The lineup is set for the PFL’s first set of playoff fights next month in New York.
Anthony Pettis (25-13) remained the top lightweight seed despite an upset loss to Stevie Ray (24-10) two weeks ago. Ray’s win made him the No. 4 seed – which set up a rematch with Pettis in the four-man playoff field.
On the other side of the lightweight playoff bracket, No. 2 seed Olivier Aubin-Mercier (15-5) takes on No. 3 Alexander Martinez (10-2). The winners of those two fights will meet in the $1 million lightweight season final in October.
In the light heavyweight playoffs, there’s been a significant shakeup. No. 3 seed Antonio Carlos Jr. (15-5) is out of his fight against American Top Team teammate and No. 2 seed Omari Akhmedov (23-7-1), the PFL announced Friday. Stepping in for Junior is another one of Akhmedov’s teammates at American Top Team, Josh Silveira (9-0), who finished the regular season in fifth place and was an alternate.
Top light heavyweight seed Rob Wilkinson (15-2) will take on No. 4 Delan Monte (9-2) on the other half of the bracket.
The PFL’s first set of playoff fights take place Aug. 5 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The four-fight main card of playoff matchups airs on ESPN. A two-fight set of prelims and four fights after the main card stream on ESPN+.
The playoffs continue later in August with welterweights and heavyweights on tap Aug. 13 in Cardiff, Wales, and women’s lightweights and featherweights set for Aug. 20 in London.
The PFL 2022 Playoffs 1 card includes:
POSTLIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)
- Marthin Hamlet vs. Cory Hendricks
- Adam Keresh vs. Marcelo Nunes
- Ricardo Jimenez vs. Brahyan Zurcher
- Elvin Espinosa vs. Corey Jackson
MAIN CARD (ESPN)
- No. 1 Anthony Pettis vs. No. 4 Stevie Ray – lightweight semifinal
- No. 2 Omari Akhmedov vs. No. 5 Josh Silveira – light heavyweight semifinal
- No. 2 Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. N. 3 Alexander Martinez – lightweight semifinal
- No. 1 Robert Wilkinson vs. No. 4 Delan Monte – light heavyweight semifinal
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)
- Elvis Lebron vs. Alexei Pergande
- Lucas Barbosa vs. TBA
