Last night, the PFL returned for their fourth event of the 2024 regular season. The heavyweights and women’s flyweight divisions took center stage as fighters were looking to punch their tickets to the playoffs. The main event featured the heavyweights and it was a rematch between Valentin Moldavsky (13-4) and Linton Vassell (25-9).
Vassell had stopped Moldavsky in their first fight which was a big upset. However, he was again a big underdog especially after the way Moldavsky ran through Ante Delija in his first round matchup. Yet, once again, Vassell pulled off the upset this time winning by split decision. However, Vassell only scored three points with the decision win so despite him winning and Moldavsky losing, it’s Moldavsky that is moving on to the PFL Playoffs.
Moldavsky will have the three seed ending the regular season with six points. The top seed in the playoffs is going to last year’s runner-up, Denis Goltsov (34-8). Goltsov took on former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos (22-13) and Goltsov ran through him finishing him in the first round. That six points gave him ten total and the top overall seed heading into the PFL Playoffs.
PFL Playoffs Set
Oleg Popov (18-1) also punched his ticket into the playoffs. Popov won a decision over a very game Davion Franklin (6-3) and Popov ended the regular season with eight points. That clinched him a spot in the Playoffs as the second seed.
Tim Johnson (18-9) secured the final spot in the playoffs by stopping Danilo Marques (15-6) in the first round. Johnson’s first round finish netted him six points. You had to feel for Daniel James (15-7-1) in that moment. James had to pull out of this card due to injury but had secured five points in the first event of the year. Had Johnson got a stoppage in round two or later or won by decision, James would’ve still earned the fourth seed.
Nevertheless, Johnson has booked his spot in the PFL Playoffs as the fourth seed. The matchups for the playoffs are as followed:
- Denis Goltsov – Tim Johnson
- Oleg Popov – Valentin Moldavsky