This past weekend was filled with action-packed MMA events. The PFL Regular Season: Heavyweights and Women’s Featherweights, Bellator 297, and UFC Fight Night all took place, providing fans with plenty of excitement.
On Friday night, defending champions Ante Delija and Larissa Pacheco both claimed victories. However, only Pacheco secured a spot in this year’s PFL playoffs. Meanwhile, Patricio “Pitbull” Freire failed to make MMA history against reigning Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis. And Yoel Romero, who attempted to find the fountain of youth with a big win over Vadim Nemkov, was unable to secure the Bellator light heavyweight title.
Despite all the hype surrounding Freire, Pettis emerged as the star of the event. Though he was defending his Bellator bantamweight title against Freire, Pettis was overshadowed by the latter’s bid for a third divisional title. Pettis, however, proved that he is one of the best bantamweight fighters in the world with a poised and sublime performance. He kept Freire at bay, beat him to the punch, and showed that he is an elite talent at 135 pounds.
Pettis’ victory is even more impressive considering he had not fought since December 2021 due to knee surgery. Over the past year-plus, it seemed like the division had moved on without him. But with this win, Pettis has proven that he is back and better than ever. He now looks forward to a potential matchup with Patchy Mix, the new “it” name in the bantamweight division.
The PFL also saw some action on Friday night, with Ante Delija winning the main event against Maurice Greene by unanimous decision. Unfortunately, this was not enough to earn him a playoff spot as he had pulled out of his April season opener due to injury. Denis Goltsov and Renan Ferreira, however, both claimed knockout victories earlier in the night. Goltsov’s win was particularly impressive, as he knocked out Yorgan De Castro in a PFL heavyweight-record 18 seconds with a single straight right hand. Ferreira also shone, knocking out Matheus Scheffel in 50 seconds with a lightning flurry against the cage. With their wins, Goltsov and Ferreira now have momentum heading into the playoffs, where they are seeded first and second.
Bellator’s Norbert Novenyi Jr. also impressed on Friday night, securing his fifth win with the promotion and sixth career win with a knockout over Kamil Oniszczuk in just 46 seconds. The win was Novenyi’s third consecutive first-round finish, further proving that he has a bright future ahead of him in the sport.
Overall, it was an exciting weekend for MMA fans, with plenty of surprises and standout performances. While some fighters may have fallen short of their goals, others proved that they are forces to be reckoned with in their respective divisions. As the playoffs approach, fans eagerly await more thrilling bouts and upsets in the world of MMA.
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