Playoff Roundup: PFL 7 Sets Dakota Ditcheva-Taila Santos, Denis Goltsov-Oleg Popov Championships
After missing weight for the first time in her professional career, reigning Bellator MMA champion Liz Carmouche needed a finish or dominant performance on the scorecards due to the point deduction she was given ahead of her semifinal with Taila Santos. The two veteran women were engaged in a back-and-forth affair throughout the fight, with both having their moments across their 15-minute encounter.
The men’s heavyweight division got started with Oleg Popov taking on late-replacement Linton Vassell, and the Russian dominated his way to the final. Popov used dominant wrestling and control to wear down Vassell, giving him no time to get into his own game plan. He controlled the fight from bell to bell.
Dakota Ditcheva gets it done in 1 round! She's going to the #PFLWorldChampionship!!!
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 3, 2024
[ 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN & ESPN+ | #PFLPlayoffs | #PFLNashville | https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI ] pic.twitter.com/gCB4gB9gsB
In the main event, Tim Johnson took on Denis Goltsov, who has been in the playoffs four times previously but has yet to claim PFL gold. Much like the Ditcheva-Bishop co-headliner, the fight was done in quick order, as Goltsov managed to get Johnson to the mat and finish with ground-and-pound, securing his second consecutive trip to the heavyweight final.
BACK-TO-BACK! Denis Goltsov returns to fight at the #PFLWorldChampionship!
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 3, 2024
[ 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN & ESPN+ | #PFLPlayoffs | #PFLNashville | https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI ] pic.twitter.com/zbZFW38kzR
The 2024 PFL heavyweight championship will see the top seed in Goltsov matched with the second-seeded Popov. The top two seeds will also square off in the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight championship, as Ditcheva faces Santos for the world title at 125 pounds. The winners will receive $1 million.
MIC DROP from Dakota Ditcheva!! 🤫🤫
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 3, 2024
[ 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN & ESPN+ |#PFLPlayoffs | #PFLNashville | https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI ] pic.twitter.com/0UFHUmOiHG
The remaining pairings for the 2024 PFL championships will be decided at PFL 8 on Aug. 16, when the light heavyweight and lightweight playoffs take place in Hollywood, Florida, and at PFL 9 on Aug. 23, when the featherweight and welterweight playoffs take place in Washington, D.C. Finals for all divisions are set for November.
The Welterweight Semifinals are OFFICIAL for Washington D.C.#PFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/De4U0KtD0C
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 29, 2024
WELTERWEIGHT
x-10: Shamil Musaevx-9: Magomed Umalatov
x-6: Don Madge
x-6: Murad Ramazanov
3: Neiman Gracie
3: Andrey Koreshkov
3: Goiti Yamauchi
0: Logan Storley
0: Brennan Ward
0: Luca Poclit
-1: Laureano Staropoli
***
The road to the 2024 #PFLWorldChampionship is underway! 💰🏆
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 29, 2024
Here are your #PFLPlayoffs Welterweights & Featherweights matchups!
B2YB @budlight pic.twitter.com/x3d01rJOIf
FEATHERWEIGHT
x11: Brendan Loughnanex10: Gabriel Braga
x6: Timur Khizriev
x-6: Kai Kamaka III
3: Adam Borics
3: Tyler Diamond
0: Enrique Barzola
0: Brett Johns
0: Bubba Jenkins
0: Pedro Carvalho
0: Justin Gonzales
***
The Light Heavyweight bouts are set for the #PFLPlayoffs! pic.twitter.com/AMvKmC58GE
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 22, 2024
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
x-11: Impa Kasanganayx-9: Rob Wilkinson
x-9: Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
x-6: Joshua Silveira
6: Antonio Carlos Jr.
4: Sadibou Sy
3: Alex Polizzi
0: Simon Biyong
0: Jakob Nedoh
0: Andrew Sanchez
0: Tom Breese
***
Your #PFLPlayoffs Lightweight Match ups are official! pic.twitter.com/l9zXNexV3O
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 22, 2024
LIGHTWEIGHT
x-9: Brent Primusx-6: Gadzhi Rabadanov
x-5: Michael Dufort
x-5: Clay Collard
4: Elvin Espinoza
3: Adam Piccolotti
3: Bruno Miranda
3: Mads Burnell
0: Patricky Freire
-1: Solomon Renfro
***
Your HW Semifinals are set for Nashville! #PFLPlayoffs#PFLRegularSeason pic.twitter.com/Ug2Lu1d5Vr
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 14, 2024
HEAVYWEIGHT
x-10: Denis Goltsovx-8: Oleg Popov
x-6: Valentin Moldavsky
x-6: Tim Johnson
5: Daniel James
3: Tyrell Fortune
3: Sergey Bilostenniy
3: Linton Vassell
0: Thiago Santos
0: Danilo Marques
0: Marcelo Golm
-1: Davion Franklin
***
The Women's Flyweight Semifinal Matchups are OFFICIAL for Nashville! #PFLPlayoffs#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 14, 2024
🇺🇸 ESPN & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/HcOPg7cTqC
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT
x-12: Dakota Ditchevax-9: Taila Santos
x-7: Liz Carmouche
x-6: Jena Bishop
5: Juliana Velasquez
3: Kana Watanabe
3: Ilara Joanne
0: Chelsea Hackett
0: Lisa Mauldin
-1: Shanna Young
x: Clinched playoff berth