PFL: Battle of the Giants predictions: Name the last time Cyborg was an underdog. We'll wait.
The PFL returns to pay-per-view this week with three title fights in Saudi Arabia.
PFL: Battle of the Giants (DAZN /ESPN+) takes place Saturday at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes
2024 PFL Superfights PPV: Battle of the Giants press conference at the Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)
Records: McKee (22-1), Hughes (12-1)
Past five: McKee 4-1, Hughes 5-0
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: McKee honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.18.24): McKee -180, Hughes +150
Junkie pick results: McKee 11, Hughes 0
Husein Kadimagomaev vs. Zafar Mohsen
2024 PFL Superfights PPV: Battle of the Giants press conference at the Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)
Records: Kadimagomaev (11-1), Mohsen (13-4)
Past five: Kadimagomaev 4-1, Mohsen 4-1
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.18.24): Kadimagomaev -1100, Mohsen +700
Junkie pick results: Kadimagomaev 11, Mohsen 0
Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards
2024 PFL Superfights PPV: Battle of the Giants press conference at the Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)
Records: Eblen (15-0), Edwards (13-3)
Past five: Eblen 5-0, Edwards 4-1
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Eblen No. 5
Odds (as of 10.18.24): Eblen -345, Edwards +275
Junkie pick results: Eblen 11, Edwards 0
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco
2024 PFL Superfights PPV: Battle of the Giants press conference at the Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)
Records: Cyborg (27-2), Pacheco (23-4)
Past five: Cyborg 5-0, Pacheco 5-0
Division: Women’s featherweight
Rankings: Cyborg No. 1, No. 1 pound-for-pound; Pacheco No. 2, No. 5 pound-for-pound
Odds (as of 10.18.24): Cyborg +120, Pacheco -140
Junkie pick results: Cyborg 7, Pacheco 4
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
2024 PFL Superfights PPV: Battle of the Giants press conference at the Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)
Records: Ngannou (17-3), Ferreira (13-3)
Past five: Ngannou 5-0, Ferreira 4-1
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: Ferreira No. 11, Ngannou honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.18.24): Ngannou -245, Ferreira +200
Junkie pick results: Ngannou 10, Ferreira 1
Preliminary card picks
2024 PFL Superfights PPV: Battle of the Giants press conference at the Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)
Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
- Taha Bendaoud vs. Tariq Ismail: Ismail 9, Bendaoud 2
- Nacho Campos vs. Ibragim Ibragimov: Ibragimov 10, Campos 1
- Dedrek Sanders vs. Makkasharip Zaynukov: Zaynukov 11, Sanders 0
- Marcos Breno vs. Raufeon Stots: Stots 11, Breno 0
Check out all the main card picks below.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
| Ngannou vs. Ferreira |
Cyborg vs. Pacheco |
Eblen vs. Edwards |
Kadimagomaev vs. Mohsen |
McKee vs. Hughes |
|
| Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 173-89 2017, 2022 Champion |
Ngannou |
Pacheco |
Eblen |
Kadimagomaev |
McKee |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 166-96 2014 Champion |
Ngannou |
Cyborg |
Eblen |
Kadimagomaev |
McKee |
| Matt Erickson @MattE 161-101 |
Ferreira |
Cyborg |
Eblen |
Kadimagomaev |
McKee |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 157-105 |
Ngannou |
Cyborg |
Eblen |
Kadimagomaev |
McKee |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 156-106 2017 Champion |
Ngannou |
Cyborg |
Eblen |
Kadimagomaev |
McKee |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 143-119 |
Ngannou |
Cyborg |
Eblen |
Kadimagomaev |
McKee |
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.