The semi-finals for the 2023 PFL season have arrived. Tonight at PFL 8, the heavyweight and women’s featherweight divisions will see who will get to make it to the finals that will happen later this year. The winner will get to bank $1 million.
Fight fans can catch PFL 8: 2023 Playoffs streaming live on ESPN+, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT for the prelims, with the main card set to be simulcasted on ESPN beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Heavyweight and Women’s Featherweight Semifinals
The heavyweights will see Renan Ferreira (10-3, 3 NC) take on former UFC fighter Maurice Greene (11-8). Greene was initially eliminated but is replacing Marcelo Nunes due to an injury. The other side of the heavyweight semifinals will see veteran Denis Golstov (31-7) take on undefeated and former TUF fighter Jordan Heiderman (7-0). Despite having only one win in the PFL this season, Heiderman managed to get himself booked in the semifinals.
It’s 𝗪𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 TONIGHT ➡️🏠#PFLWorldChampionship spots are on the line as Heavyweights & Women’s Featherweights enter the SmartCage
Pre-Show: 7pm ET on ESPN+
Opening Card: 7:30pm ET on ESPN +
Main Card: 9pm ET on ESPN/ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/1oqCcpdJa4— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 18, 2023
The women’s featherweight fights will see familiar foes as last year’s winner at lightweight Larissa Pacheco (21-4) take on Olena Kolesnyk (9-5). They have fought twice before with Pacheco beating her both times in the first round. Kolesnyk missed weight for the fight and will be penalized 1 point in the scorecards and 20% of her purse will go to Pacheco. On the other side will see Sambo martial artist Marina Mokhnatkina (10-3) will take on finishing machine Amber Leibrock (7-5).
You can see what the semifinalists said on media day here.
Super Heavyweight Match
The other notable fight that was supposed to happen is the rare unicorn super heavyweight match. In what was supposed to be a heavyweight match, former Temple University fullback-turned-mixed martial artist Daiqwon Buckley (4-1) weighed in an astounding 272.4 lbs. His opponent Louie Sutherland (5-2) weighed in at 250.6 lbs.
The fight was canceled on the day of the show.
PFL 8 Results
MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+ – 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET)
Renan Ferreira def. Maurice Greene via KO (punch) in 4:46 of Round 1 — PFL Heavyweight Semifinals
Larissa Pachecho def. Olena Kolesnyk via TKO (punches) in 0:14 of Round 1 — PFL Women’s Featherweight Semifinals
Denis Golstov def. Jordan Heiderman via submission (arm-triangle choke) in 4:16 of Round 1 — PFL Heavyweight Semifinals
Marina Mokhnatkina def. Amber Leibrock via submission (armbar) in 1:45 of Round 1 — PFL Women’s Featherweight Semifinals
Nathan Kelly def. Damion Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+ – 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET)
Danilo Marques def. Satoshi Ishii via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Maria Mazar def. Kaytlin Neil via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
