If you aren't watching this PFL season don't call yourself an MMA fan

[EndlessCritic]

The PFL roster has always been fantastic despite the promotion's goofy league format.

This year, with a simple 8-fighter single elimination format, it feels like we're in the prime Bellator years once again.

PFL has done a fantastic job of stacking their tournaments with a good mix of established contenders and up and coming prospects. The cards over the next three weeks are all stacked on paper, with tonight's arguably being the most interesting -- and probably more interesting than most UFC fight nights.

 

[nonoob]

This Event will for sure bang.

 

[careto]

The PFL roster has always been fantastic despite the promotion's goofy league format.

This year, with a simple 8-fighter single elimination format, it feels like we're in the prime Bellator years once again.

PFL has done a fantastic job of stacking their tournaments with a good mix of established contenders and up and coming prospects. The cards over the next three weeks are all stacked on paper, with tonight's arguably being the most interesting -- and probably more interesting than most UFC fight nights.

please list the established contenders and up and coming prospecte that make this a "must watch" or else

 

[The_Renaissance]

Yeah the straight up tournament is definitely more appealing, however, there's a fair bit of dross in those lineups.

 

[EndlessCritic]

please list the established contenders and up and coming prospecte that make this a "must watch" or else

Umm.... on tonight's card some of the established contenders:

Jason Jackson
Logan Storley
Movlid Khaybulaev
Adam Borics
Gabriel Braga
Berkhamov

Interesting up and comers:
Thad Jean
Tae Kyun Kim
Kikuiri

Unknowns
Dupras
Luciano


Edit: Now, I can appreciate if you're an MMA casual saying "Who?". But, from someone who actually follows the sport, I've been hyping up guys like Tae Kyun Kim for years. Source: https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/...f-the-year-contenders.4215596/#post-166757799

Thread 'Pouya Rahmani and Tae Kyun Kim Signed to PFL for 2025 Tournaments'

Feb 18, 2025

Hard work pays off for Pouya Rahmani as heavyweight lands deal with PFL | The National

Iranian wrestler confident of making a big impression on his debut in the promotion's Global Tournament

www.thenationalnews.com

STACKED WELTERWEIGHT AND FEATHERWEIGHT ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 PFL WORLD TOURNAMENT

16 Top Fighters Set for High-Stakes, Single-Elimination Tournament Beginning on April 3 2025 PFL World Tourname...

pflmma.com

Talk about two fantastic signings. Holy shit.

• EndlessCritic
• Replies: 18
• Forum: Worldwide MMA Discussion

• 

 

[Luthien]

 

[Koala]

Unknowns
Dupras

Fred Dupras is a guilotine specialist who comes from the French Canadian scene, used to train with GSP, he is now training in the new OAM's gym

 

[TheBrownRanger]

I can agree. I like the de facto return of the Bjorn era and am looking forward to this season.

 

[EndlessCritic]

Fred Dupras is a guilotine specialist who comes from the French Canadian scene, used to train with GSP, he is now training in the new OAM's gym

He's a massive underdog on the betting lines and is being given virtually no chance against Braga. That's why I'm saying he's relatively unknown. He's taking a big step up in competition and nobody knows how good he is.

Thad Jean on the other hand is favoured to beat Berkhamov, which is pretty insane to me.

 

[careto]

Umm.... on tonight's card some of the established contenders:

Jason Jackson
Logan Storley
Movlid Khaybulaev
Adam Borics
Gabriel Braga
Berkhamov

Interesting up and comers:
Thad Jean
Tae Kyun Kim
Kikuiri

Unknowns
Dupras
Luciano


Edit: Now, I can appreciate if you're an MMA casual saying "Who?". But, from someone who actually follows the sport, I've been hyping up guys like Tae Kyun Kim for years. Source: https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/...f-the-year-contenders.4215596/#post-166757799

Thread 'Pouya Rahmani and Tae Kyun Kim Signed to PFL for 2025 Tournaments'

Feb 18, 2025

Hard work pays off for Pouya Rahmani as heavyweight lands deal with PFL | The National

Iranian wrestler confident of making a big impression on his debut in the promotion's Global Tournament

www.thenationalnews.com

STACKED WELTERWEIGHT AND FEATHERWEIGHT ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 PFL WORLD TOURNAMENT

16 Top Fighters Set for High-Stakes, Single-Elimination Tournament Beginning on April 3 2025 PFL World Tourname...

pflmma.com

Talk about two fantastic signings. Holy shit.

