Four championship fights for this season in MMA‘s only league are locked in. Tonight, we find out who completes the championship picture in the PFL during PFL 9. Live coverage kicks off at 7:30 pm ET/ 4:30 pm PT on ESPN+, before moving over to ESPN proper at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT.
Due to ESPN’s coverage of high school football directly preceding the main card, coverage of that portion of the event might start on another ESPN channel. There’s been some shuffling to the bout order in the final days leading up to the event, resulting in PFL 9 featuring nine fights tonight, highlighted by semifinals at featherweight and lightweight.
Main Event
At the top of the bill tonight is a featherweight semifinal pitting No. 1 seed Brendan Loughnane (29-5 MMA, 2-0 2024 PFL) against No. 4 seed Kai Kamaka III (14-5-1 MMA, 2-0 2024 PFL.) This is a three-round fight at five minutes per round to close the show.
Only one way to find out who's really about all that smoke inside the SmartCage 👀👊@BrendanMMA 🆚 @kaiboikamaka | 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗠𝗢𝗞𝗘 #PFLPlayoffs | #PFLDC | B2YB @cann_company pic.twitter.com/vOTNAnem42
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 23, 2024
Co-Main Event
Immediately beforehand, the co-main event features a welterweight semifinal bout pitting No. 2 seed Magomed Umalatov (16-0 MMA, 2-0 2024 PFL) against No. 5 seed [and playoff alternate] Neiman Gracie (13-5 MMA, 1-1 2024 PFL.) Gracie steps in for No. 3 seed Don Madge, who was unable to make the walk tonight due to injury.
Rest of The Card
Also on tonight’s main card, you’ll see a featherweight semifinal matching No. 2 seed Gabriel Braga (14-1 MMA, 2-0 2024 PFL) with No. 3 seed Timur Khizriev (16-0 MMA, 2-0 2024 PFL) and a welterweight semifinal between No. 1 seed Shamil Musaev (18-0-1 MMA, 2-0 2024 PFL) and No. 4 seed Murad Ramazanov (12-1, 1 NC MMA, 1-1 2024 PFL.)
PFL 9 Results:
Main Card: (10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT, ESPN & ESPN+)
Main Event: No. 1 seed Brendan Loughnane def. No. 4 seed Kai Kamaka III by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27.) Featherweight Semifinal
Co-Main Event: No. 2 seed Magomed Umalatov def. No. 5 seed Neiman Gracie by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28.) Welterweight Semifinal
No. 3 seed Timur Khizriev def. No. 2 seed Gabriel Braga by Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27.) Featherweight Semifinal
No. 1 seed Shamil Musaev def. No. 4 seed Murad Ramazanov by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27.) Welterweight Semifinal
Showcase Bouts: (7:30 pm ET/ 4:30 pm PT, ESPN+)
Featured Showcase Bout: Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Ray Cooper III by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28.)
Co-Featured Showcase Bout: Enrique Barzola def. Tyler Diamond by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28.)
Jose Perez def. Jesse Stirn by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27.)
Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Kent Mafileo by TKO (Punches) at 4:50 into Round 2.
Shido Boris Esperanca def. Tyler Hill by TKO (Unanswered Strikes) at 3:31 into Round 1.
