Preview: PFL 6 2024

Featherweights and welterweights will duke it out for the eight remaining playoff spots when the 2024 Professional Fighters League regular season concludes with PFL 6 this Friday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Brendan Loughnane , the 2022 featherweight champion, looks to punch his ticket back to the playoffs with a win over Justin Gonzales in the main event. Meanwhile, former Bellator MMA welterweight contender Logan Storley needs a bounce-back victory against Luca Poclit in the co-headliner at 170 pounds. Further down the bill, ascending welterweight star Magomed Umalatov puts his undefeated record on the line against Brennan Ward , and 2023 featherweight finalist Gabriel Braga squares off against onetime Brave Combat Federation champion Bubba Jenkins at 145 pounds.

Prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, with the main card to follow at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN/ESPN+. Now to the PFL 6 preview:

Featherweights

Brendan Loughnane (27-5, 10-2 PFL) vs. Justin Gonzales (14-4, 0-1 PFL)

After winning the featherweight tournament in 2022, Loughnane’s first-round knockout loss to Jesus Pinedo the following seasons was one of the most shocking upsets in PFL history. The Manchester, England, native had won five fights straight up to that point, and no PFL featherweight had shown he could match up with Loughnane’s striking. Losing to Pinedo forced Loughnane to travel to Thailand to sharpen his game, and the results are showing. Loughnane put the division on notice with a first-round TKO over Pedro Carvalho . Despite the stoppage being a bit early, Loughnane dominated Carvalho early and dropped him with a right hand, forcing referee Kevin MacDonald to intervene. Gonzalez comes into the headliner desperate to show signs that he’s still the same fighter he once was. Gonzalez was 14-1 before 2023, but the Top Notch MMA product has lost his last three fights. Mads Burnell and Timur Khizriev outworked him ahead of decision wins, but Gabriel Braga dealt the most significant blow to Gonzalez’s career with a first-round knockout in April. Loughnane is one of the PFL’s biggest stars, and this fight will give him the platform to showcase his powers. Gonzalez is not a severe threat on the ground and will provide Loughnane the striking battle he wants. With the opening in front of him, Loughnane should cruise back into the playoffs with an early knockout.

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Loughnane vs. Gonzalez
Storley vs. Poclit
Umalatov vs. Ward
Braga vs. Jenkins
The Prelims

Welterweights

Logan Storley (15-3, 0-1 PFL) vs. Luca Poclit (10-1, 0-0 PFL)

Storley entered the PFL tournament as the top-ranked Bellator welterweight contender, but Shamil Musaev knocked him out of momentum. Storley was confident heading into the season opener but was badly hurt by Musaev’s right hand and a jumping knee. Nearly out on his feet, Storley tried to fight his way back, only to be pummeled into his first career knockout loss. Storley, a four-time NCAA Division I All-American, didn’t have the chance to employ his wrestling, but that shouldn’t be a problem against Poclit. Moldova’s Poclit, who steps in on short notice for Laureano Staropoli , has won 10 straight professional fights. He last appeared at Bellator 299, where he scored a first-round submission against Roman Faraldo in September. Storley could possibly sneak into the postseason with an early finish. Storley will have to take risks if he wants to make the playoffs, but he’s not one to force something that isn’t there. Expect a clear and dominant performance from the former Bellator interim champ, but it likely won’t be enough to lift him into the Final Four at 170 pounds.

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Loughnane vs. Gonzalez
Storley vs. Poclit
Umalatov vs. Ward
Braga vs. Jenkins
The Prelims

Welterweights

Magomed Umalatov (15-0, 6-0 PFL) vs. Brennan Ward (17-8, 0-1 PFL)

Is this the year we see Umalatov in the playoffs? The undefeated Russian has qualified for the postseason the last two years but was unable to compete due to injury or issues outside of the cage. At 15-0, Umalatov is a potential favorite to win the tournament, but he’ll have to offer more than he did in his last fight. Umalatov’s three-point decision win over Andrey Koreshkov in April kept him in the running for a playoff spot, but things aren’t guaranteed from where he sits. He’s currently tied with Goiti Yamauchi for No. 4 in the standings behind Shamil Musaev (five points), Murad Ramazanov (six points) and Don Madge (six points). He can’t count on the judges to send him to the playoffs. Ward was once on the cusp of a title shot in Bellator, but things have turned sour since suffering back-to-back stoppage losses. However, that doesn’t take away from the excitement he brings to the cage. In 25 fights, Ward has only gone the distance once. He either finishes you or you finish him, but you can guarantee it’s going to be a violent process to figure that out. This fight is a dream matchup for people wanting to see what Umalatov can do. Ward has dynamite in his fists and will starch Umalatov if given a chance, but he makes head-scratching decisions on the mat that can get him in trouble. If Umalatov keeps the fight standing, he might run into a punch that’ll knock him off his feet, or he might find the knockout that’ll send him to the PFL postseason.

