Sadibou Sy finds himself in the same spot he was in 2022, but you will hear no complaints from the “Swedish Denzel Washington.” Who would grumble about the chance to claim another $1 million? Sy could fatten his wallet and join the ranks of the few mixed martial artists who have repeated as Professional Fighters League tournament winners when he faces Magomed Magomedkerimov in the welterweight final as part of the 2023 PFL Championships on Friday at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.
Even so, Magomedkerimov (33-6, 15-1 PFL) could be the man to stop his bid to repeat. The 33-year-old knockout artist has rattled off five straight victories and was the last man to defeat Sy, having done so by unanimous decision in 2021. Since losing to Magomedkerimov, Sy claims to have grown in ways the Russian cannot imagine.
“I’m not saying that I’ve grown faster, stronger or more technical, but I’m getting more comfortable,” Sy told Sherdog.com. “I know where I want to be and how I want to fight. I’ve had more time with my team to sit down and understand our game plan.”
At 36, Sy has improved with age. When he signed with the PFL in 2018, he was incomplete and inconsistent. He would show flashes of greatness but could not string together more than two wins in a row. Sy believes taking a more cerebral approach to fighting keeps him sharp. While a winning streak and title defense could be a distraction for some, he just wants to prove his 2022 run was no fluke.
“After each fight, me and my team sit down and look at what was good and what we could work on to improve, whether it was a knockout or whatever,” Sy said. “That’s why I don’t see myself as defending anything, because I don’t want to go in there with a defensive mindset. Obviously, I believe that I’m the guy to beat in the division, and this next fight will cement that.”
Stakes are undeniably high for both men. Magomedkerimov has finished three of his last five opponents and still remembers the sting of losing to Ray Cooper III in the 2021 welterweight final. While the rematch with the American Top Team product figures to by Sy’s toughest test yet, the Swede is no stranger to defying the odds.
Sy points to his growth throughout his PFL tenure as his source of confidence. He never expected a smooth journey. Despite his setbacks, Sy stands as the only fighter in PFL history to qualify for the playoffs in all five years of the company’s existence. The instances where he fell short served to fuel his motivation, and now that he has reached the top of the 170-pound weight class, he has no intention of relinquishing his position.
“I see fighting as a way to solve a puzzle,” Sy said. “This is just another puzzle, and I’m going to make sure I do everything in my ability to be victorious.”