PFL 5: Heavyweights and featherweights aim for playoffs

The PFL’s heavyweight and featherweight divisions take centre stage at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday night as PFL 5 plays host to the second round of group stage bouts for the two weight classes in the 2022 season.

Topping the heavyweight table after the first round of matchups is Brazil’s Renan Ferreira, but he sits tied on six points with Denis Goltsov and Bruno Cappelozza.

Ferreira faces a tricky second-round matchup against Klidson Abreu, while Goltzov and Cappelozza take on Matheus Scheffel and Maurice Greene, respectively.

Green is one of three new additions to the heavyweight lineup, joining Juan Adams and Shelton Graves to replace Ali Isaev, Jamelle Jones and Stuart Austin, who were each forced to withdraw due to visa issues (for Isaev) and injuries, respectively.

In the featherweight division, last year’s semi-finalist Brendan Loughnane is eyeing a spot in the playoffs for the second straight season, and hopes he’ll earn his spot with a decisive victory over replacement opponent Ago Huskic, who has stepped in on short notice to replace the injured Boston Salmon.

Another tournament favourite facing unexpected opposition is Bubba Jenkins. The former Brave CF featherweight champion will take on Reinaldo Ekson after Jenkins’ original opponent, Saba Bolaghi, was forced off due to injury.

Both Loughnane and Jenkins were strongly fancied to go all the way in 2021, but both fell at the semi-final stage. They’ll be determined to claim strong wins and put themselves in a position to go one better this time around.

There’s also a pivotal clash in the lightweight division, as former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis takes on Scotland’s Stevie Ray with both men still in with a chance of claiming a spot in the lightweight playoffs.