PFL Finals Preview: Radzhabov, Manfio Battle For Lightweight Supremacy

KEY POINTS

Radzhabov and Manfio aim to become only the second lightweight champion in PFL history
Radzhabov is looking to win his first PFL title
Manfio has had an amazing run in his maiden season under the PFL umbrella

On October 27, Loik Radzhabov of Russia meets Raush Manfio of Brazil in the finals of the 2021 PFL Lightweight Tournament.

Since PFL’s inception back in 2018, the league’s 155-pound division has belonged to Brazilian veteran Natan Schulte.

Schulte hoisted the lightweight crown in each of the league’s first two seasons and looked to become a three-peat champion at the start of the 2021 season.

His road to a third title immediately hit a speedbump as “Russo” suffered his first loss under the promotion's banner at the hands of Marcin Held at PFL 1.

The loss proved to be costly as Schulte would ultimately be eliminated from playoff contention, missing the postseason for the first time in his PFL career.

With Schulte out of the picture, one of his former opponents in Radzhabov will try to capitalize on the opportunity to become a first-time PFL champion.

The 2019 finalist came within one win away from becoming a PFL titleholder but was ultimately denied by Schulte in the final lightweight contest of the season.

The 2021 season also got off to a rocky start for the Russian, who dropped his season debut to Alex Martinez by split decision.

Radzhabov punched his way into the postseason with a 27-second stoppage of Akhmed Aliev. The furious finish was enough to vault him into the No. 1 seed in the lightweight bracket.

In the semifinals, Radzhabov avenged his early-season loss to Martinez with a unanimous decision win to return to the finals.

Manfio, meanwhile, made the most of his maiden season with a trip to the finals and a chance to win it all.

The Brazilian defeated Joilton Lutterbach by split decision at PFL 1 and then followed that up with a massive split decision win over former UFC champion Anthony Pettis to sweep the elimination round and finish as the third seed.

In the semifinals, Manfio bested second-seeded Clay Collard by unanimous decision to earn a spot in the finale.

On October 27th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, the league’s two best lightweights will square off to see who becomes the top dog at 155 pounds.