Ante Delija – Page 2 – Syndication Server

2022 PFL Championships medical suspensions: 10 fighters ruled out indefinitely

The 2022 PFL Championships took place Friday in New York, and all 24 fighters on the card received medical suspensions.

The 2022 PFL Championships took place this past Friday at Hulu Theatre in New York and featured six $1 million title fights among other bouts.

Atop the card was a shocking upset, with [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] defeating [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] to claim the women’s lightweight title. Other championship winners included [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag], [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag], [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag], [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag], and Rob [autotag]Wilkinson[/autotag].

On Monday, the New York State Athletic Commission, which oversaw the event, released medical suspension durations to MMA Junkie, which show all 24 combatants suspended at least one week – with two fighters out 90 days. MMA Fighting first reported the suspensions.

The NYSAC has a policy against revealing the fighters’ specific injuries to the public.

See below to find out the medical suspension durations for the 2022 PFL Championships combatants. It’s important to note that athletes are allowed to return prior to completion of the suspension if they are cleared earlier by a doctor.

Ante Delija proud to bring PFL heavyweight title to Croatia: ‘It’s a big deal’

Croatia has a PFL champion.

[autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] is happy for his latest win and that’s beyond personal reasons.

The Croatian fighter won the 2022 PFL heavyweight title, defeating Matheus Scheffel by TKO just a few minutes into their contest on Friday night in New York. With the win, Delija (23-5) took the 2022 heavyweight title and the $1 million prize that came with winning the season.

But perhaps the most important part of it all, is that Croatia has a champion in a major MMA promotion.

“To the Croatian MMA, I think it’s a big deal,” Delija told reporters at the post-fight press conference (via MMA Sucka). “I’m proud to bring this title to Croatia. This is an American belt, and this means a lot.”

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Delija also made it to the final last year, but came up short against Bruno Cappelozza in a unanimous decision. The 32-year-old believes he didn’t showcase his full self as a fighter that night, but he did this time around.

“This was a big experience for me last year, five rounds, a big war,” Delija said. “I grew up as a fighter because of the loss last year. I was in 60 percent last year, I added the 40 percent this year, and now with 100 percent I got the title.”

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

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2022 PFL Championships live and official results

Check out the results from the 2022 PFL Championships, where six $1 million champs will be crowned in New York.

The final event of the 2022 PFL season takes place on Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York, and MMA Junkie will keep you updated with live results throughout the event.

The 2022 PFL Championships event features 12 fights, including all six divisional finals for a $1 million grand prize.

In the main event, undefeated two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (15-0) goes for a title three-peat at women’s lightweight when she clashes with [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (18-4), whom Harrison has already defeated twice before.

The co-headliner will see [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (24-4) and [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-5) clash for the featherweight championship, while elsewhere on the card [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-3) makes her promotional debut vs. former Bellator titleholder [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (16-4) at women’s featherweight, plus much more.

Full results of 2022 PFL Championship include:

Ante Delija knocks out Matheus Scheffel again to win 2022 PFL heavyweight season

It only really took one shot for Ante Delija to take care of Matheus Scheffel and make himself $1 million richer.

It only really took one shot for [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] to take care of [autotag]Matheus Scheffel[/autotag] and make himself $1 million richer.

Delija (23-5) needed a handful more to put away Scheffel (17-9), but one key punch started the sequence that put Scheffel on the canvas. Then Delija pounced on the chance to get the finish in his second shot at a PFL title.

Once Delija had Scheffel backed against the fence, he was patient. He landed some precision punches until Scheffel fell to the canvas, and then he was relentless to get the finish and PFL’s 2022 heavyweight crown, which came with a $1 million prize.

Delija was the 2021 heavyweight runner-up to Bruno Cappelozza. He lost to him to open his 2021 season, then again in the final. In 2022, though, he knocked out Scheffel in his first fight of the season, then closed the season with another knockout of him for a big turnaround after 2021’s disappointment.

REDEMPTION FOR ANTE DELIJA! HE IS NOW THE 2022 PFL HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION!

[#PFLWorldChampionship | BUY NOW https://t.co/9tors6rrKk | LIVE ON ESPN+ PPV] pic.twitter.com/oKncVXa6aY

— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 26, 2022

The 2022 PFL finals took place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York.

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

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Ante Delija def. Matheus Scheffel at 2022 PFL Championships: Best Photos

Check out the best photos from Ante Delija’s first-round knockout win over Matheus Scheffel to win the 2022 PFL heavyweight title.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag]’s first-round knockout win over [autotag]Matheus Scheffel[/autotag] at the 2022 PFL Championships at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photos courtesy of the PFL)

2022 PFL Championship predictions: Who are our two unanimous picks in $1 million finals?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2022 PFL Championships, which feature six $1 million playoff finals.

