2018 in Professional Fighters League

*2018 in Professional Fighters League*
2018 in Professional Fighters League
Genre	Sports
Country of origin	United States
Original release
Network	ESPN
Release	June 7 –; December 31, 2018

Last updated February 06, 2026

This is a list of events and standings for the Professional Fighters League, a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States, for the 2018 season.

2018 world champions
Events
2018 PFL Heavyweight playoffs
2018 PFL Light Heavyweight playoffs
2018 PFL Middleweight playoffs
2018 PFL Welterweight playoffs
2018 PFL Lightweight playoffs
2018 PFL Featherweight playoffs
Standings
Featherweight
Lightweight
Welterweight
Middleweight
Light Heavyweight
Heavyweight
See also
References

Each weight class had 12 fighters, each of which faced two rivals. The top eight fighters in each weight class qualified to the playoffs. The season concluded on December 31, 2018 with six championship bouts back-to-back with a $10 million prize pool.^[1]

2018 world champions

Division	Upper weight limit	Champion	Date
Heavyweight	265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st)	Philipe Lins	December 31, 2018 ( PFL 11 )
Light Heavyweight	205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)	Sean O'Connell	December 31, 2018 ( PFL 11 )
Middleweight	185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)	Louis Taylor	December 31, 2018 ( PFL 11 )
Welterweight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)	Magomed Magomedkerimov	December 31, 2018 ( PFL 11 )
Lightweight	155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)	Natan Schulte	December 31, 2018 ( PFL 11 )
Featherweight	145 lb (66 kg; 10.5 st)	Lance Palmer	December 31, 2018 ( PFL 11 )

Events

#	Event	Date	Venue	Location
11	PFL 11	December 31, 2018	Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden	New York City, New York, U.S.
10	PFL 10	October 20, 2018	St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena	Washington, D.C., U.S.
9	PFL 9	October 13, 2018	Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center	Long Beach, California, U.S.
8	PFL 8	October 5, 2018	Ernest N. Morial Convention Center	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
7	PFL 7	August 30, 2018	Ocean Resort Casino	Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6	PFL 6	August 16, 2018	Ocean Resort Casino	Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5	PFL 5	August 2, 2018	Nassau Coliseum	Uniondale, New York, U.S.
4	PFL 4	July 19, 2018	Nassau Coliseum	Uniondale, New York, U.S.
3	PFL 3	July 5, 2018	Charles E. Smith Center	Washington, D.C., U.S.
2	PFL 2	June 21, 2018	Chicago Theater	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1	PFL 1	June 7, 2018	Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden	New York City, New York, U.S.

2018 PFL Heavyweight playoffs

Quarter-finals		Semi-finals		Final



Francimar Barroso (1)	L

Josh Copeland (8)	Draw 2
		Josh Copeland (8)	KO 1

		Alex Nicholson (5)	L
Jack May (4)	L

Alex Nicholson (5)	TKO 1
				Josh Copeland (8)	L

				Philipe Lins (3)	TKO 4
Philipe Lins (3)	SUB 1

Caio Alencar* (9)	L
		Philipe Lins (3)	TKO 2

		Jared Rosholt (7)	L
Kelvin Tiller (2)	L

Jared Rosholt (7)	UD 2

* Valdrin Istrefi was originally scheduled to face Philipe Lins but was forced to pull out of the bout. He was replaced by Caio Alencar.^[2]

**Legend**
(SD)		(Split Decision)
(UD)		(Unanimous Decision)
(MD)		(Majority Decision)
SUB		Submission
(T)KO		(Technical) Knock Out
L		Loss

^[3]

2018 PFL Light Heavyweight playoffs

Quarter-finals		Semi-finals		Final



Vinny Magalhães (1)	SUB 1

Rakim Cleveland (8)	L
		Vinny Magalhães (1)	SUB 1

		Bazigit Atajev (4)	L
Bazigit Atajev (4)	TKO 1

Emiliano Sordi (5)	L
				Vinny Magalhães (1)	L

				Sean O'Connell (3)	TKO 3
Sean O'Connell (3)	MD 2

Dan Spohn (6)	L
		Sean O'Connell (3)	KO 1

		Smealinho Rama (7)	L
Maxim Grishin (2)	L

Smealinho Rama (7)	Draw 2

**Legend**
(SD)		(Split Decision)
(UD)		(Unanimous Decision)
(MD)		(Majority Decision)
SUB		Submission
(T)KO		(Technical) Knock Out
L		Loss

