The Professional Fighters League is back.
MMASucka staff picks kick off a double-header week with PFL 4 2024 later today, June 13th from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. This marks the promotion’s first ever trip to the venue and city as PFL continues with the second-half of their Regular Season. Across the next three weeks, mixed martial artists from six different weight classes will contest for a spot in the August Playoffs. Seeding is determined based off points accumulated from their April and June fights (see here for League rules and here for current standings).
Athletes from the heavyweight division (265 pounds) and women’s flyweight division (125 pounds) compose today’s card. Preliminary bouts will begin at 5:30pm ET (2:30pm PT) on ESPN+. The main card will take place at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT) on regular ESPN and ESPN+.
PFL 4 2024 results will be available here at MMASucka. Stay tuned this Saturday, June 15th for our staff picks and betting predictions from UFC on ESPN 58: Perez vs. Taira from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Heavyweights – 265 Pounds
A trilogy bout is set in the featured main event between Valentin Moldvasky (-325) and Linton Vassell (+260). The two first met in March of 2019 with Moldvasky taking a three-round unanimous decision at Bellator 218. Vassell rallied to a five-fight win streak with his first-round knockout over Moldvasky at Bellator 292 in their March of 2023 rematch. Tonight, Sambo specialist Moldvasky looks for a third straight victory and second straight knockout after finishing Ante Delija in his PFL debut. Former Bellator Title challenger Vassell enters the underdog after having the aforementioned streak snapped to Denis Goltsov in April.
In the main event of the evening, Fedor Emelianenko pupil Valentin Moldavsky squares off with British finisher Linton Vassell in a trilogy bout!
[ #PFLRegularSeason | Thur, June 13 | 9pm ET on ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/BFZSUYXORE
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 12, 2024
Speaking of his name, Denis Goltsov (-600) will fight on the main card against Thiago Santos (+440). The former ACA Heavyweight Champion targets a fourth Playoff appearance with the promotion after semifinal opportunities in 2019 and 2021 as well as his finalist attempt against Renan Ferreira last season. Opponent Santos, a seasoned striker and former UFC Light Heavyweight Championship contender, looks for a turn of the tides having lost six of his last eight fights (excluding the loss-turned-No-Contest versus Rob Wilkinson in 2023).
Russia’s Oleg Popov (-305) hopes to add to his impressive 15-fight win streak including his 5-point Regular Season win over Steve Mowry by technical knockout in the second round. Jackson Wink MMA’s Davion Franklin (+245) returns to the MMA cage after spending the months since October of last year recovering from a knee injury suffered in his eight professional bout opposite Slim Trabelsi.
Four straight wins were followed by back-to-back losses for Marcelo Golm (+145) who looks for his first points of the PFL Regular Season. Former NCAA Division II wrestler Tyrell Fortune (-175) makes his professional comeback almost a year to the day after claiming his 13th win and tenth stoppage over Sergey Bilostenniy.
In the last heavyweight fight of the night, 2023 League contender Danilo Marques (+170) targets success in his first matchup of the year against veteran UFC and Bellator favorite Tim Johnson (-205).
Women’s Flyweights – 125 Pounds
Rising youthful stars of England’s Dakota Ditcheva (-2100) and Australia’s Chelsea Hackett (+1100) will clash in the co-main event. Muay Thai specialist Ditcheva captured last year’s PFL Europe Women’s Flyweight Tournament and extended her win streak to eleven straight with an April stoppage over Lisa Mauldin. Another skillful Muay Thai talent sees opponent and significant underdog Hackett looking to bounce back following a submission loss at PFL 1 2024 to Jena Bishop.
Women’s MMA pioneer and former Bellator divisional Champion Liz Carmouche (-350) aims for a ninth straight victory and her second of 2023 under the PFL banner. She will rematch former DEEP, RIZIN, and Bellator competitor Kana Watanabe (+260) who looks for the upset and a third straight win since only her second career defeat. The two had met at Bellator 261 in June of 2021; Carmouche finishing Watanabe with a blistering knockout just 35 seconds into round one.
This Regular Season Women’s Flyweight matchup is a rematch between former Bellator Women’s Flyweight Champion Liz Carmouche and Kana Watanabe!
[ #PFLRegularSeason | Thur, June 13 | 9pm ET on ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/KSNac9qNU1
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 12, 2024
The last ESPN+ pairing sees former Aspera FC Bantamweight Champion and seven-time UFC challenger Taila Santos (-520) set to battle multi-organizational Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champion Jena Bishop (+390). Both Santos and Bishop sit tied with six Regular Season points each after their first-round submission wins of Ilara Joanne and the aforementioned Chelsea Hackett, respectively.
