Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
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)
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.
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The full 2024 PFL Playoffs 1 official weigh-in results include:
MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
*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.
Tim Johnson isn’t even supposed to be in the PFL heavyweight semifinals, but here he is one win away from fighting for $1 million.
[autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] isn’t even supposed to be in the PFL heavyweight semifinals, but here he is one win away from fighting for $1 million.
“At this moment, I’m just happy to be fighting with a major organization,” Johnson told MMA Junkie Radio.
Johnson had been out of a job after parting ways with Bellator shortly before the merge with PFL, which reached out to bring him back a short-notice replacement against Danilo Marques on June 13. In one of the most unusual sequences to happen in a cage, Johnson absorbed a hard groin shot at the same time he dropped Marques with a punch. After using his time to recover, Johnson charged at Marques and dropped him again before scoring the finish with ground-and-pound to clinch his spot in the tournament.
Johnson admits he was nowhere close to being in fight shape and knew that, without a first-round finish, he would be in trouble against Marques. With that improbable result out of the way, Johnson (18-9) is set to meet Denis Goltsov (34-8) in Friday’s 2024 PFL Playoffs 1 main event at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
Even though he’s close to securing a huge bag of money, Johnson feels zero pressure to win.
“Considering where I was at not even a month-and-a-half ago, it’s nice to be back,” Johnson said. “Right now, I haven’t really been day dreaming of winning ($1 million) or anything like that, just kind of been taking it as it comes. That’s my kind of mindset. Go out there, let it rip and see what happens. What is will be. I’m not getting too worked up over winning and losing, making the finals and all that. Give it a try, give it a shot.”
Part of what goes into Johnson’s mentality is very simply that he makes no illusions about how he measures up to Goltsov.
“Denis is a heck of a fighter, way more talented than I am, but most of my opponents are that way,” Johnson said. “I’ve just got to find a way to grit through and find some way to win. …
“I’m old now. I want to be entertaining, and I want the fans to be entertained. If that means risking a big KO then I guess it is what it is.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 1.
After a gruesome shot to the testicles, Tim Johnson clinched a PFL playoff spot in abrupt fashion.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] clinched a playoff spot in abrupt fashion at 2024 PFL 4.
Johnson (18-9) scored a first-round TKO of Danilo Marques on Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena, but had to deal with some adversity first.
In an all-time unusual sequence, Johnson absorbed a groin shot, but tagged Marques simultaneously. This resulted in both fighters crashing to the canvas. After he utilized his time to recover, Johnson charged at Marques and dropped him with a right hand. Johnson finished Marques off moments later with ground-and-pound.
“I haven’t been hit in the groin like that ever,” Johnson told MMA Junkie and other reporters after the fight at Mohegan Sun Arena. “In practice, in a fight, that was a instant. I ate two good kicks from Danilo. He started the fight with a body kick and that really – I thought I was going to go down.
“It took a lot for me to stay on my feet. It was a instant pain, didn’t even know I rolled, didn’t even know that I landed a shot until everybody was talking about it afterwards. Hopefully that doesn’t happen again. I don’t like that.”
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Johnson will meet Denis Goltsov in the 2024 PFL heavyweight semifinals. He got his wish of making the playoffs, and now hopes to have a longterm future with PFL.
Johnson parted ways with Bellator shortly before the two brands merged and was brought back for this fight as a short notice replacement.
“Hopefully no injuries or (anything) too bad and things line up score wise,” Johnson said, prior to the playoff clinch. “Maybe sneak my way into the tournament. I got to skip half of it.
“So, don’t have to wait till next season to maybe sneak my way into a million dollars. Maybe I can do it this year. Hopefully I found a home (with PFL), and I’m able to stay here. Give it actual real try one more time.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 4.
Check out these photos from Tim Johnson vs. Danilo Marques at 2024 PFL 4 in Uncasville, Conn.
Check out these photos from [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag]’s win over Danilo Marques at 2024 PFL 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (Photos by Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)
A bizarre visual occurred at PFL when two heavyweights simultaneously toppled – one for a knockdown blow and one for a punt to the nuts.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The fight between [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Danilo Marques[/autotag] was nuts – pun intended.
At 2024 PFL 4, Johnson (18-9) overcame a punting kick to the groin, turned the tables, and finished Marques (15-5) with punches at 3:14 of Round 1. The event took place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The kick occurred in the opening minutes. At the point of contact, Johnson also dropped Marques, which made for a bizarre visual. Johnson utilized his time to recover, however, and did more than that. He came out with a head full of steam and dropped Marques with a right hand. He pounced and finished the fight with punches after he trapped Marques’ arm.
Johnson, who was a free agent brought in by PFL for the heavyweight season as a late replacment, notched six points in the promotion’s standings.
WOAH! 1st time I see this in MMA! That was NUTS!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/SzZYZ2wzRL— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 13, 2024
TIM JOHNSON IS COMING BACK FOR REVENGE!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/KdXxwWpYDp— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 13, 2024
The up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL 4 results include:
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL 4.
Some good players have worn the No. 78 jersey for Washington.
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Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 78 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 78?
Ron Snidow was a defensive tackle/end for Washington from 1963-67. The former Oregon Duck collected 6.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 7.5 sacks in the 1964 through 1967 seasons. In his five Washington seasons, he totaled 24.5 sacks while recovering 7 fumbles.
Bruce Smith came to Washington in 2000, playing his last four seasons for the Redskins. With the Bills for 15 seasons, Smith totaled 171 sacks. In his last four seasons, Smith was 37 to 40 years of age. Yet he still produced sack totals of 10, 5, 9 and 5. Smith also forced 8 fumbles (recovered one) and registered 36 tackles for a loss.
Redskins legend Bruce Smith sacking redskins legend donovan mcnabb https://t.co/c47t5qMPRQ pic.twitter.com/zyS7BTbBiF
— Papa JKen (@J_Kennedy_81) August 8, 2019
Kory Lichtensteiger started 75 of his 77 games in his 7 seasons in Washington. From 2010-2013, Lichtensteiger spent most of his time at left guard before playing primarily at center in 2014-2016. He was a major factor up front during the 2012 season in which Alfred Morris rushed for 1,613 yards and Robert Griffin added 815 yards.
Good Afternoon Redskins Nation we have 78 Kory Lichtensteiger Days until the 2016 Redskins season opener pic.twitter.com/LVxwqKyIoq
— AlanBal (@Alan_Bal21) June 26, 2016
Tim Johnson wasn’t drafted until the 6th round (141 overall) out of Penn State. Not known for his movement, Johnson became a bull inside at defensive tackle for the Redskins from 1990-1995. He also forced three fumbles and recovered four. Johnson generated 20.5 sacks for Washington and started every game for the 1991 Super Bowl Championship team, teaming with Eric Williams to form a tremendous run-stopping duo of defensive tackles.
There are Tim Johnson days left until the #NFLDraft2023 #NFLDraft #78togo
He was drafted in the 6th round – 141st overall – of the 1987 Draft by the Steelers.
He was a valuable member of the SB XXVI champs and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1992. He was Redskin of the Year in '93. pic.twitter.com/rdpNjf4Ts7
— TheHogsdotNetv2 (@TheHogsdotNetv2) February 8, 2023
A series of unfortunate events during his Bellator 294 fight camp nearly cost Tim Johnson more than just missing a fight.
HONOLULU – Bellator heavyweight [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] made it to Hawaii to compete in the co-main event of Bellator 294, but some unfortunate events during fight camp nearly ruined everything.
Johnson (16-9 MMA, 4-5 BMMA) went through a lot in the weeks leading up to his fight against Said Sowma at Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The pressure of needing to snap a three-fight skid to keep his job was one thing, but the unexpected physical hurdles made the entire situation surrounding Johnson’s 25th professional fight so much worse.
“This fight camp has been filled with more adversity than I have in any other fight camp put together,” Johnson told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the post-fight news conference. “I started off with a car accident that I have no idea how I walked away from. I’m going to put photos up on my Instagram that just show basically the chain of events that happened this fight camp.
“I’m gonna put this out: Everyone make sure you wear your seat belts. I was not wearing mine like an idiot, because I took it off moments before. I rear-ended someone going about 70 miles an hour, and I have no idea how I’m awake or alive at all. That’s how I started off my fight camp. My neck was jacked up pretty good for a couple weeks.”
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While Johnson was fortunate to walk away from the car wreck without any serious injuries, his fight camp woes didn’t stop there.
“Then I had some stuff going on with stomach issues,” Johnson explained. “I went to the ER four total times. They couldn’t figure out what was going on. Figured it was gastritis and then an ulcer. Then three weeks ago I was back in the ER, and finally found out what the problem was: I was pregnant. I had some kidney stones and that was the problem of everything. So, this has been one heck of a fight camp.”
Johnson defeated Sowma by unanimous decision, winning two rounds on all three judges’ scorecards. For now, he can exhale a bit before it’s time to prepare for another fight – one that hopefully comes without so many challenges in camp.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 294.
Liz Carmouche is making her footprint on the Bellator record books after recording another title defense at Bellator 294.
The first half of Bellator’s doubleheader in Hawaii went down Friday with Bellator 294, which took place at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu and saw a champion defend her title in the main event.
[autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] (19-7 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) recorded a second consecutive defense of her women’s flyweight title when she rallied from a 3-0 deficit on the scorecards to submit [autotag]DeAnna Bennett[/autotag] (13-8-1 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) with an arm-triangle choke in the fourth frame of their rematch.
For more on the numbers behind Carmouche’s win, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts form Bellator 294.
Check out which UFC veterans are in MMA and boxing action across the globe this weekend.
This week, the UFC is back in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex for a heavyweight showdown. In the main event, [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] in a fight scheduled for five rounds.
Elsewhere, many other MMA and boxing events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.
This weekend, there are a total of 18 veterans of the global MMA leader competing in MMA and boxing this week from April 21-23.
Check out the names and details about their bouts below.
Upcoming event information from Tapology.
