# 2018 in Professional Fighters League

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.
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.

## 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 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| Francimar Barroso (1) | L | | |
| Josh Copeland (8) | Draw 2 | | |
| Josh Copeland (8) | Draw 2 | Josh Copeland (8) | KO 1 |
| | | Alex Nicholson (5) | L |
| Jack May (4) | L | Alex Nicholson (5) | L |
| Alex Nicholson (5) | TKO 1 | | | | |
| Alex Nicholson (5) | TKO 1 | | | Josh Copeland (8) | L |
| | | | | Philipe Lins (3) | TKO 4 |
| Philipe Lins (3) | SUB 1 | | | Philipe Lins (3) | TKO 4 |
| Caio Alencar* (9) | L | | | | |
| Caio Alencar* (9) | L | Philipe Lins (3) | TKO 2 | | |
| | | Jared Rosholt (7) | L |
| Kelvin Tiller (2) | L | Jared Rosholt (7) | 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.
Legend :
| (SD) | (Split Decision) |
| (UD) | (Unanimous Decision) |
| (MD) | (Majority Decision) |
| SUB | Submission |
| (T)KO | (Technical) Knock Out |
| L | Loss |

## 2018 PFL Light Heavyweight playoffs

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| Vinny Magalhães (1) | SUB 1 | | |
| Rakim Cleveland (8) | L | | |
| Rakim Cleveland (8) | L | Vinny Magalhães (1) | SUB 1 |
| | | Bazigit Atajev (4) | L |
| Bazigit Atajev (4) | TKO 1 | Bazigit Atajev (4) | L |
| Emiliano Sordi (5) | L | | | | |
| Emiliano Sordi (5) | L | | | Vinny Magalhães (1) | L |
| | | | | Sean O'Connell (3) | TKO 3 |
| Sean O'Connell (3) | MD 2 | | | Sean O'Connell (3) | TKO 3 |
| Dan Spohn (6) | L | | | | |
| Dan Spohn (6) | L | Sean O'Connell (3) | KO 1 | | |
| | | Smealinho Rama (7) | L |
| Maxim Grishin (2) | L | Smealinho Rama (7) | 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 |

## 2018 PFL Middleweight playoffs

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| Abuspiyan Magomedov (1) | Draw 2 | | |
| Gasan Umalatov (8) | L | | |
| Gasan Umalatov (8) | L | Abuspiyan Magomedov (1) | UD 3 |
| | | Sadibou Sy (5) | L |
| Bruno Santos (4) | | Sadibou Sy (5) | L |
| Sadibou Sy (5) | Draw 2 | | | | |
| Sadibou Sy (5) | Draw 2 | | | Abuspiyan Magomedov (1) | L |
| | | | | Louis Taylor (2) | KO 1 |
| Eddie Gordon* (11) | L | | | Louis Taylor (2) | KO 1 |
| John Howard (6) | UD 2 | | | | |
| John Howard (6) | UD 2 | John Howard (6) | L | | |
| | | Louis Taylor (2) | Draw 3 |
| Louis Taylor (2) | UD 2 | Louis Taylor (2) | Draw 3 |
| 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.
Legend :
| (SD) | (Split Decision) |
| (UD) | (Unanimous Decision) |
| (MD) | (Majority Decision) |
| SUB | Submission |
| (T)KO | (Technical) Knock Out |
| L | Loss |

## 2018 PFL Welterweight playoffs

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| Ray Cooper III (1) | TKO 1 | | |
| Jake Shields (8) | L | | |
| Jake Shields (8) | L | Ray Cooper III (1) | TKO 1 |
| | | Handesson Ferreira (5) | L |
| Rick Story (4) | L | Handesson Ferreira (5) | L |
| Handesson Ferreira (5) | TKO 2 | | | | |
| Handesson Ferreira (5) | TKO 2 | | | Ray Cooper III (1) | L |
| | | | | Magomed Magomedkerimov (3) | SUB 1 |
| Magomed Magomedkerimov (3) | UD 2 | | | Magomed Magomedkerimov (3) | SUB 1 |
| Pavlo Kusch (6) | L | | | | |
| Pavlo Kusch (6) | L | Magomed Magomedkerimov (3) | TKO 2 | | |
| | | Bojan Veličković (7) | L |
| Abubakar Nurmagomedov* (9) | Draw 2* | Bojan Veličković (7) | L |
| 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.
* 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.
Legend :
| (SD) | (Split Decision) |
| (UD) | (Unanimous Decision) |
| (MD) | (Majority Decision) |
| SUB | Submission |
| (T)KO | (Technical) Knock Out |
| L | Loss |