^[3]

2018 PFL Middleweight playoffs

Quarter-finals		Semi-finals		Final



Abuspiyan Magomedov (1)	Draw 2

Gasan Umalatov (8)	L
		Abuspiyan Magomedov (1)	UD 3

		Sadibou Sy (5)	L
Bruno Santos (4)

Sadibou Sy (5)	Draw 2
				Abuspiyan Magomedov (1)	L

				Louis Taylor (2)	KO 1
Eddie Gordon* (11)	L

John Howard (6)	UD 2
		John Howard (6)	L

		Louis Taylor (2)	Draw 3
Louis Taylor (2)	UD 2

Rex Harris (7)	L

* Shamil Gamzatov was originally scheduled to face John Howard but was forced to pull out of the bout. He was replaced by Eddie Gordon .^[4]

**Legend**
(SD)		(Split Decision)
(UD)		(Unanimous Decision)
(MD)		(Majority Decision)
SUB		Submission
(T)KO		(Technical) Knock Out
L		Loss

^[3]

2018 PFL Welterweight playoffs

Quarter-finals		Semi-finals		Final



Ray Cooper III (1)	TKO 1

Jake Shields (8)	L
		Ray Cooper III (1)	TKO 1

		Handesson Ferreira (5)	L
Rick Story (4)	L

Handesson Ferreira (5)	TKO 2
				Ray Cooper III (1)	L

				Magomed Magomedkerimov (3)	SUB 1
Magomed Magomedkerimov (3)	UD 2

Pavlo Kusch (6)	L
		Magomed Magomedkerimov (3)	TKO 2

		Bojan Veličković (7)	L
Abubakar Nurmagomedov* (9)	Draw 2*

Bojan Veličković (7)	L

* João Zeferino was originally scheduled to face Bojan Veličković but was forced to pull out of the bout. He was replaced by Abubakar Nurmagomedov.^[5]

* Abubakar Nurmagomedov was originally scheduled to face Magomed Magomedkerimov but was unable to continue in the tournament. He was replaced by his quarterfinal opponent, Bojan Veličković.^[6]

**Legend**
(SD)		(Split Decision)
(UD)		(Unanimous Decision)
(MD)		(Majority Decision)
SUB		Submission
(T)KO		(Technical) Knock Out
L		Loss

^[3]

2018 PFL Lightweight playoffs

Quarter-finals		Semi-finals		Final



Natan Schulte (1)	Draw 2

Johnny Case (8)	L
		Natan Schulte (1)	SD 3

		Chris Wade (4)	L
Chris Wade (4)	MD 2

Robert Watley (5)	L
				Natan Schulte (1)	UD 5

				Rashid Magomedov (7)	L
Islam Mamedov (3)	UD 2

Thiago Tavares (6)	L
		Thiago Tavares (6)	L

		Rashid Magomedov (7)	TKO 2
Will Brooks (2)	L

Rashid Magomedov (7)	Draw 2

* Islam Mamedov was originally scheduled to face Rashid Magomedov but was unable to continue in the tournament. He was replaced by his quarterfinal opponent, Thiago Tavares.^[7]

**Legend**
(SD)		(Split Decision)
(UD)		(Unanimous Decision)
(MD)		(Majority Decision)
SUB		Submission
(T)KO		(Technical) Knock Out
L		Loss

^[3]

2018 PFL Featherweight playoffs

Quarter-finals		Semi-finals		Final



Steven Siler (1)	Draw 2

Nazareno Malegarie (8)	L
		Steven Siler (1)	DQ 2

		Alexandre Almeida (5)	L
Jumabieke Tuerxun* (11)	L

Alexandre Almeida (5)	MD 2
				Steven Siler (1)	L

				Lance Palmer (2)	UD 5
Andre Harrison (3)	MD 2

Alexandre Bezerra (6)	L
		Andre Harrison (3)	L

		Lance Palmer (2)	UD 3
Lance Palmer (2)	UD 2

Max Coga (7)	L

* Timur Valiev was originally scheduled to face Alexandre Almeida but was forced to pull out of the bout. He was replaced by Jumabieke Tuerxun.^[2]

