Video: Thoughts – and even a few guarantees – on the 2022 PFL playoffs

The PFL Playoffs get underway Friday in New York where Anthony Pettis is in action against Stevie Ray in a lightweight semifinal.

The PFL is back this week with a pair of semifinal bouts in the lightweight and light heavyweight divisions to kick off its 2022 playoffs.

Key among those four fights in New York is a rematch between former UFC and WEC champ Anthony Pettis and Stevie Ray, who upset Pettis in the regular season – which Pettis said he went into lackadaisically because he already had secured the top playoff position no matter the outcome.

Pettis signed with the PFL in 2021 and had a disappointing season and fell short of the playoffs. Can he right the ship with a win over Ray to reach the final? And what might happen in the other playoff brackets?

That’s what we asked our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Matthew Wells, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura, along with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

Check out their breakdown in the video above. And don’t miss this week’s full episode in the video below.

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Spinning Back Clique: Regained titles for Nunes, Moreno at UFC 277, PFL playoffs, more

“Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show, discusses Amanda Nunes and Brandon Moreno’s title wins at UFC 277 and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

Our panel of Matthew Wells, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura discuss five topics with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

  • [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] dominated Julianna Peña to recapture the women’s bantamweight title in the UFC 277 main event – though Peña got off plenty of offense, too. After seeing the second fight, was Peña’s first win over Nunes, a submission at UFC 269, merely a fluke? Do we need to see a third title fight between them? And if so, how soon?
  • [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] won the interim flyweight title at UFC 277. Afterward, champ [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag], who is on the shelf a while longer, was brought into the cage for a faceoff and confrontation with Moreno. It was very civil and both fighters showed good sportsmanship, but UFC president Dana White said he had second thoughts about it because it took some shine away from Moreno. So are we fans of those immediate post-fight moments, or should they go away?
  • [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] picked up arguably the biggest win of his career when he took out former heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis at UFC 277. He did it in less than a minute, and though there was controversy around how quickly referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight, there’s no denying Pavlovich put some fast offense on Lewis and put him on the canvas with his fists. At 16-1 with 13 finishes, and 11 in the first round, who should Pavlovich fight next on his ascension up the UFC’s heavyweight ladder – and what’s his ceiling?
  • Amanda Nunes recaptured the UFC women’s bantamweight title and now is a dual champion again. But what’s going on with her featherweight belt? There doesn’t seem to be an obviously next challenger for that title – at leats not one in the UFC with Kayla Harrison in the PFL and Cris Cyborg in Bellator. Should the UFC keep 145 around for the women, or should they put it on the shelf?
  • The PFL’s playoffs start up this week with semifinal fights in the lightweight and light heavyweight divisions. The highest profile fight features former UFC and WEC champ [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag], who meets [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] in a rematch after Ray upset Pettis in their second regular season fight. Who do we like in this first set of playoff bouts in New York?

“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Tuesday on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch the full episode in the video above.

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How to watch 2022 PFL Playoffs 1: Who’s fighting, lineup, start time, broadcast info

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 in New York.

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The PFL postseason kicks off this week with 2022 PFL Playoffs 1, which features lightweights and light heavyweights in action for the third time this year.

Here’s how to watch PFL Playoffs 1, with a complete lineup and breakdown by division.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Playoffs 1.

MMA Junkie Radio #3281: Guests Anthony Pettis and Joey Diaz, UFC 277 preview

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.


Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,281, the guys welcome in guests [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] and comedian Joey Diaz. They also look ahead to Saturday’s UFC in Dallas and discuss the latest MMA news. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Anthony Pettis vs. Stevie Ray rematch headlines PFL’s playoff-opening card in New York

The lineup is set for the PFL’s first set of playoff fights next month in New York.

The lineup is set for the PFL’s first set of playoff fights next month in New York.

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] (25-13) remained the top lightweight seed despite an upset loss to [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (24-10) two weeks ago. Ray’s win made him the No. 4 seed – which set up a rematch with Pettis in the four-man playoff field.

On the other side of the lightweight playoff bracket, No. 2 seed [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (15-5) takes on No. 3 [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag] (10-2). The winners of those two fights will meet in the $1 million lightweight season final in October.

In the light heavyweight playoffs, there’s been a significant shakeup. No. 3 seed [autotag]Antonio Carlos Jr.[/autotag] (15-5) is out of his fight against American Top Team teammate and No. 2 seed [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (23-7-1), the PFL announced Friday. Stepping in for Junior is another one of Akhmedov’s teammates at American Top Team, [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] (9-0), who finished the regular season in fifth place and was an alternate.

Top light heavyweight seed [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (15-2) will take on No. 4 [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (9-2) on the other half of the bracket.

The PFL’s first set of playoff fights take place Aug. 5 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The four-fight main card of playoff matchups airs on ESPN. A two-fight set of prelims and four fights after the main card stream on ESPN+.

The playoffs continue later in August with welterweights and heavyweights on tap Aug. 13 in Cardiff, Wales, and women’s lightweights and featherweights set for Aug. 20 in London.

The PFL 2022 Playoffs 1 card includes:

POSTLIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cory Hendricks[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Adam Keresh[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcelo Nunes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ricardo Jimenez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brahyan Zurcher[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Elvin Espinosa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Corey Jackson[/autotag]

MAIN CARD (ESPN)

  • No. 1 Anthony Pettis vs. No. 4 Stevie Ray – lightweight semifinal
  • No. 2 Omari Akhmedov vs. No. 5 Josh Silveira – light heavyweight semifinal
  • No. 2 Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. N. 3 Alexander Martinez – lightweight semifinal
  • No. 1 Robert Wilkinson vs. No. 4 Delan Monte – light heavyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • [autotag]Elvis Lebron[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexei Pergande[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lucas Barbosa[/autotag] vs. TBA

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