PFL 2019, Playoffs 2 predictions: Will two defending champs advance to finals?
The 2019 PFL playoffs continue Thursday, with the featherweight and lightweight brackets set to fight until a final is determined.
The eight-man featherweight bracket is led by No. 1 seed and defending champion Lance Palmer taking on No. 8 Gadzhi Rabadanov. The winner of that fight meets the winner of Alex Gilpin vs. Andre Harrison in one semifinal. On the other side of the bracket, the winnerss of No. 2 Movlid Khaybulaev vs. No. 7 Daniel Pineda and No. 3 Luis Rafael Laurentino vs. No. 6 Jeremy Kennedy will meet in the other semifinal.
Over at lightweight, another defending champion begins his quest to repeat as No. 1 Natan Schulte takes on Ramsey Nijem, with the winner meeting No. 4 Akhmed Aliev or No. 5 Rashid Magomedov in the semis. Meanwhile, No. 2 Islam Mamedov fights No. 7 Loik Radzhabov, with the winner facing No. 3 Chris Wade or No. 6 Nate Andrews.
Here’s a look at each bracket.
Featherweight
Lightweight
PFL 2019, Playoffs 2 takes place at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, and the card streams on ESPN+ and airs on ESPN2. You can check out the MMA Junkie staff’s predictions below:
Mike Bohn
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Laurentino def. Kennedy
- Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Khaybulaev def. Laurentino
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Schulte def. Nijem
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Wade def. Andrews
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Magomedov def. Schulte
- Mamedov def. Wade
Dave Doyle
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadonov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Laurentino def. Kennedy
- Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Khaybulaev def. Laurentino
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Nijem def. Schulte
- Aliev def. Magomedov
- Wade def. Andrews
- Mamedov def. Radzhabob
Semifinals
- Aliev def. Nijem
- Mamedov def. Wade
Matt Erickson
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Rabadanov def. Palmer
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Kennedy def. Laurentino
- Pineda def. Khaybulaev
Semifinals
- Rabadanov def. Harrison
- Pineda def. Kennedy
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Nijem def. Schulte
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Andrews def. Wade
- Radzhabov def. Mamedov
Semifinals
- Nijem def. Magomedov
- Radzhabov def. Andrews
Brian Garcia (“Goze”)
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Kennedy def. Laurentino
- Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Khaybulaev def. Kennedy
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Schulte def. Nijem
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Wade def. Andrews
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Schulte def. Magomeddov
- Wade def. Mamedov
George Garcia (“Gorgeous” George)
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Kennedy def. Laurentino
- Pineda def. Khaybulaev
Semifinals
- Harrison def. Palmer
- Kennedy def. Pineda
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Nijem def. Schulte
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Wade def. Nate Andrews
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Magomedov def. Nijem
- Wade def. Mamedov
Farah Hannoun
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Laurentino def. Kennedy
- Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Khaybulaev def. Laurentino
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Schulte def. Nijem
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Wade def. Andrews
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Magomedov def. Schulte
- Mamedov def. Wade
Ken Hathaway
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Kennedy def. Laurentino
- Movlid Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Khaybulaev def. Kennedy
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Schulte def. Nijem
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Wade def. Andrews
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Schulte def. Magomedov
- Mamedov def. Wade
Simon Head
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Laurentino def. Kennedy
- Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Khaybulaev def. Laurentino
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Schulte def. Nijem
- Aliev def. Magomedov
- Wade def. Andrews
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Schulte def. Aliev
- Mamedov def. Wade
Nolan King
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Laurentino def. Kennedy
- Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Khaybulaev def. Laurentino
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Schulte def. Nijem
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Andrews def. Wade
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Schulte def. Magomedov
- Mamedov def. Andrews
John Morgan
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Laurentino def. Kennedy
- Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Khaybulaev def. Laurentino
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Schulte def. Nijem
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Wade def. Andrews
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Magomedov def. Schulte
- Mamedov def. Wade
Simon Samano
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Laurentino def. Kennedy
- Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Laurentino def. Khaybulaev
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Schulte def. Nijem
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Andrews def. Wade
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Schulte def. Magomedov
- Mamedov def. Andrews
Dan Tom
Featherweight
Quarterfinals
- Palmer def. Rabadanov
- Harrison def. Gilpin
- Laurentino def. Kennedy
- Khaybulaev def. Pineda
Semifinals
- Palmer def. Harrison
- Khaybulaev def. Laurentino
Lightweight
Quarterfinals
- Schulte def. Nijem
- Magomedov def. Aliev
- Wade def. Andrews
- Mamedov def. Radzhabov
Semifinals
- Schulte def. Magomedov
- Mamedov def. Wade
PFL 2019, Playoffs 2 predictions: Will two defending champs advance to finals?