	Harrison vs. Pacheco	Jenkins vs. Loughnane	Delija vs. Scheffel	Budd vs. Ladd	Aubin-Mercier vs. Ray	Sy vs. Taylor	Akhmedov vs. Wilkinson
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 186-109	Harrison (81%)	Jenkins (51%)	Delija (77%)	Budd (57%)	Aubin-Mercier (81%)	Sy (56%)	Wilkinson (56%)
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 196-104 2018 Champion	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Akhmedov
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 187-113	Harrison	Jenkins	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Wilkinson
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 186-114	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Akhmedov
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 183-117	Harrison	Jenkins	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Wilkinson
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 183-117 2014 Champion	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Akhmedov
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 181-119	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Wilkinson
Simon Samano @SJSamano 178-122	Pacheco	Jenkins	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Wilkinson
Nolan King @mma_kings 173-127	Harrison	Jenkins	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Taylor	Wilkinson
Brian Garcia @thegoze 172-128 2017 Champion	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Ladd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Wilkinson
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 163-137	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Wilkinson
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 146-154	Harrison	Loughnane	Delija	Budd	Aubin-Mercier	Sy	Akhmedov

The PFL closes out its 2022 season with six $1 million playoff finals this week.

The 2022 PFL finals take place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, two-time women’s lightweight season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (15-0) goes after her third crown when she meets [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (18-4) for the third time. Harrison is 2-0 against the Brazilian. Harrison is a massive 8-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Pacheco is +470. But not all of our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are taking Harrison. One of our pickers has Pacheco in a big upset.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-5) takes on [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (25-4) in the featherweight final. Loughnane is a -180 favorite and has a 7-4 lead in our picks.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (22-5) is a heavy -350 favorite in the heavyweight season final against [autotag]Matheus Scheffel[/autotag] (17-8). Delija, the 2021 runner-up, is one of our two unanimous picks at 11-0.

In a non-playoff showcase fight, former Bellator women’s featherweight champion [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (16-4) takes on [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-3), who recently was released by the UFC and signed with the PFL. Ladd is a -230 favorite at the betting window, but it’s Budd who has a narrow 6-5 edge from our pickers.

In the lightweight season final, [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (16-5) is a big -420 favorite against [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (25-10) and is our second unanimous pick.

[autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] (12-6-2) takes on [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (10-2) in the welterweight final. Sy nearly is a 2-1 favorite, but he has just a slim 6-5 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (24-7-1) meets 2-1 favorite [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (16-2) in the light heavyweight final. Australia’s Wilkinson has a 7-4 lead from our staff pickers.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Harrison (81 percent), Jenkins (51 percent), Delija (77 percent), Budd (57 percent), Aubin-Mercier (81 percent), Sy (56 percent) and Wilkinson (74 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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

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2022 PFL Championships lineup set for pay-per-view, includes 6 title fights and more

2022 PFL Championships feature six title fights, former UFC contenders, and Muhammad Ali’s grandson on the promotion’s first pay-per-view.

The finale of the 2022 PFL postseason is set.

2022 PFL Championships takes place Friday, Nov. 25 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, the promotion announced Wednesday. The eight-fight main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view (8 p.m. ET) after the four-fight undercard on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET).

While there are no surprises in terms of the six $1 million title fight matchups, which were configured during the post-season, a handful of showcase bouts were also added to the card – including one amateur bout involving the grandson of a boxing icon.

The event marks the first time the promotion has put on a pay-per-view card.

See below to check out the full 2022 PFL Championships lineup, with two bouts still to be added, according to promotion officials.

2022 PFL Championships: A look at the 12 finalists

A dozen 2022 PFL finalists will compete in championship bouts this November, including Kayla Harrison, five UFC alums and an alternate.

Dozens of fighters started out in the 2022 PFL season with the goal of fighting for the championship – and million dollar prize that comes with it.

In the back half of 2022, only two fighters in each weight class remain, totaling a dozen overall. Some suffered losses during the season and rebounded. Others were inserted mid-season, rallied, and capitalized. One fighter even won two short-notice outings as an alternate to clinch his spot in the final.

Each finalist had their own unique journey and now are on the verge of becoming millionaires with a single punch or kick – or a 15-minute all-out war. Fate is in their hands.

2022 PFL Championships are scheduled for Nov. 25 at a yet-to-be-announced location in the U.S.. Scroll below to see who the 12 finalists are and learn about their 2022 journeys toward the finals.

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)

Dec 28, 2019; Orlando, Florida, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Chase Claypool (83) celebrates after being named MVP of the Camping World Bowl after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

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