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If it’s August, it should be time to start out fascinated with the playoffs. Whereas the boys of summer season in Main League Baseball are nonetheless swinging away in hopes of taking part in ball on a brisk night time in October because the stretch run on the diamond begins (in case your favourite ballclub hasn’t conceded this season as a misplaced trigger by this level,) MMA‘s postseason has arrived.
For 3 of the subsequent 4 Friday nights (with a bye week subsequent week), the game’s solely league conducts its playoffs. The semifinals begin this weekend with PFL 7. This week, heavyweights and girls’s lightweights head contained in the PFL SmartCage to try to e book their locations for championship night time later this fall on a date nonetheless to be introduced.
Dwell protection begins Friday night at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT with the early card on ESPN+ earlier than shifting to ESPN correct at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT for featured bouts. Barring any late changes to the bout order, counting showcase fights, postseason alternate bouts and playoff contests, the ultimate model of PFL 7 options 10 sights from Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium.
No. 1 Meets No. 4 With Spot in Heavyweight Championship On the Line
Highlighting the night time’s actions is the second semifinal at 265 lbs. within the PFL 7 essential occasion. No. 1 seed Denis Goltsov (34-8 MMA, 2-0 2024 PFL), final yr’s heavyweight runner-up, fights No. 4 seed Tim Johnson (18-9 MMA, 1-0 2024 PFL), an alum of each the UFC and Bellator MMA.
The winner of the primary occasion advances to the heavyweight championship, the place he’ll face the survivor of the primary semifinal at 265 on Friday’s card between No. 2 seed Oleg Popov (18-1 MMA, 2-0 2024 PFL) and No. 6 seed Linton Vassell (25-9, 1 NC MMA, 1-1 2024 PFL,) an alternate for third-seeded Valentin Moldavsky (13-4, 1 NC MMA, 1-1 2-2024 PFL), whose season ended early due to harm.
As with all PFL fights by means of the semifinal spherical, this essential occasion is an marketed most of three rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.
Relentless, Dominant and Harmful 😤
The three phrases that describe 2023 #PFLWorldChampionship Finalist Denis Goltsov
He returns this Friday, August 2nd on his quest in the direction of redemption as he appears to be like to e book his second straight #PFLWorldChampionship look #PFLNashville pic.twitter.com/s7gmJyGjdJ
— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 29, 2024
2024 PFL 7 Essential Occasion Fighter Comparability and Betting Odds
Heading into the PFL 7 essential occasion on Friday night time, Denis Goltsov stands because the taller contender at 6-foot-5, in comparison with the 6-foot-3 body of Tim Johnson. Whereas each fighters have an identical 78-inch reaches, Goltsov owns a one-inch leg attain benefit (43 inches to 42 inches) over Johnson.
At present, the oddsmakers have Denis Goltsov put in as a -450 favourite on the cash line, whereas Tim Johnson counters as a +350 underdog. Should you plan on betting on this or some other combat occurring this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Goltsov Seeking to Run Successful Streak to Three in a Row
Denis Goltsov enters the playoffs having posted a document of 4-1 over his final 5 fights. In the mean time, he’s on a two-fight profitable streak, with each of these wins being recorded by knockout.
Final outing, he stopped Thiago Santos (22-13, 1 NC MMA, 0-1 2024 PFL) with a first-round knockout (punches in again management) throughout PFL 4 on June 13. This victory gave Denis Goltsov 10 factors within the standings for the common season.
By night time’s finish, he secured the No. 1 seed within the 265-lb. bracket. After the combat, Goltsov met with the press to debate the knockout.
“He didn’t actually really feel that robust,” Goltsov mentioned about Santos, by means of his translator. “As soon as I used to be like a backpack on him and I used to be controlling him, I used to be capable of actually maul him and management him and be on high. I used to be all the time in a great place.”
At the same time as this yr’s playoffs are set to begin this Friday night time, the recollections of final yr’s defeat within the title combat to Renan Ferreira (13-3, 3 NC MMA, 7-1, 3 NC PFL) are nonetheless contemporary in his thoughts. A win on Friday takes him one step nearer to erasing these recollections.
Tim Johnson Continues Lively 2024 With PFL 7 Essential Occasion
Within the different nook, Tim Johnson enters the headliner 3-2 in his personal proper over the past 5 fights. At present, he’s on a three-fight profitable streak.
Again in June, he scored a first-round knockout (floor and pound photographs) of Danilo Marques (15-6 MMA, 0-1 2024 PFL) throughout PFL 4. This has was a busy yr for Johnson.
Upon not combating in near a full yr, this man appeared within the cage twice in 61 days to start his 2024, profitable each contests by first-round knockout. Friday’s PFL 7 essential occasion is his third contest within the span of 112 nights. If he wins once more, he can begin planning for the autumn.
Evaluation, Movie Examine, and Prediction
With this essential occasion being a heavyweight combat, don’t count on it to final the contracted three rounds.
Goltsov Brutal on the Floor
Statistically talking, Denis Goltsov has ended half of his profession victories by knockout. When he will get a man to the mat, like he did in opposition to Cody Goodale a few years in the past, it’s his world and we’re all dwelling in it.
Upon securing a takedown of Goodale in spherical one, he opened up by touchdown hammerfists on his opponent, this after already producing a minimize above Goodale’s eye. Every thing Goodale tried, nothing labored to combat it off.
Denis Goltsov was too powerful on this night time, touchdown 20 strikes on the bottom by the point the referee waved off the combat. If he takes Tim Johnson down, it’ll solely be a matter of time earlier than the PFL 7 essential occasion ends in violent trend.
Tim Johnson Equally Nasty With Floor and Pound
Within the different nook, Tim Johnson replies with “Two can play that recreation.” He’s additionally adept with floor strikes, one thing illustrated fairly effectively in his 2020 combat within the Bellator Fightsphere of Mohegan Solar Enviornment vs. Matt Mitrione.
In the course of the first spherical of the bout, Johnson’s head got here involved with Mitrione’s chin on accident, ensuing within the former getting knocked down. The previous was fast to safe high place on the bottom, touchdown punches to the top to melt Mitrione up.
From there, Johnson took his opponent’s again and began raining punches down on him, leaving referee Mike Beltran no different alternative however to name off the combat. If Tim Johnson can put Denis Goltsov on the mat first, it’ll be the upset of the season thus far within the PFL 7 essential occasion.
Closing Ideas
One final phrase earlier than we are saying good night time: Get your popcorn prepared earlier than the PFL 7 essential occasion begins. You won’t have the time to start out up the microwave after the cage door shuts.
Prediction: Denis Goltsov by First-Spherical Knockout.
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