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PFL Finals: Denis Goltsov vs. Oleg Popov early preview and prediction

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PFL Finals: Denis Goltsov vs. Oleg Popov early preview and prediction

As a seasoned gamer of combat sports, I can confidently say that the PFL 2024 heavyweight finals between Denis Goltsov and Oleg Popov is shaping up to be an electrifying showdown. With both fighters having impressive resumes, it’s hard not to get excited about this matchup.

In simple terms, the regular season of PFL 2024 has transitioned to its playoff phase, starting with event PFL 7 held on August 2nd, live from Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Tennessee. This event featured the semifinals for both the heavyweight and women’s flyweight divisions. As a consequence, the contenders for these divisions who will vie for their respective titles at PFL 10 have been decided.

As a dedicated gamer following the PFL heavyweight division, I can say it’s been an exciting ride! The first time we saw a heavyweight champ was back in 2018, and since then, a fresh champion has emerged annually – except for 2020, you know, pandemic-related reasons. Now, the 2024 heavyweight title will mark the fifth in our tournament’s history, and here’s the kicker: neither finalist has ever worn that belt before! So, we’re definitely in for a new champion to add to the trophy case.

2018 saw Philippe Lins emerge victorious over Josh Copeland to claim the championship title. In 2019, Ali Isaev triumphed against Jared Rosholt, earning him the right to be called the champion of that year. The PFL regular season resumed in 2021, and Bruno Cappelozza claimed the championship after defeating Ante Delija. Later in 2022, Delija ascended to the championship position, besting Matheus Scheffel. The most recent regular season in 2023 culminated with Renan Ferreira vanquishing Denis Goltsov, earning him the title of champion.

In the finals of the 2024 regular season heavyweight championship, Goltsov will face off against Oleg Popov. This competition offers Goltsov an opportunity to emulate Delija’s achievements by transitioning from runner-up to undisputed champion for two consecutive years. Meanwhile, Popov, who has been impressing everyone in his debut year with the PFL, now stands a chance of winning gold for the first time.

In this year’s tournament, Goltsov has put on an impressive show. He started off at PFL 1 by defeating Linton Vassell in the third round with a TKO. Unfortunately, his initial opponent, Sergey Bilostenniy, was unable to compete, so he ended up facing Thiago Santos at PFL 4 instead. Despite this change of plans, Goltsov still emerged victorious in the first round with another TKO, securing a spot in the semi-finals. At PFL 7, Goltsov took on Tim Johnson and won that fight in the first round using ground and pound tactics.

In the perspective of Popov, the 2024 tournament serves as a testing ground for his grit and readiness to battle any opponent. His debut at PFL 1 ended with a second-round TKO victory over Steve Mowry following punches from a crucifix position. However, at PFL 4, Popov experienced two consecutive opponent changes: first, he was set to face Blagoy Ivanov and then Marcelo Nunes, but both fights were cancelled. In the end, he faced Davion Franklin at PFL 4, winning via a unanimous decision. Similarly, his opponent for PFL 7 was initially Valentin Moldavsky, but due to an unexpected change, Popov fought Linton Vassell instead, emerging victorious with another unanimous decision win.

At PFL 10, Goltsov and Popov will both strive to claim the title of the inaugural 2024 heavyweight champion for their respective careers. However, only one of them will leave as the undisputed champion. Several elements might influence who ultimately takes home the championship belt.

Preview and prediction for the heavyweight finals match

At present, Goltsov boasts a record of 35 victories against 8 defeats, and he’s on a three-match winning spree. His professional career kicked off in August 2010, but it wasn’t until June 2019 that he joined the PFL. The vast majority of his wins are knockouts (18), with submissions accounting for 11 and the remaining six being decisions.

As a gamer, I’ve been on an unstoppable 17-fight winning streak with a 19-win and only 1 loss record. My professional gaming journey began back in October 2015, and since then, I’ve battled it out at multiple gaming events before joining the PFL in April 2024. Before that, I scored a unanimous decision win in my one and only fight with Bellator, which went down in 2023. Nine of my victories were by knockout, seven others came from decisions, and I’ve also earned three submission wins to add to my record.

Goltsov and Popov have demonstrated that they can secure a win through various methods, but they’ve both exhibited a preference for delivering spectacular knockout finishes. At PFL 10, it’s likely that these two will strive to capture the 265-pound title in an impressive and memorable manner.

As a seasoned mixed martial artist and PFL championship contender, I, Goltsov, have the upper hand with my extensive experience compared to my upcoming rival. Popov’s only defeat happened back in 2016, during his third fight ever, but he’s been on an unstoppable roll since then. In contrast, I’ve ended each of this season’s bouts for me. Twice, Popov has had to rely on the judges’ decision, while I’ve finished my opponents in all three encounters.

In this contest, expertise is likely to outshine the advantage of pace. Goltsov should be able to accomplish what he nearly did in 2023, yet don’t underestimate Popov, as he won’t make things a breeze.

Prediction: Denis Goltsov defeats Oleg Popov via unanimous decision.

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2024-08-06 03:13

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