The second half of the 2022 PFL season kicks off tonight, as lightweights and light heavyweights make their last push to get into the playoffs live from the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
Below are the current standings for the lightweight and light heavyweight divisions after the action at PFL 1 2022 (images courtesy of the PFL).
The reigning champions for both divisions, Raush Manfio for lightweight and Antonio Carlos Jr. for light heavyweight, simply have to win their fights to enter the playoffs once again. Manfio will collide with former UFC lightweight Olivier Aubin-Mercier, who would also have a good shot at making the playoffs with a win as well. With some help, “Shoeface” Carlos Jr. could still get in even with a loss to Bruce Souto, as current fourth-place fighter Cory Hendricks will not be competing. He has been replaced by former two-division LFA champion Josh Silveira, who will battle last season’s runner-up in Marthin Hamlet. Likewise, on the lightweight side, former UFC fighter Don Madge will not be competing as well, and has been replaced by fellow UFC veteran and former Bellator title challenger Marcin Held. Held will be rematching former two-time champion Natan Schulte, whom he defeated to kick off last season at PFL 1 2021.
Schulte will be needing some help to make the playoffs this year, already losing to the aforementioned Aubin-Mercier. Apart from the Manfio-Aubin-Mercier fight on the main card, both other lightweight main card fights, Clay Collard versus Alexander Martinez in the main event and Jeremy Stephens versus Myles Price, leave no room for error for each fighter.
.@CCCcollard looking ready to throw down against @Mmartinez_alex in their #2022PFL4 Main Event Showdown!
LIVE Friday, June 17th
7pm ET on ESPN+
10pm ET on ESPN & @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/lz7ZowPqxa— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 16, 2022
The playoff bracket for lightweight will not become official tonight, as Anthony Pettis and Stevie Ray will fight on next week’s card.
At light heavyweight, UFC veterans Omari Akhmedov and Rob Wilkinson both have an inside track to making the playoffs alongside Carlos Jr. with a win, facing Teodoras Aukstuolis and Viktor Pesta respectively. Former champion Emiliano Sordi and Delan Monte will both have ground to make up against each other after losing their opening fights.
The card will be kicked off by a lightweight showcase fight between fellow LFA veterans Jake Childers and Nate Jennerman.
MMA Sucka has fight fans covered with PFL 4 2022 results, with the action kicking off at 7pm ET/4pm PT on ESPN+ with the opening card, followed by the main card at 10pm ET/7pm PT on ESPN and ESPN+.
PFL 4 2022 Results
Main Card
Alexander Martinez def. Clay Collard via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Antonio Carlos Jr. def. Bruce Souto via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), clinches third seed in playoffs
Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Raush Manfio via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28), clinches spot in playoffs
Jeremy Stephens def. Myles Price via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Omari Akhmedov def. Teodoras Aukstuolis via Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) at 2:50 of Round 2, clinches spot in playoffs
Natan Schulte def. Marcin Held via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Delan Monte def. Emiliano Sordi via TKO (Punches) at 1:32 of Round 1, clinches spot in playoffs
Rob Wilkinson def. Viktor Pesta via TKO (Punches) at 3:03 of Round 1, clinches spot in playoffs
Josh Silveira def. Marthin Hamlet via TKO (Head Kick and Punches) at 3:27 of Round 1
Nate Jennerman def. Jake Childers via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:00 of Round 2
