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PFL 2022 World Championship Finals Preview
This Friday, live from the Hulu Theatre in Madison Square Garden, the PFL 2022 finals go down in New York. With six million dollars on the line for the six fighters who emerge victorious in their weight class, it’s sure to be another night of fireworks that produces some incredible stories.
Fans in the UK can watch the event on Channel 4 for free with the action scheduled to start at 1AM. This weekend, millionaires will be made.
Light Heavyweight final: Rob Wilkinson vs Omari Akhmedov
In the opening match up of the main card, the first finalist for 2022 will be crowned in the light heavyweight division. The match-up features the division’s biggest signing from last year taking on one of the biggest surprises in the 2022 season. Omari Akhmedov joined the PFL with a ton of experience. The 15-fight UFC veteran had left his former promotion after losing a split decision and hit the ground running in the PFL.
After his UFC career, many expected to see Akhmedov in this position come the finals. Along the way, the Russian picked up two finishes and was scheduled to face last season’s winner Antonio Carlos Junior but he was forced to pull out of the tournament.
Standing across from him will be one of 2022’s most devastating finishers. Aussie Rob Wilkinson has been one of the breakout fighters of the season, finishing all three of his opponents via TKO, showcasing a deadly arsenal. Can the experience and toughness of Akhmedov stop Wilkinson in his tracks or will he become another finish on the Aussie’s highlight reel.
Welterweight final: Sadibou Sy vs Dilano Taylor
For the welterweights, it’s a battle of two strikers who use their range to their advantage. Neither man would’ve been a favourite to make it to this point but both are incredibly deserving of their spot in the finals. Sweden’s Sadibou Sy has had a tough run to the finals. After coming up short in the semi-finals last year he defeated Rory MacDonald and Carlos Leal to book his place at MSG.
Dilano Taylor is the definition of taking the opportunity with both hands. After waiting patiently on the sidelines as an alternate, ‘The Postman’ got called up for a semi-finals match-up with MMA legend Rory Macdonald in Cardiff, Wales on late notice. Taylor took the spotlight for himself, knocking out ‘The Red King’ in the first round. With Sy’s three decision wins this season, the welterweight tournament will be decided by a fighter that has shown great control to battle his way to the finals though tooth and nail versus the ultimate opportunist, ready to snatch and grab the million.
Lightweight final: Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs Stevie Ray
In Canada’s Olivier Aubin-Mercier, you have a fighter that seemed destined for the finals. Since signing with the PFL in 2020, ‘The Canadian Gangster’ has won five consecutive decisions. His departure from the UFC was seen as a shock to many with fans feeling like he had a lot more to give. Though he may have lost a run of fights, the level of opposition he was facing speaks for itself (Alexander Hernandez, Gilbert Burns and Arman Tsarukyan). Aubin-Mercier is still just 33-years of age and has proven that he can compete with the very best in his weight class.
On the opposite side of the coin is a man that was never supposed to be stepping into a cage again let alone competing in the finals. Scotland’s Stevie Ray left the UFC in 2020 and announced his retirement from the sport. After getting past his long-term injuries, ‘Braveheart’ signed with the PFL, kicking off an incredible return. After losing his opening fight of the season, Ray defeated Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis in back-to-back fights to earn himself a shot at becoming a millionaire.
As if his Rocky Balboa moment wasn’t big enough, he submitted Pettis with the incredibly rare twister submission. On November 25th, Stevie Ray will have to flip the script once again if he is to stop Aubin-Mercier from becoming the champion.
Heavyweight final: Ante Delija vs Matheus Scheffel
In the heavyweight match-up, there’s an added ingredient thrown into the mix, revenge. Matheus Scheffel had an incredibly tough start to life in the PFL, losing his first fight of the season to Delija via a devastating knockout. In his second fight, Scheffel rebounded with a decision win over last season’s winner, Bruno Cappelozza. With a dominant display in the semi-finals over late replacement Juan Adams, Scheffel believes he has what it takes to defeat Delija this time around.
Ante Delija is also out to right the wrongs of the past. The prodigy of Croatian MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop made it to the finals last year, losing a decision to Cappelozza. This season, he has looked determined to go one further than last year’s effort, capping off his route to the final with a first round domination of Renan Ferreira in the semi-finals. It’s a battle of heavy hitters but who will land first, the brute strength of Delija vs the accuracy and hand speed of Scheffel. A million dollars and a shot at redemption.
Featherweight: Brendan Loughnane vs Bubba Jenkins
In the co-main event of the evening, the two runners up in the semi finals last year will get their chance to accomplish their dreams. Manchester’s own Brendan Loughnane has battled through a lot of adversity to get to this spot, gritting his teeth through tough fights earlier in the season. In the semi-finals, in front of his home fans, Loughnane produced arguably the best performance of his career, dominating 2021 finalist and PFL veteran Chris Wade. Whilst he is well-rounded, the Brit’s striking has been his biggest weapon inside the PFL smart cage.
Bubba Jenkins lost to Chris Wade in his semi final last year and has come back stronger in 2022. With a first-round finish over dangerous striker Ryoji Kudo in the semi-finals in London, he will have the confidence that his NCAA Division 1 credentials will help him to become a millionaire. Whilst both men have been incredibly respectful of one another in the build-up, come Friday night it is time for one of them to step into the spotlight, a runner up no more.
Women’s Lightweight: Kayla Harrison vs Larissa Pacheco
In the main event, the most dominant force in the PFL may be marking the end of her last season. Kayla Harrison has reigned over the lightweight division in both of her previous two years competing, yet to find her equal. Harrison has said that this will be her last trip to the finals after winning 14 in a row inside the PFL (With a 15-0 professional record). The two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo has shown no signs of slowing down either, producing first-round finishes in her last two fights.
Attempting to break Harrison’s streak at the final opportunity will be a previous opponent of hers. Larissa Pacheco made her PFL debut in 2019 against the reigning champion and though she lost the fight, she still made it to the finals to face Harrison again. On both occasions, Kayla was able to control her opponent on the ground and grind out decision wins.
This season, Pacheco hasn’t had the need for any scorecards. With three TKOs in a row (five if you count last season also), Pacheco has looked more dangerous than ever. Her only two losses inside the PFL have come to Harrison who has shown herself to be levels above every other competitor in previous years. With her current run of finishes, could Pacheco be the woman to stop Harrison’s reign or will the champion leave Madison Square Garden with the three-peat.
Remember UK viewers can watch the PFL World Championship event live from 1AM on Channel 4 Saturday 26th November.
