with Renan Ferreira.
Rory MacDonald vs. Dilano Taylor
MacDonald has a 23-9-1 professional MMA record. The Canadian former UFC title challenger and Bellator champion made his way to the welterweight tournament semifinal despite a loss to Sadibou Sy in his most recent bout back in July at PFL 6 2022. This is MacDonald’s second attempt at making it to the finals. During the previous season, he was eliminated from the playoffs by eventual champion Ray Cooper III at PFL 7 2021.
Former Titan FC champion Taylor sports 9 – 2 and was riding an eight-fight winning streak until he lost to Mahomed Magomedkerimov by a second-round stoppage.
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Sadibou Sy vs. Carlos Leal
“The Swedish Denzel Washington” Sy has competed in every PFL season so far, but this is the first time he went undefeated in the regular season, beating MacDonald and Nikolay Aleksakhin by decision to put him in the best chance of reaching the finals to date.
Former LFA champion Leal makes the playoffs despite being an alternate to start the season and not fighting in the second half. His dominant decision win in his debut against Cooper III was enough to make it in.
Matheus Scheffel vs. Juan Adams
Scheffel has stacked up 16-8 record. In 2021 he defeated former Jungle Fight heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza via decision back in June at PFL 5 2022.
The UFC vet Adams 10-4 stopped Sam Kei in his first PFL bout this past June. He will look to continue his winning streak to a third consecutive win.
Ante Delija vs. Renan Ferreira
Across seven bouts in three seasons, Delija has only lost to Cappelozza. This season, he defeated Scheffel by stoppage at PFL 2 2022 and Shelton Graves by unanimous decision to earn a spot in the playoffs.
Ferreira, meanwhile, will try to rebound from a loss to Klidson Abreu his last time out. Thankfully for him, a 25-second knockout of Jamelle Jones in his first fight was enough to clinch a playoff spot.
PFL 8 2022 Playoffs Results
Qualifiers Card (ESPN / ESPN+ – 4:00pm ET / 1:00pm PT)
Lee Chadwich def. Przemyslaw Mysiala via Unanimous Decision (30 – 27, 29 -28, 29 – 28)
Will Fleury def. Anthony Salamone via Unanimous Decision (30 – 25, 30 – 25, 30 – 25)
Radu Maxim def. Vojto Barborik via Submission (Injury), 1:15 of Round 1
Moktar Benkaci vs. Francesco Nuzzi was declared a No Contest (Accidental eye-poke), Round 2
Main Card (ESPN+ – 2:00pm ET / 11:00am PT)
Dilano Taylor def. Rory MacDonald via TKO (Punches), 3:59 of Round 1
Ante Delija def. Renan Ferreira via TKO (Ground and pound), 4:31 of Round 1
Matheus Scheffel def. Juan Adams via TKO (Left hooks), 3:45 of Round 3
Sadibou Sy def. Carlos Leal via Unanimous Decision (29 – 27, 29 – 27. 29 – 27)
Nathan Kelly def. Ben Ellis via Submission (Rear-naked choke), 2:45 of Round 1
Opening Card (ESPN / ESPN+ – 12:00pm ET / 9:00am PT )
Joshua O’Connor def. Emran Sakhizada via Submission (Rear-naked choke), 2:56 of Round 3
Marcin Wojcik def. Mick Stanton via Submission (Rear-naked choke), 4:04 of Round 1
Chris Mixan def. Christian Stigenberg via Split Decision (29 – 28, 29 – 28, 29 – 28)
Szymon Bajor def. Ronny Markes via Unanimous Decision (30 – 27, 30 – 27, 29 – 27)
