For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Championship.
Denis Goltsov and Oleg Popov meet Saturday for the heavyweight $1 million title at the 2024 PFL Championship. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup.
Denis Goltsov def. Tim Johnson – 2024 PFL 7: Nashville Playoffs
The 34-year-old Goltsov (35-8) will be going after a bit of redemption. He reached the 2023 playoff final against Renan Ferreira, but was knocked out in the second round. On his road back, he finished Linton Vassell with a third-round knockout to open the 2024 season, then knocked out Thiago Santos and Timothy Johnson in less than half a round each.
Oleg Popov def. Davion Franklin at 2024 PFL 4
Popov (19-1), a 32-year-old Russian, has not lost in eight years. His current 17-fight winning streak will be on the line against his countryman. After a knockout of former UFC heavyweight Antonio Silva in 2022 and a Bellator win in 20023, Popov knocked out prospect Steve Mowry in April, then outworked Davion Franklin and Vassell to reach the final.
From a betting standpoint, Goltsov-Popov is the closest pick on the main card. The fight started at near pick’em range, but has settled in with Popov as a slight favorite around as high as -150. The best comeback price on Goltsov is +125.
2024 PFL Championships faceoff off between Denis Goltsov vs Oleg Popov during the ceremonial weigh-ins at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)
Our staff members were as down-the-middle as they could be, too, and had Goltsov with a 6-5 edge over Popov in the picks.
As the main card opener, Goltsov and Popov are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 1:15 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Championship.