The time has finally come. Matchups for the 2024 Professional Fighters League Championships will be set upon completion of PFL 9 and the last semifinal rounds this Friday at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. Brendan Loughnane , the 2022 champion at 145 pounds, headlines the show against Kai Kamaka III . In the co-main event, undefeated welterweight Magomed Umalatov takes on playoff replacement Neiman Gracie . Elsewhere, Gabriel Braga sits one win away from his second straight championship appearance but has to take out fellow featherweight Timur Khizriev ’s undefeated record first. Finally, a welterweight rematch between Shamil Musaev and Murad Ramazanov kicks off the main draw.
The prelims start at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. ET, with the main card set for 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Now to the PFL 9 preview:
An unstoppable force meets an immovable object in the main event. Loughnane’s striking is considered head and shoulders above the other featherweights in the field, and the Manchester, England, native is known for gunning for the early knockout. This can sometimes get him caught or cause him to fade later in fights, but make no mistake, Loughnane is one of the most dangerous fighters you will cross in the opening minutes of the battle. At 34, he carries the experience of being a former tournament winner into the semifinals and rides high on back-to-back knockout victories. Kamaka is a pup in Loughnane’s eyes, and he will look to put him down soon after the opening bell. After losing two of his first four fights, Kamaka has turned things around and is growing into a stubborn force of an opponent. He does nothing that would be considered exceptional, but he has an advanced understanding of where he is in a fight. In a striking battle, he will outwork you just enough to take the round, and his wrestling is strong enough to garner control time. Kamaka hasn’t had a finish since 2022 and likely won’t be looking for one against the dangerous Loughnane. No worries, however. If Kamaka stays loyal to his game plan, he could make this a frustrating night for the former champion. Loughnane may have steamrolled his first two opponents, but Kamaka has the toughness and work rate to force him into a rugged affair.
It has been a long time coming for Umalatov. After many injuries and visa issues, Umalatov has all the cards to make a run at the welterweight title. Umalatov started his season by ragdolling former Bellator champion Andrey Koreshkov before submitting Brennan Ward in the first round. The submission win surprised the Russian slugger, who boasts 11 knockouts on his ledger. Coming into the welterweight tournament, Umalatov was installed as an early favorite and could make due on his high expectations with a win here. Gracie wasn’t the original plan for Umalatov, but after Don Madge stepped aside with an injury, the former jiu-jitsu prodigy was given the call. Gracie has been criticized for lacking a well-rounded understanding of mixed martial arts throughout his career, but that wasn’t the case in his upset win over Madge in June. Gracie fought one of the best fights of his career behind consistent pressure. He says he’s fighting with an increased sense of urgency and is willing to do the dirty work to raise his hands. Gracie lacks the power to trade with Umalatov consistently, but don’t expect him to go away quietly. He has only been stopped once in his career, and his expertise on the ground makes him a tougher matchup than Madge. Umalatov needs to push Gracie early and deny him from establishing any momentum. If Umalatov can turn Gracie back to his one-dimensional ways, a ground-and-pound finish could be awaiting him on the mat.
Braga, the 2023 featherweight runner-up, rebounded wonderfully in his first fight since the upset loss in last season’s championship when he knocked out Justin Gonzalez in one round. Unfortunately for the 26-year-old contender, Braga was not as impressive in his second go-around this season. After weighing in over four pounds over the featherweight limit, Braga looked lethargic in the first round against Bubba Jenkins . The experienced Jenkins stuck to him like glue and forced Braga to spend most of the first round fighting for his footing. Braga seemed uninterested and allowed Jenkins to accrue control time. Round 2 was fought faster for the brief time it lasted. After several exchanges, Jenkins hurt his arm after driving Braga back into the fence. The injury gave Braga the TKO win and a berth back in the playoffs, even though his performance left much to be desired. Khizriev has been a pro since 2014, but this fight could be the undefeated Dagestan native’s most important of his career. Khizriev has made a career off well-rounded wrestling and scrappy boxing. His style isn’t considered fan-friendly and doesn’t lead to many finishes, but Khizriev is an expert at making an opponent fight to his weakness. If Braga wants to hand Khizriev his first loss as a pro, he’ll have to establish control of the cage early. Braga has quick feet and fast hands, so he must keep Khizriev moving laterally. Khizriev will press forward behind his jab and look to pin Braga against the fence. If Braga does get taken down, he needs to show more urgency than he did in the Jenkins fight. Although Khizriev’s striking game isn’t potent, Braga would be wise not to underestimate him. Khizriev has a problematic jab that he’ll happily work behind. Braga has to force the action and open Khizriev with his power.
