Opinion: PFL Has Five Fighters That Can Compete With Top 15 Ranked UFC Fighters Right Now

Each educated blended martial arts (MMA) fan is aware of there are proficient fighters exterior of Final Combating Championship (UFC), however most compete inside the most important battle promotion on the planet … UFC.

It was confirmed when all the Strikeforce fighters got here into UFC and captured gold, together with Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, Tryon Woodley, Fabricio Werdum, and Ronda Rousey, amongst others.

Nonetheless, it has been a minute since one other main promotion has had elite fighters that would compete among the many greatest contained in the Octagon. Skilled Fighters League (PFL), which now owns all of the Bellator athletes, has 5 fighters that may compete with ranked UFC fighters RIGHT NOW.

Dakota Ditcheva – Ladies’s Flyweight

Let’s begin with the latest fighter who turned heads. Yesterday (Fri., Nov. 29, 2024), Dakota Ditcheva dismantled former UFC fighter Taila Santos to attain $1 million and the 2024 PFL Flyweight title (watch highlights).

For a very long time, folks (myself included) thought Ditcheva was being protected by PFL and fed simple competitors. Properly, she went out and beat the hell out of Santos, who had a whole lot of success inside UFC. She gave Valentina Shevchenko all the pieces she might deal with and beat her in most followers’ eyes.

Not solely did Ditcheva dominate Santos, however she additionally turned the primary particular person to complete the Brazilian, which proves that she will be able to compete within the UFC and do properly.

I am not saying she is going to stroll into the promotion and beat Manon Fiorot, however would you confidently choose Maycee Barber to defeat Ditcheva? I would not.

Shamil Musaev – Welterweight

Shamil Musaev was the opposite fighter who competed yesterday. He brutally handed Magomed Umalatov his first skilled loss, knocking him out within the third spherical to say the 2024 PFL Welterweight championship.

Musaev, 30, is undefeated and has seemed sensational since signing with PFL. He additionally had an excellent run in KSW, which is a professional promotion.

The Welterweight division within the UFC is getting so much higher than it was a couple of years in the past. A ton of younger up-and-comers are dispatching the outdated guard, and Musaev would slot in completely.

Not solely is he a really expert fighter, however he additionally finishes fights brutally. The Russian was the primary fighter to knock out former interim Bellator Welterweight champion Logan Storley, who has a win over Michael Web page. Sure, that is MMA Math, however typically it is good to make use of to check and distinction.

I’d choose Musaev to defeat Gilbert Burns, who’s ranked No. 8 at present.

Patchy Combine – Bantamweight

I’ve written a number of tales about present Bellator Bantamweight champion Patchy Combine, claiming he is without doubt one of the greatest Bantamweights on the planet. Properly, I nonetheless assume he might simply be UFC champion.

I am breaking the fourth wall a little bit, however I’ve seen Combine and Merab Dvalishvilli spar a number of instances, and once I say spar, I actually imply battle as a result of that is what they do each single time. I will not say who wins more often than not, however when you watch any Dvalishvilli interview that mentions his sparring periods with Combine, you may work out the reply.

Okay, sufficient about sparring as a result of that is observe, proper?

Combine is using a seven-fight win streak, with 5 wins coming through end. These names embrace Kyoji Horiguchi, Magomed Magomedov, Albert Morales, Raufeon Stots, and Sergio Pettis – all unbelievable fighters.

Sure, his final battle, which was a rematch towards Magomedov, was very shut, and he misplaced a little bit of steam due to that, however he was severely compromised going into the battle.

His dimension at Bantamweight is ridiculous, his floor recreation is elite, and his putting will get higher each time he fights.

I’d choose Combine to defeat No. 6 ranked Marlon Vera daily of the week.

Johnny Eblen – Middleweight

Like Combine, Johnny Elben misplaced a little bit little bit of steam when he went to a cut up resolution towards Impa Kasanganay earlier this 12 months, however he rebounded final month with a dominant win over Fabian Edwards.

His dominant wins over Gegard Mousasi and Anatoly Tokov have been very spectacular and confirmed that he is an elite Middleweight. Moreover his cut up resolution win towards Kasanganay, Eblen has seemed unstoppable. He has good cardio, nice wrestling, a rock-solid chin, and enhancing boxing.

He may not be the most important finisher on this record, however breaking his opponents like he does is simply as spectacular.

I’d choose Eblen to defeat No. 7 ranked Marvin Vettori fairly simply.

Usman Nurmagomedov

The final fighter is Usman Nurmagomedov, and to be trustworthy, he is final as a result of I am nonetheless iffy about him. His final win towards Alexandr Shabliy was very spectacular as a result of Shabliy is an elite fighter in his personal proper.

Nonetheless, apart from Shabliy, his greatest wins are towards 40-year-old Benson Henderson and Brent Primus, which received overturned to a no-contest.

Nonetheless, even with a questionable resume, his expertise at simply 26 years outdated are excellent. Even UFC Light-weight champion Islam Makhachev says Nurmagomedov is healthier than he’s. Now, that is almost definitely as a result of they’re teammates and really shut, however it undoubtedly holds some weight.

I’ll have a greater grasp on how good he’s when he takes on surging contender Paul Hughes early subsequent 12 months, however for now, it will be foolish to assume he cannot beat No. 7 Michael Chandler proper now and even No. 9 ranked Beneil Dariush.

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