Tag: 2022 PFL Playoffs 2

Video: What is Rory MacDonald’s MMA legacy?

Rory MacDonald announced his retirement earlier this week after he was bounced from the PFL playoffs.

[autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] announced his retirement earlier this week after he was bounced from the PFL playoffs.

MacDonald came to the PFL in 2021 after a run in Bellator in which he won the welterweight title. But he went 1-2 in his first season in the promotion and lost in the semifinals of the playoffs. This year, he suffered the same fate and was knocked out by short-notice replacement underdog Dilano Taylor.

After he was denied a shot at the $1 million welterweight final for the second straight year, the Canadian hung up his gloves. At 33, it would seem he had plenty of time left in the sport. But he had his first pro fight when he still was a teenager and has been fighting professionally for nearly 17 years.

He cited that lengthy time in a grueling sport as one of the reasons he’s walking away from a career that included a King of the Cage title, 13 UFC fights, a UFC title shot and a Bellator title.

But over the past nearly eight years, “The Red King” went 5-8-1 and lost five of his final seven bouts, starting with when he dropped the Bellator welterweight title. So just what will his MMA legacy be?

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

Check out their reaction in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s full episode below.

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

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MMA Junkie Radio #3286: UFC, PFL, Bellator recaps, plus guest Joe Corley

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

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

On Episode 3,286, the guys bring on guest Joe Corley to discuss his new kickboxing league, which is hoping to attract some MMA talent. Plus, they recap the eventful results from UFC on ESPN 41, the second PFL playoff event and Bellator 284, and much more. Tune in!

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

‘One of the best fighters ever’: Twitter reacts to Rory MacDonald’s retirement announcement

Rory MacDonald was showered with support by fellow fighters and media after announcing his MMA retirement.

[autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] was showered with support by fellow fighters and media after announcing his MMA retirement on Sunday.

MacDonald (23-10-1), a former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger, had his 2022 PFL campaign brought to an end over the weekend when he was knocked out in the first round by Dilani Taylor in the playoff round in Wales.

After making his professional debut in 2005, the 33-year-old opted to call it a career after a rough stretch of results.

Given his impact on the sport, MacDonald’s announcement elicited quite a reaction from the MMA community.

Ante Delija def. Renan Ferreira at 2022 PFL Playoffs 2: Best photos

Check out these photos from Ante Delija’s TKO win over Renan Ferreira in the heavyweight semifinals at the 2022 PFL Playoffs.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag]’s TKO win over [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] in the heavyweight semifinals at the 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

PFL Playoffs 2 results: Short-notice replacement Dilano Taylor upsets Rory MacDonald for trip to final

Another set of playoff finals at heavyweight and welterweight are set after the PFL’s first overseas trip.

Another set of playoff finals are set after the PFL’s first overseas trip.

The 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 event took place Saturday at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, with semifinal fights at heavyweight and welterweight. Check out the results from those playoff fights below.

Sadibou Sy def. Carlos Leal at 2022 PFL Playoffs 2: Best photos

Check out these photos from Sadibou Sy’s unanimous decision win over Carlos Leal in the 2022 PFL welterweight playoffs.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Carlos Leal[/autotag] in the welterweight semifinals at the 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

2022 PFL Playoffs 2 live and official results

The 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 event takes place Saturday, and you can join us for official results beginning at 11 a.m. ET (8 a.m. PT).

The 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 event takes place Saturday, and you can join us for official results beginning at 11 a.m. ET (8 a.m. PT).

The event takes place at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+ and ahead of post-lim qualifiers on ESPN+.

In the main event, No. 1 welterweight seed and former Bellator champion Rory MacDonald (23-9-1) meets late replacement Dilano Taylor (9-2). Taylor stepped in for Magomed Umalatov on Thursday after Umalatov had visa issues. In the second welterweight semifinal on the main card, No. 2 seed Sadibou Sy (11-6-2) takes on Carlos Leal (17-3).

At heavyweight, No. 2 Ante Delija (21-5) takes on No. 3 Renan Ferreira (9-3). In the other heavyweight semifinal, Juan Adams (10-4) stepped in Thursday as a late replacement for No. 1 seed Denis Goltsov. He’ll take on Matheus Scheffel (16-8), who himself was an alternate.

Official 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 2 p.m. ET)

  • Dilano Taylor def. Rory MacDonald via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:59 – welterweight semifinal
  • Ante Delija def. Renan Ferreira via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:31 – heavyweight semifinal
  • Matheus Scheffel def. Juan Adams via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 3:45 – heavyweight semifinal
  • Sadibou Sy def. Carlos Leal via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) – welterweight semifinal
  • Nathan Kelly def. Ben Ellis via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:45 – 2023 European Series qualifier

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, noon ET)

  • Josh O’Connor def. Emran Sakhizaada via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:56
  • Marcin Wojcik def. Mick Stanton via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:04
  • Chris Mixan def. Christian Stigenberg via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Szymon Bajor def. Ronny Markes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-27)

POSTLIM CARD (ESPN+, 4:30 p.m. ET)

  • Lee Chadwick def. Przemyslaw Mysiala via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Will Fleury def. Anthony Salamone via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)
  • Radu Maxim def. Vojto Barborik via submission (injury) – Round 1:15
  • Moktar Benkaci vs. Francesco Nuzzi declared no contest (accidental eye poke by Benkaci) – Round 2, 4:10

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2022 PFL Playoffs 2 predictions: Will Rory MacDonald roll into the $1 million welterweight final?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 semifinals in the welterweight and heavyweight divisions.

