Preview: PFL 2024 Season Championships

PFL Welterweight Final

Shamil Musaev (19-0-1, 3-0 PFL) vs. Magomed Umalatov (17-0, 8-0 PFL)

ODDS: Musaev (-270), Umalatov (+185)

Somebody’s “0” has to go in this showdown for the welterweight tournament title, and these two men couldn’t be better matched. Umalatov and Musaev have similar styles and carry fight-ending power into their championship showdown. The question? Who can impose his will early and gain momentum? Umalatov has been in the PFL since 2021, but there has always been trouble outside of the cage that has kept him for making a deep playoff run. He has seen and defeated the best the organization has to offer, but he has always been held back from proving his mettle as a champion. He has a very grounded game in which his striking sets up his grappling and vice versa. He will take the fight where it needs to go and dominate.

The exact same thing can be said about Musaev. Both fighters are so well-rounded that they don’t need to limit themselves to one thing to win a fight. Musaev can control the fight standing or on the ground and possesses the power to put opposition to sleep early. Umalatov comes out of the decorated Eagles MMA camps that house some of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The camp that has produced Khabib Nurmagomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev simply doesn’t know how to lose, and in a fight this close, that slight edge is what puts Umalatov on top. Of the six PFL championship bouts, this one is undoubtedly the toughest to pick a winner. They are both so well-rounded that either of them could get the better of the other, depending on the day. It would be a shame if they only meet once in their careers.

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Khizriev vs. Loughnane
Ditcheva vs. Santos
Kasanganay vs. Yagshimuradov
Musaev vs. Umalatov
Rabadanov vs. Primus
Goltsov vs. Popov
The Prelims