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In a surprising turn of events, Neiman Gracie will now face Magomed Umalatov in the PFL 9 welterweight semifinals. This change comes after Don Madge was forced to withdraw from the event due to an injury, as announced by the PFL.
Originally, Gracie was set to compete against Luca Poclit in an alternate bout at 170 pounds on the same card. However, with Gracie stepping up to the semifinals, Poclit will now face Eric Alequin.
PFL 9 is scheduled at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., on August 23.
Gracie (13-5) initially did not qualify for the playoffs after a mixed performance in the regular season, where he secured a victory against Madge in June but suffered a loss to Goiti Yamauchi in April. This unexpected opportunity to step into the semifinals comes as a chance for redemption and a path to clinch the welterweight title potentially.
Standing in Gracie’s way is the formidable Magomed Umalatov (16-0), who has been on a tear since joining the PFL in 2021. Umalatov has racked up seven consecutive victories, including wins over notable fighters Andrey Koreshkov and Brennan Ward during this year's regular season. Umalatov's unbeaten record and dominant performances make him a daunting opponent for Gracie.
The card for PFL 9 has seen some changes but remains packed with exciting matchups:
Main Card:
Brendan Loughnane vs. Kai Kamaka
Magomed Umalatov vs. Neiman Gracie
Gabriel Braga vs. Timur Khizriev
Shamil Musaev vs. Murad Ramazanov
Preliminary Card:
Ray Cooper III vs. Mukhamed Berkhamov
Eric Alequin vs. Luca Poclit
Tyler Diamond vs. Enrique Barzola
Brahyan Zurcher vs. James Gallagher
Jesse Stirn vs. Jose Perez
Maxwell Djantou Nana vs. TBD
Shido Boris Esperanca vs. TBD
Additionally, Maxwell Djantou Nana and Shido Boris Esperanca will compete against yet-to-be-announced opponents on the preliminary card.
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