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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

2023 PFL 3 predictions: Two unanimous picks from welterweight, lightweight openers

Sy
vs.
Al-Silawi
Egli
vs.
Magomedkerimov
Ray
vs.
Schulte
Manfio
vs.
Martinez
Lopez
vs.
Mitchell
Amir
vs.
Miranda
Jenkins
vs.
Juusola
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
45-33

Sy
(69%)

Magomedkerimov
(95%)

Schulte
(72%)

Manfio
(88%)

Lopez
(72%)

Miranda
(76%)

Jenkins
(82%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
48-30

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Schulte

Manfio

Lopez

Miranda

Jenkins
Matt Erickson
@MattE
48-30

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Schulte

Manfio

Lopez

Miranda

Jenkins
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
48-30

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Schulte

Manfio

Lopez

Miranda

Juusola
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
47-31

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Ray

Manfio

Lopez

Miranda

Jenkins
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
45-33

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Schulte

Manfio

Mitchell

Miranda

Jenkins
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
44-34

Al-Silawi

Magomedkerimov

Schulte

Manfio

Lopez

Amir

Jenkins
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
44-34
2018, 2022 Champion

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Ray

Manfio

Lopez

Miranda

Jenkins
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
44-34

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Ray

Manfio

Lopez

Miranda

Jenkins
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
43-35
2014 Champion

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Schulte

Manfio

Lopez

Miranda

Jenkins
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
43-35
2017 Champion

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Ray

Manfio

Lopez

Miranda

Jenkins
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
41-37

Sy

Magomedkerimov

Schulte

Manfio

Lopez

Miranda

Jenkins

The PFL wraps up its Las Vegas three-event residency this week with the start of the lightweight and welterweight regular seasons.

PFL 2023, Week 3 takes place Friday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

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

In the main event, 2022 welterweight season winner Sadibou Sy (13-6-2) takes on former Brave CF champion Jarrah Al-Silawi (18-4). Sy is nearly a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, and our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have him as a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

In the co-feature, Magomed Magomedkerimov (30-6) is by far the biggest favorite on the card at more than 12-1 in his welterweight bout against Ben Egli (14-4). Not surprisingly, Magomedkerimov is one of two unanimous picks on the main card.

Also on the main card, two-time (2018, 2019) lightweight season winner Natan Schulte (23-5-1) is back to take on Stevie Ray (25-11). Schulte is a 4-1 betting favorite, but Ray has a pocket of support that leaves Schulte with just a 7-4 picks lead.

Raush Manfio (16-4), the 2021 lightweight winner, takes on Alexander Martinez (10-3) to open his 2023 regular season. Even though Martinez is the slight -150 favorite at the betting window, Manfio is our staff members’ other unanimous pick a 11-0.

Shane Mitchell (13-4) takes on the unbeaten Nayib Lopez (15-0) at welterweight. Lopez is a -250 favorite and is a near-unanimous pick at 10-1. And -150 lightweight favorite Bruno Miranda (14-3) is a 10-1 pick over Ahmed Amir (12-3-1).

To open the main card, Brandon Jenkins (16-9) is a slight favorite at welterweight against Zach Juusola (13-9), and he’s got a big 10-1 picks lead.

In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Sy (69 percent), Magomedkerimov (95 percent), Schulte (72 percent), Manfio (88 percent), Lopez (72 percent), Miranda (76 percent) and Jenkins (82 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 3.

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