• EndlessCritic
• Replies: 18
• Forum: Worldwide MMA Discussion

• 

I'll concede to Borics and Berkhamov but I dont know anyone who would give a shit about J.Jackson and/or Storley hugging someone for 15 minutes. The rest are gatekeeprs at best, yes even Koreshkov is a gatekeeper at this stage if his career. Kim is a good up and comer but if this is the best PFL has to offer after the Bellator acquisition, then they deserve all the shit they get.

 

[careto]

He's a massive underdog on the betting lines and is being given virtually no chance against Braga. That's why I'm saying he's relatively unknown. He's taking a big step up in competition and nobody knows how good he is.

Thad Jean on the other hand is favoured to beat Berkhamov, which is pretty insane to me.

Is there something we need to know about Jean or Berkhamov? This betting line is crazy, Berkhamov should be at least -250 but is the other way around.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Is there something we need to know about Jean or Berkhamov? This betting line is crazy, Berkhamov should be at least -250 but is the other way around.

Thad is very athletic. Kind of blue chip prospect kinda guy.

Berkhamov also not that good really

 

[TITS]

I'd be more excited if it wasn't for all the cancellations and last minute pull-outs.

 

[careto]

Thad is very athletic. Kind of blue chip prospect kinda guy.

Berkhamov also not that good really

Noted, I'm staying out of it, then. I was moderately high on him until the Larkin KO. He has faltered a bit since then.

 

[EndlessCritic]

I'll concede to Borics and Berkhamov but I dont know anyone who would give a shit about J.Jackson and/or Storley hugging someone for 15 minutes. The rest are gatekeeprs at best, yes even Koreshkov is a gatekeeper at this stage if his career. Kim is a good up and comer but if this is the best PFL has to offer after the Bellator acquisition, then they deserve all the shit they get.

Storley is an elite fighter with wins over two UFC ranked welterweights right now (Page and Buckley). He also had an extremely competitive fight with Amosov. I don't care if his style is boring, he's an elite fighter.

People have been giving a shit about Jason Jackson since he beat the fuck out of Amosov. He's looked near flawless for 8 years. His loss to Ruth was a robbery, and he won two rounds in his title fight loss to Kuramagomedov. There is a good case to make that he should be the tournament favorite. I had completely written the guy off after failed stints on TUF and DWCS, but he has completely redeemed his career, and is an elite contender.

Koreshkov is a gatekeeper at this point in his career. I agree.

Thad Jean just won a PFL tournament last year to get entry into this tournament. That's the perfect kind of up and comer that belongs in this field.

 

[skylolow]

The tournaments are solid for what they are. I'll be watching.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

I can barely bring myself to care about actual orgs much less the gimmicky bush leagues

 

[EndlessCritic]

I can barely bring myself to care about actual orgs much less the gimmicky bush leagues

PFL's point system was gimmicky. This is a simple single elimination bracket. Nothing gimmicky about that.

Calling PFL "bush league" is ridiculous. The fighter quality is fantastic. Shamil Musaev and Dakota Ditcheva had incredible years last year.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

I remember, when the WSOF was initially announced, like 10-12 years ago, I was excited and made a thread about it. The whole concept was...GP style tourneys in every weight class. Then the WSOF began, and was like any regional MMA org, no tourneys at all. Then PFL was announced as the replacement for WSOF, and that was really GPs either. We are finally getting the original vision they had when this idea began, years and years later, and I'm finally interested.

 

[EndlessCritic]

I remember, when the WSOF was initially announced, like 10-12 years ago, I was excited and made a thread about it. The whole concept was...GP style tourneys in every weight class. Then the WSOF began, and was like any regional MMA org, no tourneys at all. Then PFL was announced as the replacement for WSOF, and that was really GPs either. We are finally getting the original vision they had when this idea began, years and years later, and I'm finally interested.

Was WSOF ever marketed as having GPs?

Regardless, WSOF gave us Marlon Moraes, Fitch getting choked out, Palhares taking limbs, and Gaethje/Palomino 1 and 2, and for that I'll be forever grateful.