## 2018 PFL Lightweight playoffs

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| Natan Schulte (1) | Draw 2 | | |
| Johnny Case (8) | L | | |
| Johnny Case (8) | L | Natan Schulte (1) | SD 3 |
| | | Chris Wade (4) | L |
| Chris Wade (4) | MD 2 | Chris Wade (4) | L |
| Robert Watley (5) | L | | | | |
| Robert Watley (5) | L | | | Natan Schulte (1) | UD 5 |
| | | | | Rashid Magomedov (7) | L |
| Islam Mamedov (3) | UD 2 | | | Rashid Magomedov (7) | L |
| Thiago Tavares (6) | L | | | | |
| Thiago Tavares (6) | L | Thiago Tavares (6) | L | | |
| | | Rashid Magomedov (7) | TKO 2 |
| Will Brooks (2) | L | Rashid Magomedov (7) | TKO 2 |
| 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.
Legend :
| (SD) | (Split Decision) |
| (UD) | (Unanimous Decision) |
| (MD) | (Majority Decision) |
| SUB | Submission |
| (T)KO | (Technical) Knock Out |
| L | Loss |

## 2018 PFL Featherweight playoffs

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| Steven Siler (1) | Draw 2 | | |
| Nazareno Malegarie (8) | L | | |
| Nazareno Malegarie (8) | L | Steven Siler (1) | DQ 2 |
| | | Alexandre Almeida (5) | L |
| Jumabieke Tuerxun* (11) | L | Alexandre Almeida (5) | L |
| Alexandre Almeida (5) | MD 2 | | | | |
| Alexandre Almeida (5) | MD 2 | | | Steven Siler (1) | L |
| | | | | Lance Palmer (2) | UD 5 |
| Andre Harrison (3) | MD 2 | | | Lance Palmer (2) | UD 5 |
| Alexandre Bezerra (6) | L | | | | |
| Alexandre Bezerra (6) | L | Andre Harrison (3) | L | | |
| | | Lance Palmer (2) | UD 3 |
| Lance Palmer (2) | UD 2 | Lance Palmer (2) | UD 3 |
| 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.
Legend :
| (SD) | (Split Decision) |
| (UD) | (Unanimous Decision) |
| (MD) | (Majority Decision) |
| SUB | Submission |
| (T)KO | (Technical) Knock Out |
| L | Loss |

## 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.

### Featherweight

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

### Lightweight

| Fighter | Wins | Draws | Losses | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total Points |
| ♛ Natan Schulte | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| ♛ Will Brooks | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| ♛ Islam Mamedov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| ♛ Chris Wade | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| ♛ Robert Watley | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| ♛ Thiago Tavares | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| ♛ Rashid Magomedov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| ♛ Johnny Case | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| E Efrain Escudero | 1* | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| E Arthur Estrázulas | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E Luiz Firmino | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E Jason High | 0 | 0 | 3* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| E Yuki Kawana | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🚫 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 🚫 Ramsey Nijem | 0 | 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 | Draws | Losses | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total Points |
| ♛ Ray Cooper III | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| ♛ João Zeferino | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| ♛ Magomed Magomedkerimov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| ♛ Rick Story | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| ♛ Handesson Ferreira | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| ♛ Pavlo Kusch | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| ♛ Bojan Veličković | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| ♛ Jake Shields | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| E Abubakar Nurmagomedov | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| E Paul Bradley | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E Yuri Villefort | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E Jonatan Westin | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E Herman Terrado | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E Carlton Minus | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Middleweight

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

### Light Heavyweight

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

### Heavyweight

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