MacDonald
vs.
Taylor		 Delija
vs.
Ferreira		 Adams
vs.
Scheffel		 Sy
vs.
Leal
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
131-79		 macdonald2022
MacDonald
(76%)		 ferreira2022
Ferreira
(52%)		 adams2022
Adams
(51%)		 leal2022
Leal
(67%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
143-72
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 delija2022
Delija		 scheffel2022
Scheffel		 leal2022
Leal
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
139-76		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 delija2022
Delija		 scheffel2022
Scheffel		 leal2022
Leal
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
137-78
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 delija2022
Delija		 scheffel2022
Scheffel		 leal2022
Leal
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
135-80		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 adams2022
Adams		 sy2022
Sy
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
132-83		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 adams2022
Adams		 sy2022
Sy
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
131-84		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 adams2022
Adams		 leal2022
Leal
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
130-85		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 delija2022
Delija		 scheffel2022
Scheffel		 leal2022
Leal
Nolan King
@mma_kings
127-88		 taylor2022
Taylor		 delija2022
Delija		 scheffel2022
Scheffel		 leal2022
Leal
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
126-89
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 delija2022
Delija		 scheffel2022
Scheffel		 leal2022
Leal
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
117-98		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 adams2022
Adams		 leal2022
Leal
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
104-111		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 adams2022
Adams		 leal2022
Leal

The PFL is back for the second of three sets of playoff semifinals. This week, welterweights and heavyweights are on the docket.

The 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 event takes place Saturday at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+ and ahead of post-lim qualifiers on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, No. 1 welterweight seed and former Bellator champion [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] (23-9-1) meets late replacement [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (9-2). Taylor stepped in for Magomed Umalatov on Thursday after Umalatov had visa issues. MacDonald is -205 at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Taylor is +155. All but one of our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are siding with MacDonald to move on to the final.

At heavyweight, No. 2 [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (21-5) takes on No. 3 [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (9-3). It’s a pick’em fight at the betting window, and it’s close with our staff members, as well. Delija has the slimmest possible 6-5 lead in the picks.

In the other heavyweight semifinal, [autotag]Juan Adams[/autotag] (10-4) stepped in Thursday as a late replacement for No. 1 seed Denis Goltsov. He’ll take on [autotag]Matheus Scheffel[/autotag] (16-8), who himself was an alternate. Adams is a big -250 favorite, despite his late notice, but it’s Scheffel with a 6-5 narrow edge from our staff members.

And in the second welterweight semifinal on the main card, No. 2 seed [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] (11-6-2) takes on [autotag]Carlos Leal[/autotag] (17-3). Sy is a slim favorite at -120, but Leal has a major lead in the picks at 9-2.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, MacDonald (76 percent), Ferreira (52 percent), Adams (51 percent) and Leal (67 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Playoffs 2.

2022 PFL Playoffs 2 weigh-in results: MacDonald, Taylor on mark for headliner in Wales

Check out the results from the official 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 fighter weigh-ins in Cardiff, Wales.

The weigh-ins are in the books for the PFL’s second playoff event of the 2022 season, and all the fighters hit their marks.

Top welterweight seed Rory MacDonald (23-9-1), a former Bellator champion who is gunning for a title in a second major promotion, got a late replacement opponent in Dilano Taylor (9-2) on Thursday. Taylor wasn’t affected on the scale. He weighed in at 169 pounds for the headliner. MacDonald was 171.

In the other welterweight semifinal, No. 2 seed Sadibou Sy (11-6-2) was 171 for his fight with No. 3 Carlos Leal (17-3), who was 171, as well.

In the heavyweight semifinals, No. 1 seed Denis Goltsov was forced out of the playoffs due to visa issues from Russia to the United Kingdom and was replaced by Juan Adams (10-4), who was 265 pounds for his fight with Matheus Scheffel (16-8), who was 259. Scheffel Scheffel was a late addition to the heavyweight playoffs when No. 4 Bruno Cappelozza was forced out.

And on the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Ante Delija (21-5) was 242 for his fight with No. 3 Renan Ferreira (9-3), who was 257.

The 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 event takes place Saturday at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+ and ahead of post-lim qualifiers on ESPN+.

The complete PFL Playoffs 2 weigh-in results included:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 1 p.m. ET)

  • Rory MacDonald (171) vs. Dilano Taylor (169) – welterweight semifinal
  • Ante Delija (242) vs. Renan Ferreira (257) – heavyweight semifinal
  • Juan Adams (265) vs. Matheus Scheffel (259) – heavyweight semifinal
  • Sadibou Sy (171) vs. Carlos Leal (171) – welterweight semifinal
  • Ben Ellis (145) vs. Nathan Kelly (146)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 11 a.m. ET)

  • Josh O’Connor (154) vs. Emran Sakhizaada (155)
  • Mick Stanton (204) vs. Marcin Wojcik (205)
  • Chris Mixan (170) vs. Christian Stigenberg (170)
  • Szymon Bajor (236) vs. Ronny Markes (245)
  • Lee Chadwick (205) vs. Przemyslaw Mysiala (205)

POSTLIM CARD (ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)

  • Will Fleury (205) vs. Anthony Salamone (203)
  • Vojto Barborik (154) vs. Radu Maxim (155)
  • Moktar Benkaci (134) vs. Francesco Nuzzi (135)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Playoffs 2.

2022 PFL Playoffs 2: Make your predictions for Rory MacDonald vs. Dilano Taylor (UPDATED)

We want your predictions for Friday’s second PFL playoff event of the 2022 season in Wales, which features welterweights and heavyweights.

We want your predictions for Friday’s 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 event in New York.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. The 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 event takes place Friday at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+ and ahead of post-lim qualifiers on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the playoff fights below.