Tag: Denis Goltsov

2024 PFL Championship: Denis Goltsov sleeps Oleg Popov from bottom, calls for Francis Ngannou

A PFL heavyweight champion was crowned in under three minutes and then called for Francis Ngannou.

[autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] is $1 million richer thanks to a slick triangle choke submission.

The 2024 PFL Championship main card opener Friday, Goltsov (36-8) was taken down in the opening seconds, but within a few minutes had opponent [autotag]Oleg Popov[/autotag] (19-2) snoozing on top of him. The technical submission stoppage came at 2:55 of Round 1 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

With the win, Goltsov is the 2024 PFL heavyweight champion and walks away seven figures richer. The victory topped off a perfect 4-0 run in PFL in 2024. He defeated Linton Vassell, Thiago Santos, and Tim Johnson prior to Friday’s fight.

After the fight, Goltsov called for a crack at Francis Ngannou, who has one bout remaining on his PFL deal.

With the loss, Popov has a 17-fight winning streak snapped. The 2024 season marked Popov’s first in PFL after being imported from Bellator. Popov defeated Steve Mowry, Davion Franklin, and Vassell to earn Friday’s opportunity.

Up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL Championship results include:

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

Denis Goltsov vs. Oleg Popov prediction, pick, start time for 2024 PFL Championship

Who has the edge with $1 million on the line in the 2024 heavyweight final?

[autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] and [autotag]Oleg Popov[/autotag] meet Saturday for the heavyweight $1 million title at the 2024 PFL Championship. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup.

Denis Goltsov vs. Oleg Popov 2024 PFL Championship preview

Denis Goltsov def. Tim Johnson – 2024 PFL 7: Nashville Playoffs

The 34-year-old Goltsov (35-8) will be going after a bit of redemption. He reached the 2023 playoff final against Renan Ferreira, but was knocked out in the second round. On his road back, he finished Linton Vassell with a third-round knockout to open the 2024 season, then knocked out Thiago Santos and Timothy Johnson in less than half a round each.

Oleg Popov def. Davion Franklin at 2024 PFL 4

Popov (19-1), a 32-year-old Russian, has not lost in eight years. His current 17-fight winning streak will be on the line against his countryman. After a knockout of former UFC heavyweight Antonio Silva in 2022 and a Bellator win in 20023, Popov knocked out prospect Steve Mowry in April, then outworked Davion Franklin and Vassell to reach the final.

Denis Goltsov vs. Oleg Popov 2024 PFL Championship odds

From a betting standpoint, Goltsov-Popov is the closest pick on the main card. The fight started at near pick’em range, but has settled in with Popov as a slight favorite around as high as -150. The best comeback price on Goltsov is +125.

Denis Goltsov vs. Oleg Popov 2024 PFL Championship expert pick, prediction

2024 PFL Championships faceoff off between Denis Goltsov vs Oleg Popov during the ceremonial weigh-ins at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)

Our staff members were as down-the-middle as they could be, too, and had Goltsov with a 6-5 edge over Popov in the picks.

Denis Goltsov vs. Oleg Popov 2024 PFL Championship start time, how to watch

As the main card opener, Goltsov and Popov are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 1:15 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+.

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

Denis Goltsov def. Tim Johnson at 2024 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos

Check out these photos from Denis Goltsov vs. Tim Johnson at 2024 PFL Playoffs 1 in Nashville, Tenn.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag]’s victory over Tim Johnson in their heavyweight semifinals bout at 2024 PFL Playoffs 1, which took place at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. (Photos by Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)

2024 PFL Playoffs 1 weigh-in results: Liz Carmouche first career miss among four heavy

Check out the full 2024 PFL Playoffs 1 weigh-in results, which includes Liz Carmouche missing weight for the first time in her career.

The PFL playoffs get underway Friday, and a few fighters missed weight at the official weigh-ins for 2024 PFL Playoffs 1.

Friday’s event (ESPN/ESPN+), which takes place at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., features heavyweight and women’s flyweight playoff bouts on the main card.

In the main event, No. 1 seed [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] (34-8) takes on [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] (18-9). The co-main event features a women’s flyweight bout between undefeated No. 1 seed [autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] (12-0) and [autotag]Jena Bishop[/autotag] (7-1).

The lone fighter to come in heavy at the official weigh-ins was [autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] (22-7), who missed weight for the first time in her career, weighing in at 127 pounds. For the miss, she will be deducted one point on the scorecards in her bout against fellow UFC vet Taila Santos, and will be fined 20 percent of her purse.

The one-point deduction will only be for league advancement purposes, and will not affect the official commission result, per PFL officials.

Also, three other prelim fighters came in heavy: Sergio Cossio, Jaleel Willis and Anthony Ivy.