Two final matchups compose the remainder of the women’s 125-pound division. Ilara Joanne (-130) plans to snap a three-fight skid against Syndicate MMA’s Shanna Young (+110), and former Bellator Flyweight Champion Juliana Velasquez (-485) searches for her first win since July of 2021 versus California’s Lisa Mauldin (+370).
Find our PFL 4 2024 Regular Season picks further below.
Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL) with Bellator MMA, ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
- PFL and Bellator MMA see picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
- ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2024 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2023 were won by Ben Jamieson with a record of 300-148.
Who have the MMASucka crew picked to win at PFL 4 2024?
RECORDS AFTER UFC ON ESPN 57:
1. Nate Freeman: 121-61
2. Wesley Riddle: 115-67
3. Jeremy Brand: 114-68
4. Michael DeSantis: 106-64
5. Frazer Krohn: 104-78
6. Andrew Benjamin: 82-77
7. Lukas DeWitt: 52-33
8. Julio Monteros Jr.: 28-11
9. Michael Kachan: 19-9
10. Casey Cooper: 4-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Juliana Velasquez (12-3), -485
vs.
Lisa Mauldin (6-4), +370
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIMS –
– 125 LBS. ~ 56.7 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Velasquez Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Velasquez via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Velasquez via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Velasquez via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Velasquez via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Velasquez: 5
Staff picking Mauldin: 0
Danilo Marques (15-5), +170
vs.
Tim Johnson (17-9), -205
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIMS –
– 265 LBS. ~ 120.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Marques via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Johnson via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Johnson via Split Decision
Staff picking Marques: 1
Staff picking Johnson: 4
Ilara Joanne (11-9), -130
vs.
Shanna Young (9-6), +110
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIMS –
– 125 LBS. ~ 56.7 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Young via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Young via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Young via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Young via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Young via Split Decision
Staff picking Joanne: 0
Staff picking Young: 5
Marcelo Golm (10-5), +145
vs.
Tyrell Fortune (13-2, 2 NC), -175
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIMS –
– 265 LBS. ~ 120.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Fortune via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Fortune via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Golm via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Fortune via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Fortune via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Golm: 1
Staff picking Fortune: 4
Oleg Popov (17-1), -305
vs.
Davion Franklin (6-2), +245
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIMS –
– 265 LBS. ~ 120.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Popov via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Popov via Round 1 SUB
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Popov via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Popov via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Popov via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Popov: 5
Staff picking Franklin: 0
Taila Santos (20-3), -520
vs.
Jena Bishop (7-0), +390
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIMS –
– 125 LBS. ~ 56.7 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Santos via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Santos via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Santos via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Santos via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Santos via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Santos: 5
Staff picking Bishop: 0
Liz Carmouche (21-7), -350
vs.
Kana Watanabe (13-2-1), +260
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT DIVISION
– MAIN CARD –
– 125 LBS. ~ 56.7 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Carmouche via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Carmouche via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Carmouche via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Carmouche via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: Carmouche via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Carmouche: 5
Staff picking Watanabe: 0
Denis Goltsov (33-8), -600
vs.
Thiago Santos (22-12, 1 NC), +440
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
– MAIN CARD –
– 265 LBS. ~ 120.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Goltsov via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Goltsov via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Santos via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Goltsov via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Goltsov via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Goltsov: 4
Staff picking Santos: 1
Dakota Ditcheva (11-0), -2100
vs.
Chelsea Hackett (4-2-1), +1100
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT DIVISION
– CO-MAIN EVENT –
– 125 LBS. ~ 56.7 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Ditcheva via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Ditcheva via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Ditcheva via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Ditcheva via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Ditcheva via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Ditcheva: 5
Staff picking Hackett: 0
Valentin Moldvasky (13-3, 1 NC), -325
vs.
Linton Vassell (24-9, 1 NC), +260
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
– MAIN EVENT –
– 265 LBS. ~ 120.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Moldvasky via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Moldvasky via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: N/A
Andrew Benjamin: Vassell via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Moldvasky via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Moldavsky via Split Decision
Staff picking Moldvasky: 4
Staff picking Vassell: 1
PFL 4 2024 FEATURED IMAGE:
Dakota Ditcheva (left) and Chelsea Hackett (right) ahead of their Regular Season flyweight fight at PFL 4 2024 taking place Thursday, June 13th from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut (photo credits to Cooper Neill, PFL MMA).