**Legend**
(SD)		(Split Decision)
(UD)		(Unanimous Decision)
(MD)		(Majority Decision)
SUB		Submission
(T)KO		(Technical) Knock Out
L		Loss

^[3]

Standings

The point system consists of outcome based scoring and bonuses for an early win. Under the outcome based scoring system, the winner of a fight receives 3 points and the loser receives 0 points. If the fight ends in a draw, both fighters will receive 1 point. The bonus for winning a fight in the first, second, or third round is 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point respectively. For example, if a fighter wins a fight in the first round, then the fighter will receive 6 total points. If a fighter misses weight, then the fighter that missed weight will receive 0 points and his opponent will receive 3 points due to a walkover victory.^[8]

Featherweight

Fighter	Wins	Losses	1st	2nd	3rd	Total Points^[9]
♛ Steven Siler	2	0	2	0	0	12
♛ Lance Palmer	2	0	0	1	1	9
♛ Andre Harrison	2	0	0	0	0	6
🚫 Timur Valiev	2	0	0	0	0	6
♛ Alexandre Almeida	1	1	1	0	0	6
♛ Alexandre Bezerra	1	0	1	0	0	6
♛ Max Coga	1	1	0	0	1	4
♛ Nazareno Malegarie	1	1	0	0	0	3
E Magomed Idrisov	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Lee Coville	0	1	0	0	0	0
♛ Jumabieke Tuerxun	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Marcos Galvão	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Bekbulat Magomedov	0	2	0	0	0	0

Lightweight

Fighter	Wins	Losses	1st	2nd	3rd	Total Points^[10]
♛ Natan Schulte	2	0	1	0	0	9
♛ Will Brooks	2	0	0	0	0	6
♛ Islam Mamedov	2	0	0	0	0	6
♛ Chris Wade	1	1	0	0	0	6
♛ Robert Watley	1	1	0	1	0	5
♛ Thiago Tavares	1	1	0	0	0	3
♛ Rashid Magomedov	1	0	0	0	0	3
♛ Johnny Case	1	0	0	0	0	3
E Efrain Escudero	1*	1	0	0	1	0
E Arthur Estrázulas	0	1	0	0	0	0
E Luiz Firmino	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Jason High	0	3*	0	0	0	3
E Yuki Kawana	0	2	0	0	0	0
🚫	0	0	0	1	4
🚫 Ramsey Nijem	0	1	0	0	0	0

Although Efrain Escudero won his fight against Jason High, PFL MMA rules state a fighter who misses the weight limit forfeits all points from the match, and the opponent earns a walkover win.

Welterweight

Fighter	Wins	Losses	1st	2nd	3rd	Total Points^[11]
♛ Ray Cooper III	2	0	1	1	0	11
♛ João Zeferino	2	0	1	0	1	10
♛ Magomed Magomedkerimov	2	0	1	0	0	9
♛ Rick Story	2	0	0	1	0	8
♛ Handesson Ferreira	1	0	1	0	0	6
♛ Pavlo Kusch	1	1	0	1	0	5
♛ Bojan Veličković	1	1	0	1	0	5
♛ Jake Shields	1	1	0	0	0	3
E Abubakar Nurmagomedov	1	1	0	0	0	3
E Paul Bradley	0	1	0	0	0	0
E Yuri Villefort	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Jonatan Westin	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Herman Terrado	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Carlton Minus	0	1	0	0	0	0

Middleweight

Fighter	Wins	Losses	1st	2nd	3rd	Total Points^[12]
♛ Abuspiyan Magomedov	2	0	2	0	0	12
♛ Louis Taylor	2	0	0	0	1	7
♛ Shamil Gamzatov	2	0	0	0	0	6
♛ Bruno Santos	2	0	0	0	0	6
♛ Sadibou Sy	1	1	1	0	0	6
♛ John Howard	1	1	0	1	0	5
♛ Rex Harris	1	1	0	0	0	3
♛ Gasan Umalatov	1	1	0	0	0	3
E Caio Magalhães	0	1	0	0	0	0
E Anderson Gonçalves	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Eddie Gordon	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Andre Lobato	0	2	0	0	0	0

