Preview: PFL 8, 2022 Playoffs

Light Heavyweights

Will Fleury (10-3, 0-0 PFL) vs. Anthony Salamone (7-0, 0-0 PFL): Anchored at SBG Ireland, Fleury has competed for a number of organizations, including Bellator, Brave Combat Federation and, most recently, UAE Warriors, where he captured the promotion’s middleweight crown. He will face a lesser-known commodity in Salamone, who has faced largely underwhelming opposition while compiling an undefeated record. Fleury has solid power in his hands and a well-rounded game overall, and his ability to go into deep waters of a fight, as he did in winning the UAE Warriors title, should pay dividends. With Salamone being far less battle tested, the Frenchman still has plenty of questions to answer. Fleury by decision is the pick.

Featherweights

Nathan Kelly (5-2, 0-0 PFL) vs. Ben Ellis (4-1, 0-0 PFL): SBG Ireland’s Kelly has won five in a row after dropping his first two professional fights, and at 25 years old, he figures to still have plenty of room to grow. Ellis, meanwhile, has competed exclusively under the Cage Warriors banner heading into his PFL debut. Whoever puts on a better performance here will take a big step toward earning a spot on the PFL roster. Ellis wins a close decision.

Lightweights

Vojto Barborik (13-2, 0-0 PFL) vs. Radu Maxim (9-2, 0-0 PFL): Barborik is coming off a five-round defeat in a title bout against veteran competitor Ivan Buchinger at Oktagon MMA 27, a setback that ended a 10-fight winning streak for the Slovakian. Even though it was a loss, five-round championship experience is always valuable. Maxim will be making his first professional MMA appearance since November 2018, when he suffered a first-round submission loss to current UFC talent Joel Alvarez. It will be interesting to see how Maxim comes out following such a lengthy layoff, and it’s possible he drops a round or two just getting a feel for things. He may not have that long to get himself adjusted. Barborik by submission is the pick.

Bantamweights

Moktar Benkaci (20-7, 0-0 PFL) vs. Francesco Nuzzi (9-1, 0-0 PFL): A veteran of the M-1 Global and Cage Warriors organizations, Benkaci has won his last six professional appearances—including a five-round majority decision triumph against Tomas Deak in the I Am Fighter promotion in March 2020. Italy’s Nuzzi has won eight consecutive bouts while competing primarily on the regional circuit in his home country. While Nuzzi has youth on his side, Benkaci is durable, tough and experienced. He takes a decision.

Light Heavyweights

Lee Chadwick (27-16-1, 0-0 PFL) vs. Przemyslaw Mysiala (24-11-1, 0-0 PFL): This late addition to the card pairs two well-traveled veterans of the European scene. The 37-year-old Chadwick, a submission specialist with 14 tapouts to his credit, is coming off a 3-3 stint in Bellator MMA from 2019 to 2022. Mysiala, a 39-year-old London Shootfighters export, has lost two of his last three under the KSW banner. Mysiala’s fights rarely go the distance, as he has finished all but one of his 24 professional triumphs. On the flipside, he has also been stopped in 10 of 11 defeats. Chadwick by submission is the pick.