Preview: PFL 4 ‘Collard vs. Martinez’

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Light Heavyweights

Omari Akhmedov (22-7-1, 1-1 PFL) vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis (11-6, 0-1 PFL): Akhmedov rebounded nicely from a loss to the late Jordan Young in his promotional debut when he walloped former heavyweight Viktor Pesta in just 85 seconds at PFL 1. It was a good sign that Akhmedov’s power translates well to a larger weight class, and his aggression was evidence that the Russian feels confident at 205 pounds. Aukstuolis’ ring rust was apparent against Marthin Hamlet, as he was rocked early and grounded repeatedly in a forgettable decision loss in his first MMA bout since 2017. If the Lithuanian is as susceptible to right hands and takedowns against Akhmedov as he was against Hamlet, he could be in for a long night. Akhmedov by decision or submission is the pick.

Lightweights

Natan Schulte (21-5-1, 10-3-1 PFL) vs. Marcin Held (27-8, 1-1 PFL): Held makes his first PFL appearance of the season in a rematch of a 2021 bout won by the Pole via unanimous decision. In that matchup, aggression in the standup—particularly through multi-punch combinations—propelled Held to a hard-fought victory over the Brazilian judoka. The two-time PFL champ can find encouragement in the fact that Held slowed considerably in the final round, which allowed him to land his most significant shots of the fight. A few adjustments might be enough for Schulte to return to the win column in another competitive bout. Schulte relies on his trademark forward pressure to win by decision.

Light Heavyweights

Emiliano Sordi (23-10-1, 7-3-1 PFL) vs. Delan Monte (8-2, 0-1 PFL): If ever there was a chance for Sordi to right the ship and end his three-fight PFL winless streak, it is against the unproven Monte, who was quick submission fodder for Antonio Carlos Jr. in his promotional debut. Sordi, the 2019 PFL champion, fell victim to the leg kicks and ground-and-pound of Cory Hendricks in an upset loss at PFL 1. Monte’s success has been compiled on the regional scene against questionable opposition, and his debut outing allowed little time to see how his skills might translate against a better level of competition. Sordi fights typically do not go to the judges, and that trend will not change here, as the Argentina native returns to the win column with a KO/TKO victory.

Light Heavyweights

Rob Wilkinson (14-2, 1-0 PFL) vs. Viktor Pesta (18-7, 0-1 PFL) Wilkinson flashed his power in close quarters at PFL 1, rocking Bruce Souto with a short uppercut before landing several knees and finishing the fight with ground-and-pound in the second stanza. Outside of his 0-2 UFC stint, the Hybrid Training Centre representative is a proven finisher. Pesta seems like an interesting test, but his early PFL returns were not encouraging, as the former UFC heavyweight was knocked out by Omari Akhmedov—a former middleweight—in his promotional debut. Wilkinson could be a dark horse in the light heavyweight field this season. Pesta will be the larger man, but his best days appear to be behind him. Wilkinson by KO/TKO.

Light Heavyweights

Marthin Hamlet (9-3, 3-2 PFL) vs. Joshua Silveira (8-0, 0-0 PFL): Hamlet, a 2021 PFL finalist, utilized a grinding approach characterized by takedowns and positional control to capture a unanimous decision win over Teodoras Aukstuolis in his first regular season bout. He will likely find the going more difficult against Silveira, a two-division Legacy Fighting Alliance champion and a winner on the PFL Challenger Series. Silveira is one of the more intriguing PFL signings of late, a talented wrestler and grappler with athleticism on the feet. The American Top Team prospect is still putting it all together, but at the very least, he will not allow Hamlet to stall from top position. Silveira forces the issue early and often to win via submission.

Lightweights

Bruno Miranda (14-3, 0-0 PFL) vs. Nate Jennerman (15-5, 0-0 PFL): Despite missing weight by 0.2 pounds, Miranda earned a PFL contract on the Challenger Series thanks to a third-round stoppage of Carson Frei in March. The Nova Uniao product and nine-time Road Fighting Championship veteran enters his promotional debut on a five-bout winning streak, with four of those triumphs coming via TKO. Jennerman, a Roufusport product, notably went 5-3 during a stint with Legacy Fighting Alliance from 2017 to 2019. With 11 submissions among 15 professional wins, expect Jennerman to do his best to avoid trading with Miranda for extended periods. Jennerman has faced tougher competition over the course of his career. Look for “Nasty Nate” to capitalize on a mistake and make Miranda pay in a submission victory.


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Collard vs. Martinez
Carlos Jr. vs. Souto
Manfio vs. Aubin-Mercier
Stephens vs. Price
The Prelims