$6 Million On The Line
The lives of six fighters will be changed forever this Friday as the PFL World Championship goes down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card is comprised of six high-stakes fights, each one the final decider in the PFL global tournament and carrying a cash prize of $1 million for the winner to take home alongside their championship belt.
For the twelve fighters who enter the smartcage on Friday, this will be the culmination of an intense season which began in April. With two regular season fights and one play-off bout under their belts already, this group have barely had time to draw breath before lacing up the 4-ounce gloves once again. Some have been down this road before, while others are preparing for their first attempt at winning the biggest cash prize in the world of MMA.
Let’s take a look at the six world title fights that make up the main card at the Mayadeen in Riyadh this Friday.
Brendan Loughnane (30-5) vs Timur Khizriev (17-0) – Featherweight
Brendan Loughnane will be attempting to win his second PFL championship in three years when he faces Timur Khizriev in the main event. The veteran Mancunian suffered a shock first-round KO loss at the hands of Jesus Pinedo early in the 2023 season but bounced back in impressive fashion this year with stoppage victories over Pefro Carvalho and Justin Gonzales before edging past Kai Kamaka pin the playoffs by way of split decision.
His Dagesatni opponent has been quietly making a name for himself under both the Bellator and the PFL banners over the past two years, picking up wins over credentialled opponents such as Richie Smullen and Brett Johns along the way. Khizriev brings a suffocating grappling style into Friday’s showdown which could be exactly what’s required to shut down the dynamic striking Loughnane has shown throughout his long career.
Dakota Ditcheva (13-0) vs Taila Santos (22-3) – Flyweight
The hottest prospect in the world of women’s MMA faces her toughest test to date on Friday in the shape of Taila Santos, a UFC veteran with the experience and know-how to pose the type of problems that “Dangerous” hasn’t yet faced in her young career to date. Dakota Ditcheva won the PFL European tournament (and it’s accompanying $100,000 check) in 2023 and the step up in competition she has faced in the global tournament this year doesn’t seem to have fazed her at all.
Three consecutive first-round finishes over Lisa Mauldin, Chelsea Hackett and Jena Bishop have done nothing but increase the hype surrounding the 26-year-old who many see as the future face of women’s mixed martial arts.
Taila Santos linked up with the PFL this year after cutting ties with the UFC and has also maintained a 100% win rate in the flyweight tournament, taking out Ilara Joanne, Jena Bishop and Liz Carmouche along the way.
Impa Kasanganay (18-4) vs Doglet Yagshimuradov (24-7-1) – Light heavyweight
Impa Kasanganay is aiming to win the global tournament for the second year running. Prior to linking up with the PFL at the beginning of 2023, “Tshilobo” was best-known as the unfortunate B-side of Joaquin Buckley’s infamous spinning back kick knockout on UFC’s Fight Island, but after winning five consecutive fights in his first year under the PFL banner he found himself $1 million richer.
He began 2024 by losing a close split decision against Johnny Eblen on the “PFL vs Bellator” card in Saudi Arabia but bounced back by winning all three fights since, landing him another opportunity to fight for the belt this weekend.
Magomed Umalatov (17-0) vs Shamil Musaev (19-0-1) – Welterweight
An all-Russian affair will decide the destination of the welterweight title. Magomed Umalatov, who has won all eight of his fights with the PFL since signing back in 2021 will square off against KSW veteran Shamil Musaev who has looked outstanding throughout his debut season. Musaev has racked up impressive finsihes over Logan Storley and Murad Ramazanov and will be looking to add Umalatov to his list of victims.
Brent Primus (15-3) vs Gadzhi Rabadonov (23-4-2) – Lightweight
Former Bellator champion Brent Primus, despite turning 39 years old earlier this year, has never looked more impressive. The Oregon native will step into the smartcage for the fourth time in seven months this weekend after taking out Solomon Renfro, Bruno Miranda and Clay Collard en route to Riyadh, and despite his advancing years is showing no signs of slowing down just yet. Primus is regarded as one of the most dangerous submission grapplers in MMA and believes he has the ability to finish Rabadanov in Saudi Arabia.
” I (have) a lot of submissions in my book and in my arsenal” he told us in an exclusive interview this week. “I feel like I could submit these guys in such a variety of ways. The rear naked choke is definitely one of my favorite ones. I’m good at taking the back and holding onto the back so don’t be surprised if I get another one against Gadzhi”.
Denis Goltsov (35-8) vs Oleg Popov (19-1) – Heavyweight
Another all-Russian affair will decide the destination of the heavyweight title. Denis Goltsov returns for another crack at glory, one year removed from his defeat at the hands of Renan Ferreira in the 2023 final. “The Russian Bogatyr” rebounded by racking up a trio of ground and pound victories over Linton Vassell, Thiago Santos and Tim Johnson and faces a real test when he squares off against Oleg Popov.
Check out the full fight card below:
2024 PFL Championships Global Season:
Friday, November 29 – Live on ESPN+ / DAZN
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
1 pm ET/10 am PT
Featherweight World Championship Main Event:
Brendan Loughnane (144.8 lbs) vs. Timur Khizriev (144.7 lbs)
Women’s Flyweight World Championship Co-Main Event:
Dakota Ditcheva (124.9 lbs) vs. Talia Santos (125.0 lbs)
Light Heavyweight World Championship:
Impa Kasanganay (204.6 lbs) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (204.1 lbs)
Welterweight World Championship:
Magomed Umalatov (168.8 lbs) vs. Shamil Musaev (169.8 lbs)
Lightweight World Championship:
Brent Primus (154.3 lbs) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (155.0 lbs)
Heavyweight World Championship:
Denis Goltsov (245.8 lbs) vs. Oleg Popov (249.5 lbs)
PFL MENA Championships:
Live on ESPN+ / DAZN
9:30 am ET/ 6:30 am PT
Middleweight Global Showcase:
Costello van Steenis (185.9 lbs) vs. Joao Dantas (185.0 lbs)Featherweight Global Showcase Bout:
Gabriel Braga (144.3 lbs) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (145.8 lbs)
Featherweight Global Showcase:
Asael Adjoudj (145.9 lbs) vs. Jose Perez (145.0 lbs)
Welterweight MENA Championship:
Mohammad Alaqraa (169.6 lbs) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (170.0 lbs)
Women’s Atomweight MENA Showcase Bout:
Hattan Alsaif (105.4 lbs) vs. Lilia Osmani (108.3 lbs)
Bantamweight MENA Championship:
Ali Taleb (134.0 lbs) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (134.8 lbs)
Lightweight MENA Championship:
Mohsen Mohammadseifi (154.6 lbs) vs. Georges Eid (155.0 lbs)
PFL Showcase Bouts:
Live on ESPN+ / DAZN
7:15 am ET/ 4:15 am PT
Lightweight MENA Showcase Bout:
Mansour Barnaoui (153.6 lbs) vs. Alfie Davis (155.7 lbs)
Heavyweight MENA Showcase Bout:
Slim Trabelsi (243.5 lbs) vs. Abraham Bably (251.8 lbs)
Featherweight MENA Championship:
Marouane Bellagouit (144.4 lbs) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (144.3 lbs)
