2022 PFL Playoffs 1 predictions: Can Stevie Ray upset Anthony Pettis again?

	Pettis vs. Ray	Akhmeddov vs. Silveira	Aubin-Mercier vs. Martinez	Wilkinson vs. Monte
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 127-74	Pettis (60%)	Silveira (59%)	Aubin-Mercier (88%)	Wilkinson (74%)
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 136-70 2018 Champion	Ray	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 132-74 2014 Champion	Pettis	Silveira	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 132-74	Ray	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 128-78	Pettis	Silveira	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Simon Samano @SJSamano 127-79	Pettis	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 126-80	Pettis	Silveira	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 125-81	Pettis	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
Nolan King @mma_kings 123-83	Ray	Akhmedov	Martinez	Wilkinson
Brian Garcia @thegoze 121-85 2017 Champion	Pettis	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 114-92	Pettis	Silveira	Martinez	Wilkinson
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 101-105	Pettis	Akhmedov	Aubin-Mercier	Wilkinson

The PFL returns this week for the first of three sets of playoff semifinals, starting with lightweights and light heavyweights.

The 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 event takes place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+ and ahead of post-lim qualifiers on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, No. 1 lightweight seed Anthony Pettis (25-13) takes on Stevie Ray (24-10) in a rematch from the regular season. Ray upset Pettis in their first meeting with a second-round submmission. The fight nearly is a pick’em. Pettis is -115 at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Ray is -110. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers largely are siding with Pettis to move on to the final. They have him with a big 8-3 picks lead.

At light heavyweight, No. 2 Omari Akhmedov (23-7-1) meets late replacement Josh Silveira (9-0). Silveira was an alternate and not in the playoffs until Antonio Carlos Jr. pulled out. Silveira is a -220 favorite, but it’s Akhmedov with a 7-4 lead in the picks from our staff members.

In the other lightweight semifinal, Olivier Aubin-Mercier (15-5) is a -240 favorite against Alexander Martinez (10-2) and he has a big 9-2 picks advantage.

And to open the main card, our only unanimous pick is in the other light heavyweight semifinal. Rob Wilkinson (15-2) is this week’s biggest playoff favorite at -340 against Delan Monte (9-2), and he’s got an 11-0 picks shutout.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Pettis (60 percent), Silveira (59 percent), Aubin-Mercier (88 percent) and Wilkinson (74 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Playoffs 1.

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