PFL Playoffs: Semi-final fight night lineups confirmed for New York

The 2023 PFL season is fast approaching its climax, and the final four contenders in each weight class will return to action in August as they bid to earn a place in the season finale.

The PFL Playoffs will be spread across three events, with the featherweight and light heavyweight divisions already confirmed for the Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio, Texas on Friday, August 4. Now the other four weight classes have had their respective event dates assigned.

On Friday, August 18, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York will play host to the heavyweight and women’s featherweight semi-finals, while the welterweight and lightweight semis will be contested at the same venue the following week, on Wednesday, August 23.

“We are thrilled to bring two 2023 PFL Playoff events back to New York City at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on August 18 and 23,” said PFL president of fighter operations, Ray Sefo.

“Our athletes have worked all season long for this kind of opportunity, and sixteen fighters have the chance to punch their ticket to the 2023 PFL World Championship with a $1 million purse awaiting.”

The August 18 event will be headlined by a heavyweight main event between No. 2 seed Renan Ferreira and No. 5 seed Maurice Greene, who replaces the No. 3 seed Marcelo Nunes, who has been ruled out due to injury.

The co-main event will see PFL women’s lightweight champion and top featherweight seed Larissa Pacheco take on No. 4 seed Olena Kolesnyk.

The other semi-final bouts will see Denis Goltsov and Jordan Heiderman collide at heavyweight, while Marina Mokhnatkina and Amber Leibrock face off at featherweight.

The August 23 card is topped by a dynamite lightweight bout, as top seed Clay Collard faces No. 4 seed Shane Burgos. The 2022 lightweight champion, Canada’s Olivier Aubin-Mercier, lines up against No. 3 seed Bruno Miranda in the co-main event.

Preceding the two lightweight semis are the two welterweight playoff bouts, with 2022 champion Sadibou Sy set to face Carlos Leal, and Magomed Magomedkerimov due to take on Magomed Umalatov.

Both cards will feature multiple showcase bouts, with PFL amateur star Biaggio Ali Walsh scheduled for action on the August 23 card against an opponent to be announced in due course.

New Zealand’s former IMMAF amateur world champion Michelle Montague is also set for action as she looks to extend her perfect professional record to 4-0 after earning her spot on the PFL roster via the PFL Challenger Series in February.