It’s time for the very last spherical of the 2023 PFL ordinary season withinside the heavyweight class, and final year’s $1 million winner Ante Delija is in want of a win withinside the first spherical to improve to the playoffs. The problem for “Walking Trouble” is that “The Crochet Boss” is exceptionally tough to end. In fact, Greene has been completed handiest 3 instances in his 11+ years-lengthy expert MMA career.
Ante Delija vs. Maurice Greene Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ante Delija | -500 |
| Maurice Greene | +350 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: Friday, June 16, 2023
- Time: ~10:00 PM ET
- How to Watch: ESPN/ESPN+
Ante Delija Going for a First-Round Finish
Ante Delija is arguably the exceptional heavyweight withinside the 2023 PFL tournament. He’s the reigning champ who’s 23-five normal and who’s received every of his final 4 PFL fights. Three of these came about through stoppage.
The problem is that he hasn’t fought in 2023. He turned into prepurported to combat in PFL 2, however the Croatian determined to bypass the occasion as he hadn’t completely recovered from surgery. As a result, he’s at 0 factors in advance of the very last spherical of the PFL heavyweight ordinary season.
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Updated Heavyweight Standings for the first 1/2 of of the 2023 PFL Regular Season!
[ Friday, June 16th | 10pm ET on ESPN | #PFLRegularSeason | 🎟️https://t.co/Skcq84VUo6] pic.twitter.com/HsU1f0q9eD
— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 26, 2023
Only 4 warring parties will improve to the 2023 PFL Playoffs, and proper now, there are 5 of them with three or extra factors. That said, prevailing through choice or Round three stoppage won’t be sufficient for him as it’d convey simply three factors his way.
Instead, Delija desires to move for a end withinside the first rounds. As in keeping with PFL rules, a win in spherical is really well worth five factors, even as a Round 1 end brings 6 factors to the winner.
Maurice Greene to Try and Keep Delija at a Distance
Maurice Greene is 11-7 normal with a 1-1 file because becoming a member of the PFL. This year, he’s received one combat withinside the heavyweight tournament – he defeated Marcelo Nunes through TKO in spherical 2, hence incomes five factors.
This places him withinside the No. 2 spot withinside the 2023 PFL heavyweight standings. However, we ought to see him drop out of the pinnacle four and omit the playoffs. At the identical time, he ought to make the reduce despite the fact that he doesn’t win on June 16.
But for that to happen, he mustn’t allow Delija end him withinside the first 10 minutes. If it happens, the Croatian will leapfrog him withinside the standings. So, he can protect himself for lengthy sufficient towards certainly considered one among PFL’s exceptional warring parties?
Greene won’t be as well-rounded as Delija, however he’s were given splendid kickboxing skills, in addition to a completely lengthy reach (eighty two inches). The problem is that his takedown protection is abysmal. During his UFC days, he had a 27% TD protection, struggling a complete of 8 takedowns in as many fights.
Ante Delija vs. Maurice Greene Prediction
Our prediction for the PFL five headliner is that Ante Delija will cross for a takedown directly away. We assume he’s going to control to take the combat to the ground, aiming for a fast submission win. Will he pull it off? We assume he will.
Pick: Ante Delija to win through submission in Round 1