The PFL continues to wind down the season with the lightweight and welterweight semifinals. The winners of the semifinals will get to fight at the PFL World Championship on November 24 for $1 million.
We will also see the return of Biaggio Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali along with a number of showcase fights to round out the show.
Fight fans can catch PFL 9: 2023 Playoffs streaming live on ESPN+, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT for the prelims, with the main card set to be simulcasted on ESPN beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
𝙒𝘼𝙆𝙀 𝙐𝙋 ❗️IT’S FIGHT DAY ‼️
Lightweights and Welterweights look to book their tickets to 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗗.𝗖. as #PFLWorldChampionship spots are on the line 💰🏆
[𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 | 6:30pm ET on ESPN+ | 9pm ET on ESPN | #PFLPlayoffs ] pic.twitter.com/uIqP1JF7nT
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 23, 2023
Lightweight and Welterweight Semifinals
PFL 9 will see last year’s PFL winner Olivier Aubin-Mercier (19-5) take on the 2022 PFL Challenger Series winner Bruno Miranda (16-3). The other side of the bracket will see former boxer and UFC fighter Clay Collard (23-10-1) take on fellow former UFC fighter and top 15-ranked Shane Burgos (16-4).
Burgos was initially eliminated but found himself back in the playoffs due to unique circumstances. Inaugural winner Natan Schulte faced teammate Raush Manfio in a fight that was in which both barely engaged in a competitive effort. Schulte was suspended from the PFL, with the promotion stating, “All fighters in their PFL fight agreements agree to use their ‘best efforts, skills and ability as a professional athlete to compete and defeat any opponent.’ It was very clear that Natan and Raush did not meet that contractual standard in yesterday’s bout.”
The welterweights will see the 2018 winner Magomed Magomedkerimov (32-6) try his second attempt to become a champion and take on PFL newcomer Solomon Renfro (11-3). Renfro was initially eliminated and replaced Magomed Umalatov, who withdrew. The other side will see last year’s winner Sadibou Sy (15-6-2) take on familiar foe Carlos Leal (19-4). Sy beat Leal in last year’s playoffs by way of decision.
At the weigh-ins, Leal missed weight and will see 20 percent of his purse go to his Sy. He will also have a 1-point penalty applied to his final scorecards, putting him at a significant disadvantage.
PFL 9: 2023 Playoffs Results
MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+ – 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)
Clay Collard def. Shane Burgos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) to advance to the PFL Lightweight Finals
Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Bruno Miranda via TKO (punches) in 4:41 of Round 2 to advance to the PFL Lightweight Finals
Sadibou Sy def. Carlos Leal via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) to advance to the PFL Welterweight Finals
Magomed Magomedovkarimov def. Solomon Renfro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) to advance to the PFL Welterweight Finals
Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Ed Davis (amateur rules) via TKO (punches) in 4:23 of Round 2
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+ – 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT)
Alexei Pergrande def. Shawn Stefanelli via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Mostafa Rashed Nafa def. Korey Kuppe via TKO (punches) in 1:55 of Round 1
Michelle Montague def. Abigail Montes via submission (rear-naked choke) in 3:38 of Round 2
Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. David Zelner via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
John Caldone def. Nathaniel Grimard via TKO (punches) in 2:32 of Round 1
