2024 PFL Regular Season: Heavyweights & Women's Flyweights BreakDown

Written By: Danny Albers 

1. Women’s Flyweight Bout: Sumiko Inaba (7-1) VS Saray Orozco (8-6)

Result: Sumiko Inaba wins by split decision 

Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★ 6 

Despite the split decision victory, Inaba looked sharp in this fight. She landed 203 striked to Orozco’s 122. Orozco beat up the legs of Inaba which is likely why she got a split decision. Inaba needs to do a better job at checking leg kicks because it did take its toll as the fight went on.  With neither lady landing a takedown, I don’t know how someone saw Orozco winning this fight. 

2. Women’s Flyweight Bout: Juliana Velasquez (13-3) VS Lisa Mauldin (6-5)

Result: Juliana Velasquez wins by 2nd round TKO/KO (ground & pound) 

Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★ 6 

The stakes of this fight is what makes PFL so fun to watch. Both women needed to get a finish to win this fight. Velasquez kept the fight on the feet and she overwhelmed Mauldin who struggled to find momentum in the organization. Velasquez outstruck Mauldin 60-10, and Mauldin eventually crumbled under the pressure at the end of the 2nd.  

3. Heavyweight Bout: Danilo Marques (15-6) VS Tim Johnson (18-9) 

Result: Tim Johnson wins by 1st round TKO/KO (ground & pound) 

Star Rating: ★★★★★★★★★ 9 

One of the most interesting and bizarre fights that I’ve ever seen. Johnson knocked out Marques, but at the same time of hitting Marques with that shot, he got hit with a vicious low blow that sent him to the ground immediately. In the time that the referee was checking on Johnson, Marques was able to recover. Johnson would still land a finishing blow on Marques once the fight reset. Johnson locked himself into a playoff spot, where he will face Denis Golstov in a fight that should provide fireworks. 

4. Women’s Flyweight Bout: Ilara Joanne (12-9) VS Shanna Young (9-8) 

Result: Illara Joanne wins by unanimous decision 

Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★ 5 

Joanne must have been really relieved that she won this fight. She lost 3 in a row, including the PFL debut of Taila Santos a couple months ago. The season is over for both women, but this is good momentum for Joanne if she returns for the 2025 season.   

5. Heavyweight Bout: Marcelo Golm (10-6) VS Tyrell Fortune (14-2) 

Result: Tyrell Fortune wins by unanimous decision 

Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★ 6  

Golm’s gas tank ran out on him. The first round was really close, but in the closing seconds, got knocked out. Golm was saved by the bell, but it took its toll. He came out and emptied the tank in the 2nd, but couldn’t put away Fortune, and unfortunately, they still had another round. Fortune dominated every second of the third round to beat Golm and earn the 3 points. Fortune’s striking was way too refined for Golm. Every punch he landed seemed like it had a deep effect on Golm. There were some really fun moments in this match from a striking perspective, and besides being beaten, Golm never gave up. 

6. Heavyweight Bout: Oleg Popov (18-1) VS Davion Franklin (6-3) 

Result: Oleg Popov wins by unanimous decision 

Star Rating (1-10): ★★ 2 

The problem with PFL is that sometimes a matchup is made that has no business taking place. Franklin got taken down 8 times and clearly looked like he had no idea how to protect himself from it. Popov had 114 total strikes to 25 by Franklin, 95 of those coming by ground strikes. Oleg Popov didn’t look like he needed much effort to beat Franklin. 

7. Women’s Flyweight Bout: Taila Santos (21-3) VS Jena Bishop (7-1) 

Result: Taila Santos wins by split decision 

Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★★ 7 

This was an excellent fight. Taila Santos and Liz Carmouche in a battle between veterans. Jena Bishop had a really strong showcase. Santos looked dominant in her PFL debut. This is a woman who arguably beat Valentina Schevchenko. She’s a dangerous opponent and Bishop held her own, and in the 3rd round dominated late. If Bishop didn’t get off to a slower start and settled in earlier, she wins this fight. Bishop has a shot of redemption. She made the playoffs, but will have to figure out the riddle that is Dakota Ditcheva to get a shot at a potential rematch. The rematch would be for the 2024 PFL Flyweight Championship. 