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Loughnane vs. Gonzalez
Storley vs. Poclit
Umalatov vs. Ward
Braga vs. Jenkins
The Prelims

Featherweights

Gabriel Braga (13-1, 5-1 PFL) vs. Bubba Jenkins (21-8, 7-4 PFL)

Braga, the 2023 featherweight tournament runner-up, was in rare form in his first fight of the season. Fueled by the loss in the championship and the loss of his father, Braga knocked out Justin Gonzalez in the first round with a crisp left hook. Braga’s punching power is precisely what led the Brazilian to the PFL Championships a season ago. He carries impactful power in his short shots and can send foes reeling with a single shot. Braga, 26, is still young and somewhat inexperienced. While the speed and explosiveness are there, sometimes he can fight recklessly or start too slow. A veteran like Jenkins could exploit that. Jenkins has made the PFL playoffs three seasons in a row, but his streak is in danger after dropping his first fight to Kai Kamaka III . Jenkins competed well and lost a close decision, but at 36, he failed to show the second gear that made him an NCAA wrestling champion. Jenkins seemed lethargic and lacked stamina against Kamaka, who edged him out in close rounds. Jenkins is one of the most experienced and well-rounded featherweights in the bracket, but his technique is being outworked and overpowered by fresher fighters. This is his chance to turn back the clock, but that could be difficult against a young beast like Braga. If Braga comes in at his peak, he could potentially stop Jenkins early with a flurry or even a single shot, but the longer the fight goes, the more danger he could find. Jenkins is a crafty fighter who can catch you slipping with power. If Braga falls asleep, Jenkins could surprise him with an upset TKO.

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Loughnane vs. Gonzalez
Storley vs. Poclit
Umalatov vs. Ward
Braga vs. Jenkins
The Prelims

Welterweights

Lorenz Larkin (25-8, 0-0 PFL) vs. Alan Dominguez (11-6, 0-0 PFL): Larkin dropped his first fight in six years in a disputed split decision loss to Andrey Koreshkov in July, but the former Bellator contender is still a tough out for anybody in the field. Larkin’s 13 career knockouts are nothing to brush over, and he could prove to be too experienced for the 27-year-old Dominguez, who brings a three-fight winning streak into his PFL debut.

Welterweights

Murad Ramazanov (12-0, 1-0 PFL) vs. Shamil Musaev (15-0-1, 1-0 PFL): This battle of unbeatens could be the best fight on the card. Ramazanov punished Laureano Staropoli for missing weight in their season-opening showdown and picked up six points with the first-round submission win. Musaev was just as impressive in his PFL debut, becoming the first man to knock out Logan Storley . While Ramazanov’s game is more well-rounded, Musaev carries a significant advantage in power and will turn out the lights if given the chance. Somebody’s “0” has to go, and neither man is going to let it go without a war.

Featherweights

Timur Khizriev (15-0, 1-0 PFL) vs. Enrique Barzola (20-8-2, 0-1 PFL): The undefeated Khizriev hasn’t stopped an opponent in over three years. Still, his Dagestani-backed wrestling makes him a nightmare to handle in a three-round fight. Khizriev routinely got to a superior position in his win over Brett Johns but never threatened to finish the fight. Barzola will want to engage and throw hands but lacks the power to keep Khizriev honest. Of course, he could land something stunning, but Khizriev’s high-pressure style will likely dictate the pace until the final bell.

Welterweights

Goiti Yamauchi (29-6, 1-0 PFL) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (27-5, 0-1 PFL): Both fighters spent over a decade in Bellator but were never matched. A former Bellator welterweight champion, Koreshkov showed he can still hang with the best after giving undefeated Russian Magomed Umalatov a run for his money. Koreshkov’s heavy hands make him threatening at all times, but his pace can dip on occasion. Yamauchi could exploit this and force Koreshkov to burn his energy on the mat. Yamauchi’s 21 career submissions make him as threatening on the mat as Koreshkov is standing.

Featherweights

Kai Kamaka III (13-5-1, 1-0 PFL) vs. Pedro Carvalho (13-9, 0-1 PFL): Kamaka hasn’t lost since dropping a split decision to Justin Gonzalez two years ago. He has found ways to win by sticking to a well-rounded game plan. He’s an active striker who will push forward enough to win rounds, and his grappling is strong enough to keep him out of bad positions. Kamaka pulled off the biggest win of his career by beating Bubba Jenkins , and Carvalho will be another tough test. Carvalho is on a three-fight skid, but he’s routinely matched against the best. Kamaka hasn’t shown that he’s on the level of Brendan Loughnane , Aaron Pico or Jeremy Kennedy , and he could make a mistake that the Portuguese veteran exploits.

Welterweights

Don Madge (11-4-1, 2-1 PFL) vs. Neiman Gracie (12-5, 0-1 PFL): Madge has won eight of his last nine and is surging with confidence after submitting Brennan Ward in the first round. Conversely, Gracie could desperately use some momentum after losing three of his last four fights. Although Madge isn’t known exclusively for his striking, he’s levels above Gracie on the feet and could find success if he lets his hands go. Madge doesn’t fear taking Gracie to the mat, but willingly grappling with a Brazilian jiu-jitsu prodigy isn’t the wisest game plan.

Featherweights

Tyler Diamond (13-3, 2-2 PFL) vs. Brett Johns (20-4, 1-1 PFL): Team Alpha Male’s Diamond broke through a two-year-long cold streak with a unanimous decision win over Otto Rodrigues in April. Diamond controlled the fight with traditional boxing and stifling wrestling and looked dominant throughout. Johns’ season opener didn’t go his way as he fell short on the cards against Timur Khizriev , but the Welsh warrior showed some flashes throughout. Johns can box with Diamond but might be outmatched in the wrestling department. Expect a close scorecard.

Jump To »
Loughnane vs. Gonzalez
Storley vs. Poclit
Umalatov vs. Ward
Braga vs. Jenkins
The Prelims