After an impressive time on the regional circuit, including a championship win, Magomed Umalatov made his way to the PFL in 2021 and won a pair of showcase fights. Umalatov followed that up with four combined wins during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, making the p PFL Playoffs both times but being unable to compete in them due to, respectively, visa issues and injury. The third time's the charm, however, as Umalatov is now in the postseason thanks to his wins over Andrey Koreshkov and Brennan Ward this season.

 

A member of the first family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Neiman Gracie was a Pan-American jiu-jitsu champion before making his professional MMA debut in 2013. Gracie signed with Bellator in 2015 and went 10-4 in the promotion, including falling short in his one-time challenge of the Bellator Welterweight Title against then-champ (and PFL alumnus) Rory MacDonald. Gracie, who has nine submission wins, lost to Goiti Yamauchi in April but managed to defeat Don Madge in June. Gracie enters the 2024 Playoffs as the No. 5 seed following an injury to Madge.

 

Who will move on to face Shamil Musaev for the PFL Welterweight World Championship this November?

 

 

Round 1

 

Left hand from Umalatov. Strong right hand from Umalatov. One-two from Umalatov. Gracie trying to keep distance. Umalatov level changes, and Gracie tries to go behind and get the back. Umalatov shakes him off. Low kick by Gracie. Jab by Umalatov. One-two by Umalatov. Low kick from Umalatov. Body lock from Gracie, and he tries to drag Umalatov to the ground, but Umalatov is too smart for that. Right hand from Umalatov. Left hand from Umalatov. Three-punch combination from Umalatov. One-two and a low kick from Gracie.

 

Left hand from Umalatov. Gracie misses the right. One-two misses for Umalatov. Nasty right hand from Umalatov. Gracie backs up in response. Left hand from Umalatov. Front kick from Umalatov. High kick by Gracie. Front kick misses for Umalatov. Right hand by Umalatov. Combination from Umalatov with about a minute left in the round. Front kick misses for Umalatov. Low kick by Gracie, and Umalatov lands a jab. Knee from Umalatov. Umalatov working the jab again. Body kick from Umalatov. Low kick from Gracie.

 

 

 

Round 2

 

Umalatov works the jab again. Low kick from Umalatov. Gracie shows the left hand. Low kick from Umalatov. Umalatov catches a kick from Gracie and throws him to the ground, but he lets Gracie back up, unwilling to go to the ground. Low kick from Umalatov. Low kick from Umalatov again. Umalatov lands the right hand to the face. Left hand by Gracie. Gracie tries for a body lock, but Umalatov gets away. Low kick from Umalatov. One-two from Umalatov. Umalatov looking to land a big right hand. Combination from Gracie. Jab from Gracie. Gracie with another combination, ending with a slapping right hand.

 

Knee on the inside from Umalatov. Right hand from Umalatov. Left hook lands for Umalatov. Wheel kick from Gracie misses. Left hand from Umalatov. Umalatov lands another left. Low kick from Umalatov. Spinning backfist from Gracie is blocked. Right hand by Umalatov. Big combination from Umalatov that catches Gracie’s attention. Gracie lands a big right hand. Both men throw jabs. Gracie level changes and presses Umalatov to the fence. Umalatov manages to work his way off the fence. Right hand lands for Gracie. Gracie goes for a jumping knee but is off balance.

 

 

 

Round 3

 

Low kick from Gracie and the two go into an exchange. Both land left hands, and Gracie is the one coming on the front foot. Glancing right hand for Umalatov. Gracie goes down, and this time Umalatov follows and goes to work, looking to finish the fight. Gracie closes his guard and gets a hold of Umalatov’s arm. Umalatov looking to stack Gracie here. Gracie looking to scoot back, and the referee warns him multiple times about his fingers on the fence. Gracie gets his legs around and he looks to be pulling himself toward Umalatov’s thigh. He goes for a heel hook, but Umalatov gets up and away from the attempt.

 

 

Umalatov lands a strong right hand and a left hook. The two exchange, and Umalatov makes Gracie stumble back. The two trade in close, both landing to the body with dirty boxing. Gracie looks for a flying armbar! He misses it, but he goes after Umalatov’s leg and goes for a calf slicer! Umalatov gets away from the hold, but he’s also warned multiple times for fence grabbing. Umalatov gets into a half-guard position on top of Gracie. Gracie looks to use butterfly hooks. Gracie looking for an Omoplata or a gogoplata in the closing seconds of the round, but Umalatov gets out of danger. Gracie looks for a rubber guard attack again, looking for another submission attempt, but he can’t get it before the horn.

 

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Magomed Umalatov defeats Neiman Gracie by unanimous decision (29-28x2, 30-27) in the PFL Welterweight Semifinals, earning a spot in the 2024 PFL World Championship. He’ll face Shamil Musaev for the PFL Welterweight belt and $1 million.

 

PFL Welterweight Championship

#1 Shamil Musaev vs. #2 Magomed Umalatov

 

  • Umalatov moves his undefeated record to 17-0
  • Umalatov moves his PFL record to 8-0
  • Umalatov goes by the nickname “Prince