![](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/08/PFL-Playoffs-1-Staff-Picks-Thumb.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
The PFL’s run toward six $1 million playoff finals starts Friday with women’s flyweights and heavyweights in the semifinals in “Music City.”
PFL Playoffs 1 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Friday at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
Get playoff pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Taila Santos vs. Liz Carmouche
![](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/08/Taila-Santos-vs.-Liz-Carmouche-2024-PFL-Playoffs-1-weigh-ins-.jpg)
Records: Santos (21-3), Carmouche (22-7)
Past five: Santos 3-2, Carmouche 5-0
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Carmouche No. 4, Santos No. 6
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Santos -360, Carmouche +285
Junkie pick results: Santos 7, Carmouche 4
Oleg Popov vs. Linton Vassell
![](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/08/Oleg-Poopv-vs.-Linton-Vassell-2024-PFL-Playoffs-1-weigh-ins-.jpg)
Records: Popov (18-1), Vassell (24-9)
Past five: Popov 5-0, Vassell 4-1
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Popov -300, Vassell +240
Junkie pick results: Vassell 6, Popov 5
Dakota Ditcheva vs. Jena Bishop
![](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/08/Dakota-Ditcheva-vs.-Jena-Bishop-2024-PFL-Playoffs-1-weigh-ins-.jpg)
Records: Ditcheva (12-0), Bishop (7-1)
Past five: Ditcheva 5-0, Bishop 4-1
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Ditcheva No. 14
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Ditcheva -425, Bishop +330
Junkie pick results: Ditcheva 11, Bishop 0
Denis Goltsov vs. Tim Johnson
![](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/08/Denis-Goltsov-vs.-Tim-Johnson-2024-PFL-Playoffs-1-weigh-ins-.jpg)
Records: Goltsov (34-8), Johnson (18-9)
Past five: Goltsov 4-1, Johnson 3-2
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 08.02.24): Goltsov -550, Johnson +410
Junkie pick results: Goltsov 9, Johnson 2
Check out all the main card picks below.
PFL Playoffs 1 main card picks
Goltsov vs. Johnson |
Ditcheva vs. Bishop |
Popov vs. Vassell |
Santos vs. Carmouche |
|
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 120-75 |
![]() Goltsov (85%) |
![]() Ditcheva (92%) |
![]() Popov (76%) |
![]() Santos (68%) |
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 128-67 ![]() |
![]() Goltsov |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Popov |
![]() Carmouche |
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 127-68 |
![]() Goltsov |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Popov |
![]() Santos |
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 122-73 ![]() |
![]() Goltsov |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Popov |
![]() Santos |
Nolan King @mma_kings 121-74 ![]() |
![]() Goltsov |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Vassell |
![]() Santos |
Simon Samano @SJSamano 119-76 |
![]() Goltsov |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Popov |
![]() Santos |
Brian Garcia @thegoze 118-77 ![]() |
![]() Johnson |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Vassell |
![]() Carmouche |
Matt Erickson @MattE 117-78 |
![]() Goltsov |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Vassell |
![]() Carmouche |
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 117-78 |
![]() Goltsov |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Popov |
![]() Santos |
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 116-79 |
![]() Goltsov |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Vassell |
![]() Carmouche |
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 109-86 |
![]() Goltsov |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Vassell |
![]() Santos |
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 105-90 |
![]() Johnson |
![]() Ditcheva |
![]() Vassell |
![]() Santos |
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 1.