PFL 9 will feature the culmination of the 2023 tournament rounds, setting the stage for the finals later this year. The final two semifinal round bouts we will spotlight come in the welterweight division where Sadibou Sy faces Carlos Leal and Magomed Magomedovkerimov fights Solomon Renfro.
PFL 9: Welterweights Ready To Wage War
This coming Wednesday night, the welterweight semifinals of the playoffs take to the SmartCage at PFL 9. The event airs live on ESPN and ESPN+ from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
One of the bouts will see Sadibou Sy fight Carlos Leal, while the other features Magomed Magomedkerimov and Solomon Renfro.
Along with this action, lightweights Clay Collard and Shane Burgos will headline with fellow lightweights Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Bruno Miranda also meeting. The main card kicks off with Biaggio Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, fighting Ed Davis.
Here is a closer look at the two fights to complete the pre-championship rounds.
PFL 9: Sadibou Sy Vs. Carlos Leal
Sy is the reigning welterweight champion, taking out Dilano Taylor in the finals last year. His 2023 run includes two finishes over Jarrah Al-Silawi and Shane Mitchell.
Overall, the veteran has not lost since a 2021 defeat in the semifinals to Magomedkerimov. He is 15-6-2 with eight knockout victories to his credit.
Leal is a rock-solid 5-1 since joining the PFL and 19-4 overall with wins in Bellator and Legacy Fighting Alliance. He downed David Zawada and Taylor during regular season action by stoppage to advance.
PFL 9: Magomed Magomedkerimov Vs. Solomon Renfro
After coming up short in the 2021 finals to Ray Cooper III, Magomedkerimov has won four in a row, including two 2023 finishes vs. Ben Egli and David Zawada. Neither fight made it out of the first round.
Back in 2018, he captured the PFL title with a second round submission over Cooper as he has put together a career record of 33-6 with 13 knockout and 10 more submission victories.
Renfro, a veteran of Dana White’s Contender Series, won his promotional debut with a second round knockout of Al-Silawai in June. He is unbeaten over his last three fights.
