Tag: Oleg Popov

PFL announces 2025 heavyweight and light heavyweight tournament participants

Check out the full list of participants for the 2025 PFL heavyweight and light heavyweight tournaments.

The fighters competing on this year’s PFL heavyweight and light heavyweight tournaments are set.

PFL announced on Wednesday the eight fighters that will be competing in each respective weight class, along with alternate names for the 205-pound division.

At heavyweight, most notably former interim Bellator champion [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] and recent signee in UFC veteran [autotag]Alexander Romanov[/autotag] will be participating. And at light heavyweight, former Bellator champion and UFC veteran [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] will be competing alongside former PFL champions [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Antonio Carlos Jr.[/autotag]

Below is the full list of fighters set to participate in the two biggest weight classes for the PFL 2025 tournaments.

Heavyweight:

  • Valentin Moldavsky (13-4)
  • Alexander Romanov (18-3)
  • [autotag]Oleg Popov[/autotag] (19-2)
  • [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (25-10)
  • [autotag]Sergey Bilostenniy[/autotag] (13-3)
  • [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] (18-11)
  • [autotag]Pouya Rahmani[/autotag] (4-0)
  • [autotag]Abraham Bably[/autotag] (5-1)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DG0tYhgp8Iz/?img_index=1

Light heavyweight:

  • Phil Davis (24-7)
  • Rob Wilkinson (19-3)
  • [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] (12-3)
  • [autotag]Marcelo Nunes[/autotag] (11-2)
  • Antonio Carlos Jr. (16-6)
  • [autotag]Simeon Powell[/autotag] (10-1)
  • [autotag]Karl Albrektsson[/autotag] (14-6)
  • [autotag]Sullivan Cauley[/autotag] (6-1)

** [autotag]Alex Polizzi[/autotag] (11-4) and [autotag]Rafael Xavier[/autotag] (13-8) will serve as alternates.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGyIp2EpXgg/?img_index=1

 

The PFL 2025 tournaments kick off on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1 at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. The completed brackets will be unveiled March 11 through a bracket reveal show on YouTube.

Fighters will need to win three consecutive bouts to win their respective tournaments. The tournaments winners will each receive a $500,000 bonus.

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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.

2024 PFL 4 official weigh-ins results: One heavyweight misses the limit

It’s not every day that a heavyweight misses the divisional limit, as one did ahead of PFL’s return Thursday.

The PFL regular season continues Thursday with 2024 PFL 4, and all fights are now locked in after the official weigh-ins where one combatant – a heavyweight – missed the mark.

The event, which takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., features heavyweights and women’s flyweights in their first fights of the season.

In the main event, former Bellator interim heavyweight champion [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (13-3) fights [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (24-9) for the third time. The co-main event features fast-rising star [autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] (11-0) against fellow muay Thai specialist [autotag]Chelsea Hackett[/autotag] (4-2-1).

All fighters except one made weight Thursday, as heavyweight [autotag]Davion Franklin[/autotag] tipped the scale at 268.5 pounds. His opponent, [autotag]Oleg Popov[/autotag] weighed 245 pounds – 23.5 pounds less.

The full 2024 PFL 4 official weigh-ins results include:

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

  • Valentin Moldavsky (243) vs. Linton Vassell (231.5)
  • Dakota Ditcheva (125.5) vs. Chelsea Hackett (125.75)
  • Denis Goltsov (243) vs. Thiago Santos (241)
  • Liz Carmouche (126) vs. Kana Watanabe (125.75)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Jena Bishop (125) vs. Taila Santos (125.75)
  • Davion Franklin (268.5)* vs. Oleg Popov (245)
  • Tyrell Fortune (253) vs. Marcelo Golm (266)
  • Ilara Joanne (125.5) vs. Shanna Young (126)
  • Tim Johnson (266) vs. Danilo Marques (248.25)
  • Lisa Mauldin (125.5) vs. Juliana Velasquez (125.5)
  • Sumiko Inaba (125) vs. Saray Orozco (125.5)

* = Franklin missed heavyweight limit by 2.5 pounds

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

Continuation of PFL’s heavyweight season gets two changes in Connecticut

The PFL’s return next month, and debut at Bellator’s former East Coast home base, has seen a pair of changes at heavyweight.