No. 1 welterweight seed Musaev faces a familiar foe in the first round of the tournament playoffs. Musaev already handed Ramazanov his first career loss when he TKO’d him in the second round of their fight back in June. The “Silent Assassin” started the fight slowly, allowing Ramazanov to establish his calf kicks early. Ramazanov was determined to work his way inside and take Musaev down—and for good reason. With one wicked left hook in the second, Musaev flattened Ramazanov on his back before putting him away with a flurry of shots. Musaev has finished his last three opponents, and his 69% knockout rate makes him one of the most dangerous welterweights in the field. Despite his knockout loss to Musaev, Ramazanov still remains a legitimate threat to the $1 million prize if he can avoid his opponent’s fight-ending power. Ramzanov found success employing his wrestling and could neutralize Masaev’s power if he focuses on shooting for takedowns. Ramazanov has less experience and doesn’t carry dynamite in his hands like Musaev, but he does have the gas tank needed to outwork him. This fight is intriguing because the two fighters are already familiar with each other. While the first fight seemed definitive, Ramazanov is out to prove that he was simply caught by a lucky punch. Musaev can’t let Ramazanov build confidence early. He has to stuff his wrestling and force him to face the power that ended his night two months ago. If Ramazanov can avoid eating a big shot, his activity and well-rounded approach could be enough to grind out a decision, but he knows better than most that avoiding Musaev’s right hand is easier said than done.
Maxwell Djantou Nana (5-1, 0-0 PFL) vs. Kent Mafileo (5-1, 0-0 PFL): Cameroon’s Nana rebounded from losing his pro debut by running off five straight knockouts. He puts his streak of terror on the line against another heavy-hitter in Mafileo. Neither fighter has seen the final bell, and the two debutants would love to kick off their respective PFL runs with a bang.
Welterweight
Ray Cooper III vs. (25-10-1, 12-5-1 PFL) vs. Mukhamed Berkhamov (15-1, 0-0 PFL): A two-time champion at 170 pounds, Cooper was once the PFL’s most dangerous welterweight, but the “Bradda Boy” has seen better days. He is looking to snap a two-fight skid against a former Bellator veteran in Berkhamov, who needs to muster momentum after a one-year layoff.
Welterweights
Eric Alequin (7-1, 0-1 PFL) vs. Luca Poclit (10-2, 0-1 PFL): Both fighters enter this welterweight scrap after having long winning streaks snapped in their last fights. Poclit, the SBG Ireland product, ran off 10 straight wins before dropping a decision to Logan Storley in his last fight. Alequin was last in action over a year and a half ago, losing a decision to Thad Jean on the PFL Challenger Series. Poclit enters as a favorite due to his advanced submission game, but Alequin is an experienced Kill Cliff Fight Club prospect who has never been stopped.
Welterweights
Shido Boris (8-1, 0-0 PFL) vs. Tyler Hill (12-10, 0-1 PFL): You never know what you will get with Boris. The 5-foot-8 Angolan tank has knocked out four opponents in nine fights, submitted two others, went to the cards twice and was knocked out once. His stocky frame and explosive power make him a threat in the opening rounds. Hill has more than double the experience but has acquired even more damage. “The Zombie” has been stopped nine times in his career and has already taken two losses this year. Boris could kick off the card with another devastating finish.
Featherweights
Tyler Diamond (14-3, 3-2 UFC) vs. Enrique Barzola (20-9-2, 0-2 PFL): Team Alpha Male’s Diamond has had a solid 2024. After picking up two decisions earlier in the year, the Oroville, California, native has his sights set on a third straight win. Things are very much the opposite for Barzola. Coming into the tournament after two big wins in Bellator, Barzola showed flashes in his two regular-season fights but was outworked in both decision losses.
Featherweights
Jesse Stirn (16-6, 1-2 PFL) vs. Jose Perez (8-1, 0-0 PFL): Stirn has been busy since his last PFL fight three years ago. The Maryland native has pulled off five straight wins behind his relentless ground game and pressure. Although finishes often elude him, finding a rhythm against him can be a challenge. Perez is another threat who would prefer to do his work on the ground. Establishing control on the mat will be pivotal in this featherweight scrap.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0