8. Women’s Flyweight Bout: Liz Carmouche (22-7) VS Kana Watanabe (13-3-1)

Result: Liz Carmouche wins by 3rd round submission 

Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★★★★ 9  

With only 8 seconds until the end of the fight, needing to finish the fight to lock up her spot in the playoffs, Carmouche locked in an armbar to win her the fight. It was a close fight, I think Carmouche would win by decision regardless. 

9. Heavyweight Bout: Denis Goltsov (34-8) VS Thiago Santos (22-13)

Result: Denis Goltsov wins by 1st round TKO (Punches) 

Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★★ 7 

The Thiago Santos experiment in PFL has not been a successful one. He’s yet to secure his first win with the organization. Goltsov, a sambo specialist, fought for the title a year ago and that was obvious the way he jumped all over the veteran Santos. With wins now against Linton Vassell and Thiago Santos in the tournament, Goltsov has to be favored to win this competition. Thiago looks much slower there, probably because he moved up to heavyweight. He looked out of shape compared to the massive intimidating ripped knockout artist.  

10. Women’s Flyweight Bout: Dakota Ditcheva (12-0) VS Chelsea Hackett (4-3-1) 

Result: Dakota Ditcheva wins by 1st round TKO/KO 

Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★★ 7

25 year old UK prospect Dakota Ditcheva fighting out of American Top Team lives up to her nickname “Dangerous.” After dominating in the 2022 PFL season, she competed in the 2023 PFL Europe Series. She’s 8-0 in the PFL in total, and she’s finished all 8 of those fights (7 by TKO, 1 submission), 7 of them were in the 1st round. She didn’t need much time to get the job done. With Kayla Harrison gone, PFL has found their new PFL women’s superstar. 

11. Heavyweight Bout: Valentin Moldavsky (13-4) VS Linton Vassell (24-9) 

Result: Linton Vassell wins by split decision

Star Rating (1-10): ★★★★★★★★★ 9 

Valentin Moldavsky was robbed in this fight. He won every category. He led takedowns 5-0, total strikes 56-35. This was the trilogy fight that now will go to Vassell 2-1. Vassell won likely because of the damage he inflicted on Moldavsky. His heavy knee dropped Moldavsky in the second round. Vassell looked like the more dangerous fighter even though he wasn’t as active as Moldavsky. Despite losing this fight, Valentin Moldavsky is moving onto the playoffs while Linton Vassell is not, due to his 1st round knockout of Ante Delija that got him 6 points on the standings. 

Playoffs are set 

Heavyweights 

1. (1) Denis Goltsov VS (4) Tim Johnson 

2. (2) Oleg Popov VS (3) Valentin Moldavsky 

Prediction: Denis Golstov and Tim Johnson both have the power to end the fight with one punch. Goltsov lost in the final last year, he’s got playoff experience. He’s the reason Linton Vassell isn’t fighting for a title. Tim Johnson is a power veteran, fighting some of the biggest names in the heavyweight division. He’s on a 3-fight win streak. Goltsov is the more well-rounded fighter, so I will have to take Goltsov in this fight. I think he will face Oleg Popov, who’s grappling is too much for the competitors in this division. I think Popov will work through Valentin Moldavsky who’s coming off a tough loss, and I think Popov will keep the fight on the ground with Goltsov not giving Denis a chance to knock him out. The PFL 2024 Heavyweight Champion will be Oleg Popov. 

Women’s Flyweight Semifinals 

1. (1) Dakota Ditcheva VS (4) Jena Bishop 

2. (2) Taila Santos VS (3) Liz Carmouche 

Jena Bishop has a bright future, but Dakota Ditcheva is the top prospect that the PFL has. Bishop should give Ditcheva more of a challenge than her previous opponents, but I like Dakota’s chances. Taila Santos and Liz Carmouche have the potential to be a fantastic fight. Carmouche, a former UFC champion, and Santos, a former UCF title challenger. It can go either way, but I think Liz is doing some of her best work in her career. I think Liz Carmouch beats Santos, and loses in the final against Dakota Ditcheva.