The PFL finishes up its opening slate of fights tonight at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago as welterweights and featherweights kick off their season.
WIth $1million on the line for the winners of each tournament, stakes have likely never been higher for most of the contestants as they head into the gruelling season. Whoever ends up winning the tournament will have competed, and cut weight, four times between April and the end of November.
But they’ll all be fresh for the first night of their seasons, with a number of cracking matchups expected at both 145lb and 170lb. From world champions to major outsiders, there is a chance of new stars being made in this latest season of what is called the ‘Champions League of MMA’.
PFL season format explained as winner earns $1million payday
The PFL pits fighters against each other in an unprecedented tournament format that uses the same pool system as major team sport competitions. Each fighter will have at least two fights in the league stage, before the top four of each division move on to a semi-final and eventual final.
Not dissimilar to football or rugby, a win is worth three points. But the league portion of the season is decided by the bonus points based on how one wins their fight. A first round stoppage is three extra points, while the second round is worth two, third round is one and a decision leaves you with no more than your initial three.
This means that two boring wins might not guarantee a fighter passage through to the finals, even against someone who loses but then wins with a first round knockout that pockets them six points. Head-to-head records are also brought into account in the case of ties.
Bubba Jenkins vs Kai Kamaka III is one for the MMA purists
Wrestling powerhouse Bubba Jenkins is making his fourth effort at the $1million PFL featherweight title tournament, and won’t want to let this one slip through his fingers. He came within inches of the 2022 belt in a bloody war against Brendan Loughnane, but was ultimately stopped in the fourth round.
Then last year he made no mistake in the early stages, beating Chris Wade in the opening round before landing a first round submission against Sung Bin Jo to secure his play-off spot. However, he was stopped again by the soaring Jesus Pinedo, who after a scalp of Loughnane early on went on to win the gold.
In Jenkins’ way tonight is UFC veteran Kamaka, whose sole loss since leaving the promotion was a contentious split decision almost two years ago to the day. Both men will want to make a statement early, and this one could end up being one for the hardcores.
Russia vs Russia in intense welterweight main event between Andrey Koreshkov and Magomed Umalatov
In Magomed Umalatov’s professional career, 14 men have tried to hand him his first loss… Just two of them have made it to the final bell.
It was visa issues and a training camp injury that cost him a path to PFL gold in 2022 and 2023 respectively. But now standing in his way is the dominant former Bellator welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov.
On a tear in his post-pandemic comeback; Koreshkov has landed three stoppages, one unanimous decision and redeemed himself in a razor-close split against Lorenz Larkin. Indeed, the American was one of just three men to beat him after Douglas Lima did it twice, and a young Ben Askren managed the feat.
These two hard-hitting Russians are going to be out for blood in this heated main event.
Boxing banger expected between European featherweights Brendan Loughnane and Pedro Carvalho
Fans across the UK and Ireland are expected to stay awake into the early hours of Saturday morning to catch this brawl between two top European talents. Carvalho’s 13-8 record flatters him greatly, while Loughnane is a renowned former champion.
Both men are known for their striking, and while a finish may not be the bookies’ favourite, they are both capable of landing something big to knock the other’s lights out. Loughnane has dedicated himself to yet another season, while Carvalho is new to the format.
It is expected that Loughnane will have too much in this fight, but the Portugese star will have a lot to say about that when they stand across from each other in the cage.