The PFL’s return next month, and debut at Bellator’s former East Coast home base, has seen a pair of changes at heavyweight.

[autotag]Daniel James[/autotag] (15-7-1) is out of his fight against [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (13-2) on the main card. Fortune now will take on [autotag]Marcelo Golm[/autotag] (10-5). And [autotag]Marcelo Nunes[/autotag] (11-2) is out of his bout against [autotag]Oleg Popov[/autotag] (17-1). Popov now will take on replacement [autotag]Davion Franklin[/autotag] (6-2).

A Bellator official informed MMA Junkie of the new matchups Monday. The start of the PFL’s second half of the regular season takes place June 13 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (ESPN/ESPN+), and features heavyweights and women’s flyweights who will attempt to qualify for the four-person postseason.

Fortune was supposed to fight Golm this past November at UFC 301 in Chicago, but Fortune became sick on fight day after the event started and the bout was scrapped. Fortune also was supposed to fight James to open the regular season, but had to withdraw. Consequently, he has no points in the standings, which are led by Valentin Moldavsky with 6 points. Golm lost his opening bout of the regular season.

Popov has 5 points after a second-round stoppage in his first fight of the season. Franklin will be fighting for the first time in the regular season.

With the changes, the PFL Week 4 lineup now includes:

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

  • Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell
  • Dakota Ditcheva vs. Chelsea Hackett
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Marcelo Golm
  • Liz Carmouche vs. Kana Watanabe

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Sergey Bilostennyi vs. Denis Goltsov
  • Jena Bishop vs. Taila Santos
  • Davion Franklin vs. Oleg Popov
  • Ilara Joanne vs. Shanna Young
  • Danilo Marques vs. Gokhan Saricam
  • Lisa Mauldin vs. Juliana Velasquez
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Saray Orozco
  • Melissa Balic vs. Kristina Katsikis

Oleg Popov out of Bellator 291 heavyweight fight vs. Gokhan Saricam after weigh-ins

The lone heavyweight fight on Saturday’s 18-fight Bellator 291 lineup ini Dublin has been scrapped.

DUBLIN – The lone heavyweight fight on Saturday’s 18-fight Bellator 291 lineup has been scrapped.

[autotag]Oleg Popov[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was set to take on [autotag]Gokhan Saricam[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) on the preliminary card at 3Arena in Dublin. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

But following Friday’s official weigh-ins in Ireland, Bellator officials told MMA Junkie that Popov was not cleared after his medical exam and his fight against Saricam has been removed from the lineup.

Popov was set to make his Bellator debut on the strength of a 13-fight winning streak. The highly touted Russian hasn’t lost in more than six years. He was set to make his promotional debut this past October, but the fight was canceled as part of Bellator’s COVID-19 protocols.

Saricam lost his Bellator debut to Steve Mowry in 2019, but has won four straight since then. After first-round knockouts of Joffie Houlton and Charlie Milner, the latter of which came in just 15 seconds, the Turkish heavyweight won a pair of decisions in 2022 against Kiril Sidelnikov and Said Sowma.

With the cancellation, the Bellator 291 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Yaroslav Amosov vs. interim champ Logan Storley – welterweight title unification fight
  • Pedro Carvalho vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Bryce Logan vs. Peter Queally
  • Janay Harding vs. Sinead Kavanagh
  • Ciaran Clarke vs. Leonardo Sinis – 147.5 contract weight

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 11:30 a.m. ET)

  • Karl Moore vs. Maciej Rozanski
  • Mike Shipman vs. Charlie Ward
  • Andy Manzolo vs. Norbert Novenyi Jr.
  • Luca Iovine vs. Brian Moore
  • Piotr Niedzielski vs. Richie Smullen
  • Darragh Kelly vs. Dorval Jordan
  • Asael Adjoudj vs. Liam McCracken
  • Jena Bishop vs. Elina Kallionidou
  • Craig McIntosh vs. Kenny Mokhonoana
  • Dmytrii Hrytsenko vs. Daniele Scatizzi
  • Steven Hill vs. Joel Kouadja
  • Rafael Hudson vs. Khasan Magomedsharipov

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 291.