Black Friday is upon us in just a few short weeks. The day after Thanksgiving has many traditions, such as watching college football on TV and/or going to a game in-person, heating up and eating up those Thanksgiving leftovers, and, of course, shopping.
If, however, you’re among those people who don’t like to sacrifice sleep on Thanksgiving night in order to stand out in long lines for a gift the store might be sold out of the next day, there’s an MMA alternative to shopping for Christmas presents. Even better, you won’t have to leave home.
For the third year in succession, the Professional Fighters League brings competitive violence to the Thanksgiving dinner table over the holiday weekend with PFL Championships in one of America’s newest autumn traditions. It’s already been confirmed who will be fighting on the extended weekend but on Monday, we found out the fighters’ placement on the main card.
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Your FULL 2024 #PFLWorldChampionship Fight Card!!
𝙄𝙏 𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙎 𝘿𝙊𝙒𝙉 𝙏𝙊 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎! Lives will be changed on November 29th
[ #PFLWorldChampionship | Friday, Nov 29th | 3PM ET | ESPN+] pic.twitter.com/XW8SCCXZzc
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 11, 2024
Aggression on Black Friday Welcomed With PFL Championships
As usual, every weight class’ championship will be at stake in PFL 10: Championships on Black Friday. Unlike in years past, the 2024 championship event will be held overseas.
One month removed from PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia serves as the host city for this year’s PFL 10 on Nov. 29. If you’re watching inside the United States, be prepared to get up early and have some leftover pumpkin pie with your coffee on the day after Thanksgiving.
Showcase fights and the championship fights from PFL MENA begin the day at 9:30 am ET/ 6:30 am PT on ESPN+ before moving onto ESPN+ pay-per-view with the main card at 3 pm ET/ noon PT. Unlike what you might see at the malls during the holiday shopping season, there won’t be any trouble here with punches being thrown.
All championship fights are five rounds in length at five minutes per round.
Main Event: Brendan Loughnane Battles Timur Khizriev For Featherweight Gold
To top off the day’s bill from Riyadh, the PFL Featherweight Championship is at stake between No. 1 seed (and 2022 PFL Featherweight Champion) Brendan Loughnane (30-5 MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL) and No. 3 seed Timur Khizriev (17-0 MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL.) Loughnane returns to the title fight spotlight after missing out on the playoffs a year ago.
He secured his spot in the title fight against Khizriev thanks to a split decision victory over Kai Kamaka III (14-6-1 MMA, 2-1 2024 PFL), while Khizriev bested Gabriel Braga (14-2 MMA, 2-1 2024 PFL) with a split decision of his own in the semifinals. The No. 3 seed is undefeated thus far in his MMA career.
Co-Main Event: Ditcheva Squares Off Against Santos
Immediately prior to the main event, the co-headliner sees women’s flyweight action when No. 1 seed Dakota Ditcheva (13-0 MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL) meets No. 2 seed Talia Santos (22-3 MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL.) Ditcheva punched her ticket to the Black Friday show with a first-round knockout (straight right) against Jena Bishop (7-2 MMA, 1-2 2024 PFL) during the playoffs, while Santos advanced to PFL 10 by way of unanimous decision over Liz Carmouche (22-8 MMA, 2-1 2024 PFL.)
Ditcheva crossed over to the main roster from PFL Europe ahead of the 2024 season after having won the championship in the latter promotion last December. Two years removed from joining the PFL banner, will she secure the title?
Kasanganay Battles Yagshimuradov at Light Heavyweight
The 205-lb. title will be handed out in the contest between No. 1 seed (and last season’s defending champion) Impa Kasanganay (18-4 MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL) and No. 3 seed Dovlet Yagshimuradov (24-7-1 MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL.) Kasanganay, a UFC alumnus, eliminated Josh Silvera (13-4 MMA, 1-2 2024 PFL), while Yagshimuradov advanced to the final by besting Rob Wilkinson (19-3, 1 NC MMA, 2-1 2024 PFL) in the semifinal round by unanimous decision.
Impa Kasanganay found himself cut from MMA’s top promotion in December of 2021 before finding his way to the PFL via the Challenger Series in March of last year. It’s a move that has paid off handsomely for him thus far, already netting him one check for $1 million (USD).
Yagshimuradov has had a successful crossover to the PFL’s roster following the 2023 purchase of Bellator by the promotion and is a previous ACB Light Heavyweight Champion.
Unbeatens Enter Cage for Welterweight Gold
At welterweight, No. 1 seed Shamil Musaev (19-0-1 MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL) squares off against No. 2 seed Magomed Umalatov (17-0 MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL) for the belt. Musaev bested Murad Ramazanov (12-2, 1 NC MMA, 1-2 2024 PFL) to clinch his berth in the Nov. 29 final (unanimous decision), with Umalatov advancing to PFL 10 by way of unanimous decision over Neiman Gracie (13-6 MMA, 1-2 2024 PFL.)
This could very well be the most entertaining contest of the day.
Lightweights Primus and Rabadanov Battle it Out
The 155-lb. title is at stake in the second championship fight of the main card. No. 1 seed Brent Primus (15-3, 1 NC MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL) seeks to make his crossover season a successful one when he meets up with No. 2 seed Gadzhi Rabadanov (23-4-2 MMA, 3-0 2024 PFL,) another Bellator crossover
Primus scored a unanimous decision victory over Clay Collard (25-14, 1 NC MMA, 1-2 2024 PFL) in August, while Rabadanov knocked out Michael Dufort (13-6 MMA, 1-2 2024 PFL) in the second round of the playoffs. Brent Primus is a decorated fighter, having won gold in Bellator in 2017 in New York City.
Rabadanov is no slouch, either, having scored the GFC (now Eagle FC) Lightweight Championship in February of 2020. Both men know what it’s like to have a title around their waist, but who will go home the champ this time?
The Big Boys Duke it Out: Goltsov Meets Popov
To begin the main card, the PFL Heavyweight Championship is at stake when No. 1 seed Denis Goltsov (34-8 MMA, 3-0 PFL 2024) takes on No. 2 seed Oleg Popov (19-1 MMA, 3-0 PFL 2024). Goltsov finished Tim Johnson (18-10 MMA, 1-1 PFL 2024) while Popov scored a unanimous decision over Linton Vassell (25-10, 1 NC MMA, 1-2 PFL 2024.)
Both have won championships in the past. Who will add to their mantle at the end of the month?