Light Heavyweight

Fighter	Wins	Losses	1st	2nd	3rd	Total Points^[13]
♛ Vinny Magalhães	2	0	2	0	0	12
♛ Maxim Grishin	2	0	1	1	0	11
♛ Dan Spohn	2	0	0	0	1	7
♛ Emiliano Sordi	1	0	1	0	0	6
♛ Bazigit Atajev	1	1	1	0	0	6
♛ Sean O'Connell	1	0	0	1	0	5
♛ Smealinho Rama	1	1	0	1	0	4
♛ Rakim Cleveland	1	1	0	0	1	4
E Brandon Halsey	1	1	0	0	1	4
🚫 Rashid Yusupov	0	1	0	0	0	0
🚫 Ronny Markes	0	1	0	0	0	0
E Jamie Abdallah	0	1	0	0	0	0
E Jason Butcher	0	2	0	0	0	0
E Artur Alibulatov	0	1	0	0	0	0

Heavyweight

Fighter	Wins	Losses	1st	2nd	Total Points^[14]
♛ Francimar Barroso	2	0	2	0	12
♛ Kelvin Tiller	2	0	1	1	11
♛ Philipe Lins	2	0	0	1	8
♛ Jack May	1	1	1	0	6
♛ Alex Nicholson	1	1	0	1	5
🚫 Valdrin Istrefi	1	1	0	1	5
♛ Jared Rosholt	1	1	0	0	3
♛ Josh Copeland	1	1	0	0	3
♛ Caio Alencar	1	1	0	0	3
E Mike Kyle	0	0	0	0	0
E Daniel Gallemore	0	2	0	0	0
E Jake Heun	0	1	0	0	0
E Shawn Jordan	0	2	0	0	0

♛ = Clinched playoff spot --- 🚫 = Ruled out --- E = Eliminated

NOTE: Prior to PFL 8, which started the PFL playoff, Valdrin Istrefi was ruled out because of an injury. Caio Alencar was declared the first alternate and participated in the playoff.

References

↑ Mazique, Brian. "Professional Fighters League's MMA Format, Roster, Schedule And Free-TV Model Revealed". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
1 2 "Injuries Change Two PFL 8 Bouts, Alternate Fights Set | Fightful MMA". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Staff (2018-08-31). "Playoff matchups set for PFL's first season of $1 million winners". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
↑ "Report: Eddie Gordon Replaces Shamil Gamzatov In PFL Middleweight Division Playoffs | Fightful MMA". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
↑ "No. 2 seed Joao Zeferino out of PFL playoffs, Abubakar Nurmagomedov meets Bojan Velickovic". MMAjunkie. 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
↑ "PFL 10 Results". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
↑ "PFL 9 Results". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
↑ "Rules and Regulations". PFL. Archived from the original on 2018-08-08. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
↑ The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs
↑ The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs
↑ The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs
↑ The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs
↑ The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs
↑ The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs

[1] Mazique, Brian. "Professional Fighters League's MMA Format, Roster, Schedule And Free-TV Model Revealed". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved 2018-06-19.

[fightful.com-2] 1 2 "Injuries Change Two PFL 8 Bouts, Alternate Fights Set | Fightful MMA". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2018-10-22.

[PFL11-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Staff (2018-08-31). "Playoff matchups set for PFL's first season of $1 million winners". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-08-31.

[4] "Report: Eddie Gordon Replaces Shamil Gamzatov In PFL Middleweight Division Playoffs | Fightful MMA". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2018-10-22.

[5] "No. 2 seed Joao Zeferino out of PFL playoffs, Abubakar Nurmagomedov meets Bojan Velickovic". MMAjunkie. 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-22.

[6] "PFL 10 Results". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-10-22.

[7] "PFL 9 Results". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-10-22.

[8] "Rules and Regulations". PFL. Archived from the original on 2018-08-08. Retrieved 2018-08-23.

[9] The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs

[10] The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs

[11] The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs

[12] The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs

[13] The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs

[14] The eight fighters with most points (green background) advance to the playoffs

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2018 in Professional Fighters League

Contents

2018 world champions

Events

2018 PFL Heavyweight playoffs

2018 PFL Light Heavyweight playoffs

2018 PFL Middleweight playoffs

2018 PFL Welterweight playoffs

2018 PFL Lightweight playoffs

2018 PFL Featherweight playoffs

Standings

Featherweight

Lightweight

Welterweight

Middleweight

Light Heavyweight

Heavyweight

See also

References