PFL 1: 2022 Regular Season

Manfio is ******


While I can respectfully say Raush is a better fighter than I gave him credit for due to his incredible performance against Radzhabov, I still stand by that the title shot was gifted to him. Three questionable decision wins, especially the bout against Collard. Stylistically, I can see this being a major pain in the ass for Manfio. Raush has a lot of trouble finding his range early in the fight and tends to throw his 1-2 out way too often and missing the mark, as well as being easily succumbed to pressure fighters and getting backed against the cage. Madge has a significant height advantage, a high finish rate and solid jiu-jitsu, and while he doesn’t have an impressive record on a surface level, Don has only lost to one guy his entire career. I predict a first round KO or a decision victory, although I hope it ends with a knockout because I don’t trust PFL judges. I understand we’re supposedly a more progressive society, but that doesn’t mean we should elect the literal blind deaf and dumb to decide on these fighter’s futures. I’m expecting the three judges this time around to be an illiterate Mexican immigrant they bought off Craig’s List, a literal ******* goldfish, and Dillon Danis.

Collard is ******


Outside of volume, Jeremy beats Clay’s ass in a boxing match, which is what this bout will most likely be reduced to because neither fighter wrestles worth a ****. Clay’s constant bootleg Holloway boxing style is effective when he’s able to get the opponent pinned into a corner, but struggles significantly in the pocket when dealing with a fighter with nerves (see the Lutterbach fight for a recent example) and I don’t think Clay has anything that will really make Jeremy **** himself in terms of offense. Defensively, Clay is absolutely ******. His constant reliance on volume and weakness fighting in the center of the cage, as well as little to no kicking game puts him in a dire matchup with a mean, heavy handed son of a *****. Jeremy has lost exclusively to top contenders and killers, and Clay simply doesn’t fit the bill. R2 KO.

Ray is ******


I’m not usually the type to consider ring rust as a deciding factor in a fight, but in this case…yeah, I’m kinda considering it. Other than Ray’s relatively long absence, retirement, and return in the past few years, I personally think Alex is pretty ******* gifted. His striking is green but it’s efficient and creative, and his jiu-jitsu is surprisingly lethal and varied. He also gave Radzhabov and Schulte a really hard time so…I dunno, I think I just like the guy. Alex via DEC.

* Edited at 03.29.2022, 12:38 PM ET *