Tag: Dilano Taylor

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.

Dilano Taylor def. Rory MacDonald at 2022 PFL Playoffs 2: Best photos

Check out these photos from Dilano Taylor’s TKO win over Rory MacDonald in the welterweight semifinals of the 2022 PFL Playoffs.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag]’s TKO win over [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] in the welterweight semifinals at the 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

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.

With Magomed Umalatov out, Dilano Taylor steps in to face Rory MacDonald at 2022 PFL Playoffs 2

Rory MacDonald has a new opponent for his PFL welterweight semifinals bout.

[autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] has a new opponent for his PFL semifinals bout.

Magomed Umalatov has been forced out of 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 due to visa issues, and [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (9-2) will step in on short notice to face MacDonald (23-9-1) on Saturday’s card, which takes place 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+.

That’s one of two major changes to the card. Also forced to withdraw is top-seeded heavyweight Denis Goltsov, who will be replaced by former UFC fighter Juan Adams (10-4). Adams meets Matheus Scheffel (16-8) in the semifinals. Adams made his successful promotional debut in June when he stopped Sam Kei in the second round at PFL 5.

The promotion announced both changes Thursday.

Despite losing to Sadibou Sy in his past outing at PFL 6, MacDonald’s first-round submission of Brett Cooper at PFL 3 gave him six points and put him in first place of the welterweight standings.

Meanwhile, Taylaor earned a spot on this season’s roster after defeating Mark Martin at PFL Challenger Series 2. He then went on to edge out Joao Zeferino before getting stopped by Magomed Magomedkerimov and missing out on the playoffs. He will now get another opportunity when he replaces Umalatov against MacDonald.

With the changes, here is the 2022 PFL Playoffs 2 lineup:

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

  • Rory MacDonald vs. Dilano Taylor – welterweight semifinal
  • Ante Delija vs. Renan Ferreira – heavyweight semifinal
  • Juan Adams vs. Matheus Scheffel – heavyweight semifinal
  • Sadibou Sy vs. Carlos Leal – welterweight semifinal

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

  • Josh O’Connor vs. Emran Sakhizaada
  • Mohammad Fakhreddine vs. Marcin Wojcik
  • Chris Mixan vs. Christian Stigenberg
  • Szymon Bajor vs. Hatef Moeil

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

  • Will Fleury vs. Anthony Salamone
  • Ben Ellis vs. Nathan Kelly
  • Vojto Barborik vs. Maxim Radu
  • Moktar Benkaci vs. Francesco Nuzzi

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

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2022 PFL salaries from Atlanta: Anthony Pettis tops disclosed payouts despite loss; Kayla Harrison second

This marks the first time that PFL salaries have been revealed in 2022.

The back half of the 2022 PFL regular season recently took place in Atlanta with three cards in three weeks at Overtime Elite Arena.

Each card spotlighted two specific divisions. PFL 4 took place June 17 and featured men’s lightweights and light heavyweights. One week later, PFL 5 featured featherweights and heavyweights. Last Friday, PFL 6 consisted of welterweights and women’s lightweights.

On Wednesday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of disclosed show and win purses from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, the regulatory body that oversaw the events.

Former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] ($750,000) led all paydays despite a submission loss to [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag]. Two-time PFL season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] ($500,00) was second on the list, followed by former UFC title challenger and Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] ($250,000).

[autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag], [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag], [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag], [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag], and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] also received six-figure disclosed payouts.

It’s important to note that the figures given do not reflect potential “locker room” bonuses, streaming points, or promotional sponsorship payments.

Scroll below to see the complete payouts for the most recent three PFL events.

2022 PFL 6: Best photos from Atlanta

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 6 which featured Kayla Harrison, Rory MacDonald, Ray Cooper III, and more.

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 6, which took place at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, and was headlined by Kayla Harrison vs. Kaitlin Young. (Photos courtesy of PFL) (Gallery updated throughout the event.)

Photos: 2022 PFL 6 ceremonial weigh-ins

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 6 weigh-ins at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 6 weigh-ins at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

PFL 2022, Week 6 weigh-in results: Kayla Harrison, Rory MacDonald official; Dilano Taylor steps in late

The weigh-ins are in the books for the PFL’s final regular season event, and all the fighters on the card hit their marks.

The weigh-ins are in the books for the PFL’s final regular season event, and all the fighters on the card hit their marks.

In the main event, two-time women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison (13-0) takes on Kaitlin Young (12-12-1), who was a late replacement for former Bellator women’s featherweight champ Julia Budd. Young was the first fighter to the scale during the two-hour official window and was 155 pounds on the nose. Harrison weighed in at 155.6 to make their fight official.

In the co-feature, former Bellator welterweight titleholder Rory MacDonald (23-8-1) meets Sadibou Sy (10-6-2). MacDonald, who leads the welterweight standings, was 170.8 pounds; Sy came in at 170.2.

[autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (9-1) weighed in as a welterweight alternate and hit his mark at 170.8 pounds. It didn’t take long for him to be called into service, either. He’ll step in for [autotag]Joao Zeferino[/autotag] (26-10), whom he beat in May by split decision, to take on Magomed Magomedkerimov (29-6).

Women’s lightweights and welterweights are fighting Friday for their second time this season with a final chance to earn regular season points to qualify for the postseason. The four-fighter playoff fields for featherweight, lightweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight were set in the past two events.

The official PFL Week 6 weigh-in results included:

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET

  • Kayla Harrison (155.6) vs. Kaitlin Young (155)
  • Rory MacDonald (170.8) vs. Sadibou Sy (170.2)
  • Brett Cooper (170.4) vs. Ray Cooper III (170.4)
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov (170.8) vs. Dilano Taylor (170.8)
  • Genah Fabian (156) vs. Larissa Pacheco (154.6)
  • Jarrah Al-Silawi (170.4) vs. Magomed Umalatov (170.4)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Nikolay Aleksakhin (170.2) vs. Carlos Leal (170)
  • Marina Mokhnatkina (154) vs. Abigail Montes (154.8)
  • Martina Jindrova (154.8) vs. Zamzagul Fayzallanova (155)
  • Helena Kolesnyk (155.6) vs. Vanessa Melo (154.4)

2022 PFL 3: Best photos from Arlington

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 3 which took place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 3 which took place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL)

2022 PFL 3 faceoffs video: Kayla Harrison vs. Marina Mokhnatkina, Anthony Pettis, Rory MacDonald, more

Watch the pre-fight staredowns and check out the photo gallery from the 2022 PFL 3 weigh-ins.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Fighters competing at 2022 PFL 3 went face-to-face at ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of their bouts on Friday.

The 2021 PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (12-0) squared off with [autotag]Marina Mokhnatkina[/autotag] (6-2) Thursday. The two competitors are set to meet in the main event of Friday’s event, capping off the first event of the season including the women’s lightweight division.

In the co-main event, 2021 welterweight champion [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] (24-7-1) will face PFL Challenger Series newcomer [autotag]Carlos Leal[/autotag] (16-3) to close out the first event featuring 170-pound fighters.

The main card for PFL Championship airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET following the prelims on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.

Check out the pre-fight faceoffs in the video above and the photo gallery from the weigh-ins below.

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