Matches to Make After 2023 PFL 3

Lev PisarskyApr 15, 2023

The Professional Fighters League season continued in its third week featuring lightweights and welterweights, with a curious heavyweight fight thrown in for good measure. In the main event, 2022 welterweight ace Sadibou Sy, a rare fighter with two draws as well as a no contest on his record, began his 2023 campaign against Jarrah Al-Silawi.

Sy has been a long-time PFL veteran, competing in the promotion since 2018. He finally crashed through and won the title last Season with four straight triumphs over tough foes in Nikolay Aleksakhin, Rory MacDonald, Carlos Leal Miranda and Dilano Taylor. He faced the “Jordanian Lion” Jarrah Al-Silawi, who went 2-1 in PFL last year, his title hopes dashed at the hands of a brutal first-round knockout from Magomed Umalatov.

Sy made good on his promise to deliver finishes this PFL season, cleanly winning the first stanza before unleashing a gut-busting knee in the second, shattering Al-Silawi, and then finishing him off with punches.

In the other big fight of the card, 2022 PFL Season lightweight king Olivier Aubin-Mercier faced recent Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight contender Shane Burgos in what the oddsmakers had as an even money fight. Aubin-Mercier had been on fire since leaving the UFC, improving and finally achieving his prodigious potential while going a perfect 6-0, including seizing the Season Championship last year with a knockout of Steven Ray. Burgos had won his last two outings in the UFC, decisions over Charles Jourdain and Billy Quarantillo, but was moving up an entire weight class. The fight wasn't as close as analysts predicted, as “The Canadian Gangster” used a clever mix of grappling and striking to bamboozle Burgos, winning a dominant decision where he garnered each round on every card.

Elsewhere, undefeated Magomed Umalatov added another scintillating highlight to his ledger when he scorched last year's welterweight runner-up Taylor in just 91 seconds with punches. Brazilian Carlos Leal Miranda disposed of German David Zawada in just under half a round with his own barrage of punches. Veteran Clay Collard soundly defeated 20 year-old Japanese Shooto star Yamato Nishikawa by decision. PFL 2019 lightweight standout Natan Schulte easily won every stanza against 2022 PFL lightweight runner-up Ray. Perennial top PFL welterweight Magomed Magomedkerimov announced his title intentions with a gorgeous head kick knockout of Ben Egli in a little over a minute. Tough veteran Zach Juusola edged out UFC veteran Brandon Jenkins by decision.

Here are some potentially interesting match-ups for later in the PFL season:

Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Yamato Nishikawa

Facing a very tough opponent in Week 3 against Burgos, Aubin-Mercier deserves an easier foe, especially since he hasn't yet clinched a playoff spot. Not only would the talented but still raw 20 year-old Nishikawa fit the bill, but as we saw against Collard, the Japanese prospect has no problems throwing caution to the wind and producing exciting bouts, whether striking or grappling. Thus, the hope is that Aubin-Mercier makes the postseason, Nishikawa shows more of his ability, and the crowd goes home happy.

Magomed Umalatov vs. David Zawada

Umalatov looked like a budding star, which the PFL is seeking at welterweight, in destroying Dilano Taylor. Why not build on that hype and momentum by having Umalatov face former UFC veteran Zawada, who was just knocked out by Miranda? Another big highlight-reel knockout can only help him.

Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi

Magomedkerimov has already assured himself of another crack at a PFL championship, so why not give him a beneficial match-up and make another exciting fight for the fans? There should be plenty of powerful blows exchanged against Al-Silawi and a likely highlight finish.

Shane Burgos vs. Clay Collard

It would be a shame if high-profile signing Burgos wasn't able to show his excellent striking and have a shot at the playoffs. Thus, a showdown with fellow striker Collard, a man willing to go toe-to-toe and trade blows, makes perfect sense. Collard won this week but would also need a victory to secure a berth, meaning both would have plenty to fight for. And hopefully, it will be an exciting striking spectacle for the fans.