[vertical-gallery id=2759432]

The full 2024 PFL Playoffs 1 official weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Denis Goltsov (247.6) vs. Tim Johnson (265.8)
  • Dakota Ditcheva (125.2) vs. Jena Bishop (125.2)
  • Oleg Popov (247.2) vs. Linton Vassell (248)
  • Taila Santos (125.2) vs. Liz Carmouche (127)*

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Tyrell Fortune (255.6) vs. Sergey Bilostenniy (249.6)
  • Alexei Pergande (146) vs. Daniel Boehle (145.2)
  • Cody Law (145.4) vs. Zachary Hicks (145.6)
  • Sergio Cossio (162.8)** vs. Dedrek Sanders (155.2)
  • Jaleel Willis (172.6)*** vs. Anthony Ivy (172.8)***
  • Kevin Pease (169.2) vs. Nick Meck (170.2)

*Carmouche missed the 125-pound flyweight limit. She will receive a 1-point deduction on the scorecards should her fight against Santos go to a decision. Carmouche also forfeits 20 percent of her show purse to Santos.
**Cossio missed the 155-pound lightweight limit. He forfeits 20 percent of his show purse to Sanders.
***Willis and Ivy both missed the 170-pound welterweight limit. 

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 1.

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.”

[lawrence-related id=2748042,2747669]

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

PFL names its top 10 knockouts of the 2023 season

Relive the PFL’s best knockouts of the year with this video ranking the top 10.

Some nasty knockouts were on display this year in the PFL.

From [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag]’s masterful spinning wheel kick in the playoffs to [autotag]Cedric Doumbe[/autotag]’s PFL debut, there were plenty of quality finishes in the smart cage. And now with the season over, the promotion ranked its best knockouts as the following:

1. Sadibou Sy def. Shane Mitchell
2. Cedric Doumbe def. Jordan Zebo
3. [autotag]Amber Leibrock[/autotag] def. Martina Jindrova
4. [autotag]Jesus Pinedo[/autotag] def. Brendan Loughnane
5. [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] def. Yorgan De Castro
6. [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] def. Maurice Greene
7. [autotag]Carlos Leal[/autotag] vs. Dilano Taylor
8. [autotag]Lewis McGrillen[/autotag] def. Salih Culucan
9. [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] def. Olena Kolesnyk
10. [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] def. Marthin Hamlet

You can watch the replay of the top 10 PFL knockouts in the video above.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030792]

Renan Ferreira def. Denis Goltsov at 2023 PFL Championship: Best photos

Check out these photos from Renan Ferreira vs. Denis Goltsov at 2023 PFL Championship for the heavyweight title.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag]’s victory over Denis Goltsov at 2023 PFL Championship at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. (Photos by Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)

Renan Ferreira rallies, pounds out Denis Goltsov to win heavyweight crown | 2023 PFL Championship Fight Night HQ

No. 1 seed Denis Goltsov (32-7) meets No. 2 Renan Ferreira (11-4) in the PFL’s heavyweight season championship.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The PFL crowned its newest $1 million heavyweight winner Friday.

No. 1 seed [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] (32-7) met No. 2 [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (11-4) in the heavyweight season championship at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.

Go inside the matchup below, from the backstory and the buildup through the end of the fight itself, with stats, photos, preview videos, highlight videos, quotes, recaps and more.

The story will update throughout the fight and event.

Dan Hardy sees Denis Goltsov, Renan Ferreira as ‘interesting problems’ for Francis Ngannou

Dan Hardy expects the winner of Denis Goltsov vs. Renan Ferreira to be Francis Ngannou’s PFL debut opponent.

[autotag]Dan Hardy[/autotag] expects the winner of [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] to be [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]’s PFL debut opponent.

Goltsov (32-7) takes on Ferreira (11-3) in Friday’s heavyweight final at 2023 PFL Championship, which takes place at The Anthem in Washington D.C. The main card airs on pay-per-view (ESPN+) following prelims on ESPN+.

Hardy thinks both Goltsov and Ferreira have the ability to trouble former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou, and sees them as worthy opponents.

“They would be a clear option for us, and I think both of them are interesting problems for Ngannou – especially with Goltsov and his experience,” Hardy told MMA Junkie Radio. “He’s got great footwork, he’s got great boxing skills (and) probably the best jab in mixed martial arts – certainly the heavyweight divisions. I think he’s very problematic, especially given the fact that he’s got the ground game to match if he chooses to use it.

“And then Ferreira, his nickname (‘Problema’), kind of says it all. He’s problematic on a multitude of levels. Now he’s working at ATT, you know his ground game, his grappling skills are on the rise. That’s going to give him confidence in his striking. Just the size and the reach of the individual, his ability to cover distance, and cover distance with accurate strikes. Whether it’s kicks or punches. They’re both very, very dangerous individuals.”

According to BetMGM, Ferreira is a +200 underdog, meaning a $100 bet on The Brazilian would net a $200 profit. Goltsov is a -250 favorite, meaning a $250 bet would be needed on the sambo champion to return $100 profit. But Hardy thinks the fight is closer than the odds suggest.

“We could run this heavyweight fight back a few times and we could get very different results each time,” Hardy said. “I think both of them are good contenders for Ngannou in the future, but certainly the one that wins is most likely going to be the frontrunner.”

[lawrence-related id=2698171,2671555,2687496]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Championship.