Tag: 2024 PFL 4

2024 PFL 4 winner Denis Goltsov: Thiago Santos ‘didn’t really feel that strong’

Denis Goltsov had no issues handling Thiago Santos.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] had no issues handling [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag].

Goltsov (34-8) needed less than three minutes to TKO Santos (22-13-1) in their heavyweight bout Thursday at 2024 PFL 4 from Mohegan Sun.

Santos stepped in on short to replace Sergey Bilostenniy in what was his heavyweight debut.

“He didn’t really feel that strong,” Goltsov told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter in the post-fight scrum. “Once I was like a backpack on him, and I was controlling him, I was able to really mount him and control him and be on top. I was always in a good position.”

Goltsov was unfazed by the opponent change.

“It’s something I’m used to,” Goltsov said. “They always change opponents on me two, three times. It doesn’t matter.”

With the finish, Goltsov secured the No. 1 seed in the heavyweight playoffs. But having fallen short to claim the $1 million on multiple occasions, the 34-year-old won’t get too excited just yet.

“I’m talking like a true veteran of PFL: It doesn’t really matter,” Goltsov said. “First fights doesn’t mean anything. You just have to go. First fights doesn’t matter. You have to go and win and show everything you can do.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL 4.

2024 PFL 4 video: Dakota Ditcheva wallops Chelsea Hackett for quick TKO, secures No. 1 seed

One of the PFL’s fastest-rising stars, Dakota Ditcheva remains on an upward trajectory.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – At one point during her 2024 PFL 4 bout Thursday, [autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] was a 40-to-1 favorite. Moments later, she proved why.

In the co-main event at Mohegan Sun, Ditcheva (12-0) notched another first-round TKO when she blasted [autotag]Chelsea Hackett[/autotag] (4-3-1) with a series of punches for a TKO stoppage at 3:22 of Round 1.

Ditcheva earned another six points for the first-round stoppage and solidified her position as the No. 1 seed in the women’s flyweight playoffs. She’ll face Jena Bishop in the first round of the playoffs.

Ditcheva, 25, continues her trajectory as one of the promotion’s fastest-rising stars. With the win, she moved to 7-0 under the PFL banner and maintained her 100 percent finishing rate in the promotion.

The up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL 4 results include:

  • Denis Goltsov def. Thiago Santos via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:22
  • Liz Carmouche def. Kana Watanabe via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 4:52
  • Taila Santos def. Taila Santos via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Oleg Popov def. Davion Franklin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
  • Tyrell Fortune def. Marcelo Golm via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
  • Ilara Joanne def. Shanna Young via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Tim Johnson def. Danilo Marques via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:14
  • Juliana Velasquez def. Lisa Mauldin via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 1:30
  • Sumiko Inaba def. Saray Orozco via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL 4.

2024 PFL 4 video: Liz Carmouche beats buzzer with armbar of Kana Watanabe, clinches playoffs

Former UFC title challenger Liz Carmouche has arguably never looked better.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Over 13 years into her professional career, [autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] might be hitting new highs with nine straight wins.

At 2024 PFL 4 on Thursday, Carmouche (22-7) submitted [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (13-3-1) with eight seconds left in the fight to earn four points and clinch her spot in the women’s flyweight playoffs. The stoppage came at 4:52 of Round 3. The fight took place at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Carmouche was on the bottom, in guard, when she threw up a lightning-fast submission attempt and locked it in. The tap came mere seconds later.

The fight was a rematch of a June 2021 bout in Bellator that Carmouche also won. That one was by 35-second standing TKO.

The up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL 4 results include:

  • Liz Carmouche def. Kana Watanabe via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 4:52
  • Taila Santos def. Taila Santos via split decision
  • Oleg Popov def. Davion Franklin via unanimous decision
  • Tyrell Fortune def. Marcelo Golm via unanimous decision
  • Ilara Joanne def. Shanna Young via unanimous decision
  • Tim Johnson def. Danilo Marques via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:14
  • Juliana Velasquez def. Lisa Mauldin via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 1:30
  • Sumiko Inaba def. Saray Orozco via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL 4.