The opening minute of the 2024 PFL heavyweight championship between Russia’s Denis Goltsov and Oleg Popov was going well for the younger Popov, who came in on a seventeen-fight winning streak.
He landed a takedown with little resistance, putting his fight right in his wheelhouse against a fighter who is primarily a striker, albeit usually a decent defensive wrestler.
Popov is known to grind opponents down en route to decision wins and is a dominant grappler, so when Goltsov swiveled his hips and locked up his ankles in the early stages of a triangle choke, it did not seem like a big issue.
However, Oleg spent too much time in the guard of his foe without posturing up to escape and reset. Goltsov slowly tightened the noose around his neck.
DENIS GOLTSOV WITH THE MILLION DOLLAR SUBMISSION 💰#PFLWorldChampionship
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) November 29, 2024
Once Denis got the arm, it was all over. He held onto it like a pitbull until he got his ankle tight behind Popov’s neck, tucking it under his knee and making it impossible for blood to continue flowing to his brain. Popov went out before he could tap.
In the post-fight interview, Dan Hardy asked Goltsov if he was retiring, as he took his gloves off. The new heavyweight champ gave no thought to the question, saying he is ready for what comes next.
What is it that comes next? Francis Ngannou, of course, the lineal world heavyweight champion whose opponents in PFL are contracted to automatically get two million dollars just for fighting the scariest man in MMA.
It is a no-brainer for Goltsov. Even if he loses, he can earn double his purse from tonight in just one more fight and then walk off into the sunset, if he wishes.
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