PFL 4 Betting Preview

Valentin Moldavsky won’t be able to coast on being the only heavyweight in the PFL to finish his first fight of the 2024 season in the first round. Moldavsky, a former Bellator interim heavyweight world champion, will be up against Linton Vassell, who needs a finish in the first or second round to likely keep his playoff hopes alive.

Vassell, a former Bellator light heavyweight challenger, took a difficult loss to Denis Goltsov in his PFL debut. The MMAfighting latest news shows that Vassell ran out of gas in the third round, allowing the veteran Goltsov to finish him with a knockout.

Moldavsky opening up this PFL season with a knockout was shocking. During his career, Moldavsky was known mostly as a points fighter, registering eight of his 13 wins by decision. But Moldavsky showed he is capable of a lot if his opponents aren’t sharp.

Vassell is a fighter who likes to try and finish his opponents. With Vassell needing at least four points to stay alive, this should be a situation where Moldavsky will have openings to put Vassell away.

This will be a fun heavyweight main event. Count on this one to end inside the distance, with Moldavsky on top again.

Bets to consider: Moldavsky by KO, Under 1.5 rounds

Injuries Throw Division for a Loop

Two fighters who came out of the first week of the season in the top five of the heavyweight standings, Daniel James and Sergei Bilostenniy, were forced to opt out due to injury. While James could still make the playoffs, the best MMA news sites show it is unlikely that his five points will hold up in the heavyweight standings.

Marcelo Golm is a fighter who lost during the first round of this competition, but will get another stiff challenge in former Bellator fighter Tyrell Fortune. Both Golm and Fortune prefer to fight on the feet. Fortune has a 13-2 record with eight knockouts.

Golm has finished seven of his ten opponents by knockout. Someone should go out in this fight. Fortune also needs a first or second-round KO to advance to the playoffs. 

Bets to consider: Under 1.5 rounds, Fortune by KO/TKO/DQ

Goltsov Gets New Opponent With Strong Pedigree

Thiago Santos was once highly-regarded enough to earn a shot at the UFC light heavyweight championship, but that was five years ago. Santos is on a four-fight winless streak and will need to hope he can recapture his power to topple Goltsov.

Goltsov is in a position to make the playoffs but can’t afford to slip up. Golstov lost in the championship match last season and is desperate to get another shot at the crowd. Santos looks like he has lost his step over the past few years but will need to get a quick finish if he wants a shot at the heavyweight crowd.

Bets to consider: Under 1.5 rounds, Goltsov by KO/TKO/DQ

Ditcheva is Under an Immense Amount of Pressure

Matchmaking for the second round of the PFL’s women’s flyweight season suggests the promotion believes undefeated British fighter Dakota Ditcheva has star potential. Ditcheva was paired with Chelsea Hackett this round, who is a lightly regarded challenger in the division. This came with criticism from the rest of the roster, made up of former Bellator and UFC fighters, who could provide Ditcheva with more of a challenge.

However, Ditcheva, the PFL’s European champion, has mostly batted away the criticism. MMA news sites will show this is a fight the PFL needs Ditcheva to dominate.

Ditcheva should improve to 12-0 with another finish.

Bets to consider: Ditcheva by KO, Fight to not go the distance

Carmouche, Watanabe Battle for Playoff Lives

Liz Carmouche grinded her way to a decision win over old rival Juliana Velasquez, who she defeated twice for the Bellator flyweight belt in the first round. Now, Carmouche will need to pick up a win if she hopes to win the championship in the PFL against fellow Bellator veteran Kana Watanabe.

Watanabe and Carmouche have fought before. Carmouche won by knockout against Watanabe at Bellator 261. This fight will have both women eager to push for a finish to be able to improve their seed and fight in the PFL playoffs.

There are three fighters above both women who earned first-round finishes. Carmouche won’t want to let the opportunity to make $1 million pass her by.

Bets to consider: Carmouche by finish, Under 2.5 rounds

Here are quick picks for other fights on the card that aren’t mentioned above:

• Women’s Flyweight, Taila Santos vs Jena Bishop
• Heavyweight, Oleg Popov vs Davion Franklin
• Women’s flyweight, Ilara Joanne vs Shanna Young
• Heavyweight, Timothy Johnson vs Danilo Marques
• Women’s flyweight, Juliana Velaquez vs Lisa Mauldin
• Women’s flyweight, Saray Orozco vs Sumiko Inaba
• Women’s flyweight, Melissa Balic vs Kristina Katsikis

Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.

Dean McHugh.