The Professional Fighters League (PFL) kicked off the 2024 PFL Global Playoffs live from the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The evening’s 10 fight card featured four Playoff bouts across the Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight divisions.
Dakota Ditcheva, one of the fastest rising stars in mixed martial arts, faced grappler Jena Bishop in Women’s Flyweight Playoff action. Ditcheva, wowed the crowd and her opponent once again, landing a vicious knee which put Bishop on the mat. After Ditcheva implored her opponent to get up, she moved in for the finish and will now head to the 2024 PFL World Championship on the power of a first round TKO.
In the main event of the evening, Denis Goltsov, the top seeded Heavyweight, faced Tim Johnson with a trip to the 2024 PFL World Championship on the line. Goltsov spent little time overpowering Johnson and finished him in the first round with thunderous punches from the mounted position to earn a second straight berth in the 2024 PFL Heavyweight Championship.
Further Heavyweight PFL Global Season Playoff action saw Oleg Popov, who was riding a 16 fight win streak – the longest in the sport – step into the PFL SmartCage against Linton Vassell. Popov used his wrestling mastery and technical prowess to wear Vassell down. After three rounds Popov walked away with the unanimous decision victory and a ticket to the 2024 PFL World Championship.
The PFL Global Season Playoff kicked off in the Women’s Flyweight division where Bellator Champion and MMA icon, Liz Carmouche squared off with Taila Santos. The two battled, landing hard strikes and showing technical prowess for three rounds. In the end, Santos came away with the unanimous decision and clinched her spot in the 2024 PFL World Championship.
“The beginning of the Professional Fighters League Global Season Playoffs means it is time for the best to win and advance,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Tonight in Nashville we saw four athletes punch their tickets to the PFL World Championship, where they will continue on their million dollar journeys.”
“The PFL once again delivered fans around the world with the best action in MMA,” said PFL President of Fighter Operations, Ray Sefo. “Four extraordinary athletes are on their way to the highly anticipated 2024 PFL World Championships.”
Additional Heavyweight action featured Tyrell Fortune and Sergei Bilostenniy, who wasted little time in their matchup. Fortune delivered a quick takedown, however, Bilostenniy impressively reversed the move into a heel hook submission. Bilostenniy earned his first career submission victory and moved his career record to 13-3.
Alexei Pergande and Daniel Boehle squared off in Featherweight action. Pergande, a Nashville native and PFL Challenger Series winner, showed his technical prowess defeating Boehle via unanimous decision while remaining undefeated at 5-0.
In a Featherweight clash, Cody Law submitted Zack Hicks in the first round via rear naked choke. A Bellator alum, Law put his NCAA wrestling skills to good use in his PFL victory debut.
Lightweight’s Dedrek Sanders and Sergio Cossio collided in the PFL SmartCage, with Sanders coming out with the win. The first round knockout was Sanders fourth career knockout.
In a Welterweight contest, the aggressive Anthony Ivy defeated Jaleel Willis via second round submission. The rear-naked choke was Ivy’s 7th straight win and his 8th career submission.
To begin an electrifying night of PFL Playoff action, Kevin Pease faced Nick Meck in a Welterweight Showcase bout. Pease remained undefeated at 6-0 after a unanimous decision victory in his PFL debut.
The 2024 PFL Global Season continues with action in the Light Heavyweight and Lightweight divisions, Friday, August 16 from Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.
All 2024 PFL Global Season events are live across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and DAZN in Canada and Europe with additional international premium sports platform distribution reaching 160 countries globally.
COMPLETE RESULTS
Main Card Results:
Heavyweight Semifinal: #1 Denis Goltsov def. #4 Tim Johnson by 1st round TKO (2:26)
Women’s Flyweight Semifinal: #1 Dakota Ditcheva def. #4 Jena Bishop by 1st round TKO (3:54)
Heavyweight Semifinal: #2 Oleg Popov def. #6 Linton Vassell by submission (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Women’s Flyweight Semifinal: #2 Taila Santos def. #3 Liz Carmouche by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Early Card Results:
Heavyweight: Sergei Bilostenniy def. Tyrell Fortune by 1st round verbal submission (2:00, heel hook)
Featherweight: Alexei Pergande def. Daniel Boehle by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight: Cody Law def. Zack Hicks by 1st round submission (3:15, rear-naked choke)
Lightweight: Dedrek Sanders def. Sergios Cossio by 1st round KO (2:34)
Welterweight: Anthony Ivy def. Jaleel Willis by 2nd round submission (4:49, rear naked choke)
Welterweight Showcase: Kevin Pease def. Nick Meck by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight-class. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is available on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S., DAZN in Canada and Europe and broadcast and streamed in 160 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.
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