Matches to Make After 2023 PFL 5

PFL 5 2023 Regular Season featured a number of fast, furious finishes among female featherweights and male heavyweights.

In the heavyweight main event, 2022 PFL heavyweight champion Ante Delija battled Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Maurice Greene. This was actually Delija's first and only appearance this season, as he was injured and unable to fight in a scheduled April fight. However, he had won 4 in a row and 6 of 7 heading into the Greene fight, including two impressive knockouts of Mattheus Scheffel and one of Renan Ferreira. Greene, meanwhile, had lost in his 2022 PFL debut against Denis Goltsov but had come back strong, knocking out Marcelo Nunes in his first appearance this season. Greene began well, winning the first round with his striking. However, Delija consistently took him down over the next 10 minutes, taking the final two stanzas for the close unanimous decision. Unfortunately however, that means neither man will make the 2023 PFL postseason.

In the co-main, 2022 PFL women's lightweight championship Larissa Pacheco squared off against Amber Leibrock. Pacheco had won her last 7 fights, 5 of them by brutal knockout, one a dominant victory over all-time WMMA great Julia Budd, and another a decision over seemingly unstoppable Kayla Harrison, handing the two-time Olympic gold medalist her first defeat. Leibrock was riding a 4-fight winning streak of her own, including a highlight-reel head kick knockout of Martina Jindrova in her first PFL fight this season in just over 2 minutes. However, Pacheco showed that she was a completely different caliber of fighter, brutally clobbering Leibrock with punches, causing numerous staggers and knockdowns before the referee saved her 45 seconds into the contest. Pacheco is a heavy favorite to repeat as a PFL champion this year.

In other significant results, Denis Goltsov needed just 18 seconds to dispose of Yorgan De Castro, who was starring in UFC co-mains a few years ago. Goltsov has a perfect 12 points and the No. 1 seed headed into the postseason, with his knockout earlier this season over Cezar Ferreira taking slightly over two minutes. Marcelo Nunes came back strong after being finished by Greene, knocking out fellow Brazilian and UFC veteran Danilo Marques in the first frame, also making the postseason. Brazilian knockout artist Renan Ferreira came back to the PFL with a vengeance, requiring 50 seconds to leave 2022 PFL heavyweight runner-up Matheus Schefel a prostrate mess on the canvas. Lastly, in a battle of young undefeated prospects, Jordan Heiderman prevailed when Patrick Brady bowed out halfway through the first round due to a knee injury.

Marina Mokhnatkina won a competitive grappling battle against 20 year-old Evelyn Martins, handing the prospect her first defeat. Martins came in a pound over the limit but Mokhnatkina still proved stronger in wrestling exchanges. Mokhnatkina heads to the postseason with a perfect 2-0 record. Olena Kolesnyk is the third fighter with such a mark, as she swept all three rounds against undersized Yoko Higashi. Let's take a look at the PFL postseason semifinal matchups:

Denis Goltsov vs. Jordan Heiderman

The experienced and technical Goltsov, with a record of 31-7 and seemingly now in his prime, will be a huge favorite over 7-0 Heiderman. Amusingly though, they're similar in age, with Goltsov recently celebrating his 33rd birthday and Heiderman set to turn 32 in a couple of months. Still, “TUF 30” alum Heiderman is a strong, athletic guy who may present some challenges to “The Russian Bogatyr.” And if not, Goltsov may add a third straight fantastic knockout win to his ledger.

Renan Ferreira vs. Marcelo Nunes

In this all-Brazilian clash, Ferreira will have a huge striking advantage while Nunes, despite the KO over yet another Brazilian in Danilo Marques, will be looking to grapple. Nunes has lost by knockout while Ferreira has lost by being taken down. Ferreira may have the big advantage early with his dynamic striking, but if Nunes takes it into deeper water, he may prevail. It will likely be a fun, action-packed contest regardless of the victor.

Larissa Pacheco vs. Olena Kolesnyk 3

Pacheco has already smashed apart Kolesnyk twice already, the first time in 4:48 and the second time in 2:09. Pacheco looks better than ever now at featherweight and is in her prime at 28 years old, while Kolesnyk is 33 and unlikely to improve much upon her previous performances. Pacheco will be an astronomical favorite, but regardless, it should be entertaining to see her deliver another thrilling knockout.

Marina Mokhnatkina vs. Amber Leibrock

This is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup similar to Nunes vs. Ferreira earlier, with the physically powerful sambo world champion Mokhnatkina looking to wrestle and submit Leibrock from the opening bell, while Leibrock will desperately try to keep it standing and land a huge strike. Leibrock was submitted in Bellator by Jessica Borga back in 2019, but has improved since then. Conversely, Mokhnatkina has been defeated by strikers with weaker grappling, dropping decisions to Liana Jojua and Janay Harding in 2018 and 2019, respectively. She too is a better fighter now. This should be a closely-matched contest with each fighter having a huge advantage in one area of the battle, and many results possible.