Clay Collard Seeks to Clinch Playoff Spot Against Mads Burnell at PFL 5

June 18, 2024

1 year

Clay Collard can most politely described as a dedicated employee of the Professional Fighters League. Calling Collard a little bit crazy wouldn’t be an off-base opinion. Collard will fight five times in 2024 if he reaches the PFL lightweight championship bout for the second straight year.

Unless someone enters the season as an injury replacement, the way the PFL is structured is so that fighters have to compete four times in a year to capture the crown. But Collard made his workload a little bit tougher.

In addition to fighting in the lightweight season to pursue a $1 million prize, Collard fought at the PFL vs. Bellator card earlier this year. Collard, who is currently in a good position to make the playoffs, can reach the final. He will have fought five times in 2024.

Mads Burnell had a surprising debut in PFL. The veteran fighter was caught by Michael Dufort in the second round with a few surprising strikes. When the fight hit the canvas, Burnell found himself in trouble quickly. He took a submission loss, and it leaves him in a difficult spot to make the playoffs, according to MMAfighting latest news.

Burnell will likely need a first-round victory over Collard to grab the victory. But Collard is a pressure fighter who usually overwhelms his opponents with his high-volume output. Burnell won’t be able to keep up with Collard, who will head back to the playoffs.

Bets to consider: Collard moneyline, Under 2.5 rounds

PFL Lightweight regular season standingsTop four make playoffs
	Name	Win	Loss	Points
1.	Michael Dufort	1	0	5*
2.	Clay Collard	1	0	5
3.	Brent Primus	1	0	5
4.	Elvin Espinoza	1	0	4
5.	Gadzhi Rabadanov	1	0	3
6.	Solomon Renford	0	1	0
7.	Adam Piccolotti	0	1	0
8.	Bruno Miranda	0	1	0
9.	Patricky Pitbull	0	1	0
10.	Mads Burnell	0	1	0
*Tiebreaker for points is based on time of finish.

Defending Light Heavyweight Champion Under Pressure to Finish

Clay Collard Seeks to Clinch Playoff Spot Against Mads Burnell at PFL 5 1

Impa Kasanganay winning the light heavyweight title last season was one of the feel-good stories in MMA last season, according to MMA breaking news. But the first week of this year’s light heavyweight division left zero margin for error. All five fighters who won did so by finishing their fights in the first round to claim all six points.

Kasanagany, who has mostly been a points fighter throughout his career, will need to keep his foot on the gas as the No. 4 seed. Ten of Kasanganay’s 20 career fights have gone the distance. His opponent this week will be Jakob Nedoh.

Nedoh is a PFL Europe alum who doesn’t have a lot of top-level fight experience. Kasanganay should be able to lean on his experience and do enough to pick up another victory.

Bets to consider: Over 1.5 rounds, Kasanganay by decision

PFL Light Heavyweight regular season standingsTop four make playoffs
	Name	Win	Loss	Points
1.	Rob Wilkinson	1	0	6*
2.	Josh Silveira	1	0	6
3.	Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov	1	0	6
4.	Impa Kasanganay	1	0	6
5.	Antonio Carlos Junior	1	0	6
6.	Simon Biyong	0	1	0
7.	Alex Polizzi	0	1	0
8.	Jakob Nedoh	0	1	0
9.	Sadibou Sy	0	1	0
10.	Tom Breese	0	1	0
*Tiebreaker is based on time of finish in previous fight.

What Does Pitbull Have Left?

Clay Collard Seeks to Clinch Playoff Spot Against Mads Burnell at PFL 5 2

Patricky Pitbull had an excellent career in Bellator. But the former Bellator lightweight champion looked like he was well past his prime during his first fight with Collard. Both Pitbull and his opponent, Bruno Miranda, will need a stoppage in the first round to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Miranda had some momentum going into this season after reaching the final last year. However, the death of his father in the offseason shook his world. MMA news sites show Miranda will need to hope Pitbull isn’t able to lean on his veteran savvy to win another fight.

This fight is lined up as a pick ‘em, and it should be a good one.

Bets to consider: Pitbull by KO, Under 2.5 rounds

Wilkinson, Silveira Should Produce Fireworks

Josh Silveira was once considered the best prospect the PFL had ever signed who didn’t come up through another organization like Bellator or the UFC. Rob Wilkinson won the PFL light heavyweight crown in dominant fashion two years ago and was expected to have several strong seasons. But life didn’t work like that.

Wilkinson missed last season after failing a drug test. He returned to the cage with a dominant KO to kick off this season. Silveira reached the light heavyweight final last season but was dominated by Kasanganay.

Wilkinson has won five of his previous six fights in the PFL by knockout. That streak may continue here against Silveira, who has struggled with strong strikers.

Bets to consider: Wilkinson by KO, Over 1.5 rounds

Yagshimuradov Needs to Prove He Belongs

Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov being in the top four after the first week of the light heavyweight season is surprising. With two other former champions and a previous runner-up in the field, Yagshimuradov was seen as more of an outsider looking in. But if he finishes Simon Biyong, he could be joining in on the chase for the big money.

Biyong struggled in his first fight, getting dragged down to the mat by submission specialist Antonio Carlos Jr. He will look to stay on his feet and take his chances with Yagshimuradov, who is a dangerous striker with 13 of his 22 wins coming by knockout.

Bets to consider: Yagshimuradov by KO, Under 2.5 rounds

Here are quick picks for fights on the rest of the card: