PFL 10 preview: Cooper-Shields rematch among playoff fights

Welterweights and middleweights complete in the PFL playoffs, leading to the New Year’s Eve finale for $1 million.

We’ve finally reached the last stop before the PFL million-dollar finals, and it all culminates with two of the most interesting and exciting divisions thus far. Middleweights and welterweights will fight to determine who reaches the finale and take home the bragging rights and the cash.

Abusupiyan Magomedov (21-3) has produced quality violence, and now aims to get past Gasan Umalatov (18-6, 1 draw). Magomedov is an absolute menace, and quickly became the most impressive middleweight in the tournament so far.

Jake Shields (33-10, 1 draw) will attempt to avenge his shocking TKO loss from earlier this year when he rematches Ray Cooper III (15-5). The scores evened out to have them face each other again. Who saw that coming?

After a few shuffles, a new middleweight matchup will be made between John “Doomsday“ Howard (26-14) and former TUF winner Eddie Gordon (8-6), and Rex Harris (11-4) fellow hard-hitter Louis Taylor. Rounding out the middleweight ranks is a battle between Sadibou Sy (7-3) and the seemingly indestructible Bruno Santos (18-2).

Abubakar Nurmagomedov (15-2) replaces João Zeferino against former UFC welterweight Bojan Velicković (16-7, 1 draw). Pavel Kusch (23-6) will try to occupy a welterweight final spot against the dangerous Magomed Magomedkerimov (20-5).

As a reminder, all quarterfinals are scheduled for two-rounds and the semifinals are three-rounders. For quarterfinal matchups that end in a tie, the tiebreaker is whichever fighter won the first-round. Full tiebreaker rules can be seen here.

Also guys, seriously... watch and listen to more Vivisections.

Full fight card is as follows:

Main Card (9 PM ET, NBC SN)

Magomedov/Umalatov vs. Santos/Sy - Middleweight semifinals

Cooper/Shields vs. Story/Ferreira - Welterweight semifinals

Gordon/Howard vs. Taylor/Harris - Middleweight semifinals

Magomedkerimov/Kuch vs. Nurmagomedov/Velickovic - Welterweight semifinals

#1 Abus Magomedov vs. #8 Gasan Umalatov - Middleweight quarterfinals

#1 Ray Cooper III vs. #8 Jake Shields - Welterweight quarterfinals

#4 Bruno Santos vs. #5 Sadibou Sy - Middleweight quarterfinals

#4 Rick Story (170.75) vs. #5 Handesson Ferreira - Welterweight quarterfinals

Preliminary Card (7:15 PM ET, Facebook)

#3 Eddie Gordon vs. #6 John Howard - Middleweight quarterfinals

#3 Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. #6 Pavlo Kusch - Welterweight quarterfinals

#2 Louis Taylor vs. #7 Rex Harris - Middleweight quarterfinals

#2 Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. #7 Bojan Velickovic - Welterweight quarterfinals

PFL Week 10 begins Saturday night on Facebook at 7:15 PM ET, with the main card starting at 9:00pm EST on NBC Sports.