PFL's 2024 Championship card takes place this weekend in Saudi Arabia and it features the 6 grand final fights, as well as the PFL MENA finals, and some great prelims. This should be a great card to watch as there are multiple championship fights and it takes place on a weekend where there is no UFC. The event is broadcast on ESPN + starting at 9:30 am but with so many 5 round fights, the card is likely to take all day.

PFL 2024 Championship Grand Finals:

These fighters are fighting for the grand prize of $1 million and the 2024 championship belt.

BRENDAN LOUGHNANE (30-5) vs. TIMUR KHIZRIEV (17-0) – Featherweight Championship

This is a striker vs. wrestler fight. Loughnane has much more tools on the feet than Khizriev does, but he will need to defend the take downs. Khizriev is also coming off a striking win against muay thai fighter Gabriel Braga. I am picking Khizriev to win by decision, but Loughnane is still dangerous as he nearly knocked out Kai Kamaka III in the first round in his most recent fight.

Pick: Timur Khizriev by decision. Low-medium confidence.

DAKOTA DITCHEVA (13-0) vs. TAILA SANTOS (22-3) – Women's Flyweight Championship

I did once doubt Ditcheva as she hasn't fought the best competition – and she still hasn't, but I think her skills are now undeniable. I don't think it's a stretch to say that we haven't seen this level of striking and athleticism at this weight class. Santos has proven that she can grapple, nearly upsetting Valentina Shevchenko in her title performance in the UFC. But from what I have seen from Dakota she should present a lot of problems for Taila on the feet. My only concern is that her grappling against high level competition is still pretty unknown.

Pick: Dakota Ditcheva by KO/TKO. Medium confidence.

IMPA KASANGANAY (18-4) vs. DOVLET YAGSHIMURADOV (24-7-1) – Light Heavyweight Championship

Impa Kasanganay looks to win the title for the second year in a row. He fights a powerful, pressure forward boxer-wrestler. Dovlet is going to be a tough stylistic match up for Impa but I think that Impa is the more technical fighter and if he can survive the first two rounds he should be able to take over. Dovlet is going to be live for an early KO but Impa has already proven that he is willing to wear his opponent down with wrestling in the clinch to wear them down. I think this could look similar to Impa's first win over Josh Silveira where he took over the fight as Silveira got tired.

Pick: Impa Kasanganay by decision. Medium confidence.

MAGOMED UMALATOV (17-0) vs. SHAMIL MUSAEV (19-0-1) – Welterweight Championship

My opinion of Musaev has completely flipped on Musaev this year. Prior to signing with the PFL, Musaev was a wild man who looked like he didn't have much control over his aggression (inside and outside of the cage). This year he has really improved by being more patient and picking his spots to explode. He has defeated tough wrestlers to get to the finals. Umalatov has been signed to the PFL since 2021 and over that period of time his style has changed a lot. He was mostly a striker but recently he has started to implement a lot more wrestling. I like that he is proving that he is a well rounded fighter but his recent performances haven't been as impressive as Musaev's. I like Musaev to find a finish here.

Pick: Shamil Musaev by KO/TKO. Medium-high confidence.

BENT PRIMUS (15-3) vs. GADZHI RABADANOV (23-4-2) – Lightweight Championship

This is an interesting fight as I don't agree with the odds. I think this fight could end up being quite close. Primus is old but he still is a big guy for the weight class and is a talented wrestler. Gadzhi is also a wrestler but he is going to be the better striker here. I am picking Gadzhi to win by landing more volume but I think that Primus can make it close.

Pick: Gadzhi Rabadanov by decision. Low confidence.

DENIS GOLTSOV (35-8) vs. OLEG POPOV (19-1) – Heavyweight Championship

Denis Goltsov is a giant heavyweight with big power and some wreslting in his back pocket. I do like Oleg to win this fight though. Oleg is surprisingly athletic considering his build and his boxing is pretty fast. He is mostly a wrestler and looks to control on top. I do think in this fight he can wear on Goltsov and win by late finish.

Pick: Oleg Popov by KO/TKO. Low confidence.

PFL 2024 MENA Finals:

MOHAMMAD ALAQRAA (7-0) vs. OMAR EL DAFRAWY (12-6) – Welterweight Championship

Pick: Mohammad Alaqraa by decision. High confidence.

ALI TALEB (11-1) vs. RACHID HAZ (15-3) – Bantamweight Championship

Pick: Ali Taleb by KO/TKO. Medium-high confidence.

MOHSEN MOHAMMADSEIFI (6-2) vs. GEORGES EID (10-4) – Lightweight Championship

Pick: Mohsen Mohammadseifi by KO/TKO. Low-medium confidence.

ABDALRAHMAN ALHYSAT (5-0) vs. ABDULLAH AL-AQHTANI 2 (9-2) – Featherweight Championship

Pick: Abdalrahman Alhysat by decision. Medium-high confidence.

Prelims:

MANSOUR BARNAOUI (21-6) vs. ALFIE DAVIS (17-4-1) – Lightweight

Pick: Mansour Barnaoui by submission. High confidence.

SLIM TRABELSI (7-0) vs. ABRAHAM BABLY (5-0) – Heavyweight

Pick: Slim Trabelsi by KO/TKO. High confidence.

JESUS PINEDO (23-6-1) vs. JEREMY KENNEDY (19-4) – Featherweight

Pick: Jesus Pinedo by decision. Medium confidence.

COSTELLO VAN STEENIS (15-3) vs. JOAO VITOR DANTAS (7-1) – Middleweight

Pick: Costello van Steenis by submission. Medium-high confidence.