Welterweights
Sadibou Sy (14-6-2, 8-4-2 PFL) vs. Shane Mitchell (13-5, 0-1 PFL)ODDS: Sy (-600), Mitchell (+400)
After an uneven beginning to his PFL tenure, Sy seems to have figured things out over the course of the past year, winning the organization’s 2022 welterweight championship along the way. His momentum continued at PFL 3, where he caught Jarrah Al-Silawi with a perfectly timed knee to the body and finished the former two-division Brave Combat Federation champion with a flurry of punches in the second round for his fifth consecutive triumph. It was Sy’s first finish since 2019, but it is a reminder that he does have that ability in his arsenal: His ledger also includes body kick and head kick stoppages in PFL competition. More often, Sy uses his rangy frame and countering style to win closely contested decisions, but it is an approach that is effective for him. The Swede works behind a skilled jab and can pick his spots to land an arsenal of kicks to various levels. More importantly, his defensive wrestling has improved to a point where he is much more adept at keeping a fight on his terms. The biggest complaint regarding Sy is that the inactivity that comes with his countering style could cost him on the scorecards again down the road.
Mitchell made his PFL debut following a year-and-a-half layoff, and he succumbed to the smothering pressure and takedowns of Nayib Lopez Miranda in a unanimous decision defeat—this despite his opponent being deducted a point in the opening stanza. Mitchell’s record, which features 12 finishes among his 13 victories, is not as impressive as it looks considering all of his conquests occurred on the Australian regional scene. Against Miranda, he displayed a decent counter right hand, but he will have to be the initiator against Sy, who, as usual, will have a significant reach advantage. This seems like a fight tailor-made to propel the defending champ into the postseason. Look for Sy to potentially score his second-consecutive finish or at least win a clear-cut decision.
Continue Reading » Burgos vs. Nishikawa