This article will examine the Light Heavyweight athletes competing in the 2024 season.

Alex 'Eazy' Polizzi

Record: 10-3-0 (0-0 PFL)

Height: 6ft 0in

Reach: 72in

Nationality: American

Fighting out of: Las Vegas, Nevada

Opponent: Impa Kasanganay

The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.

He's lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.#UFC287 pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v
— Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) April 5, 2023
 

Former LFA champion Polizzi will make his PFL debut this weekend against last year's champion, Impa Kasanganay. For the first time in his career, Polizzi has lost two consecutive fights and will undoubtedly have his work cut out for him if he is to end that streak this weekend.

Polizzi is one of the former Bellator athletes now competing under the PFL banner since the two companies merged. During his time at Bellator, Polizzi had a record of 4-3, with two of those victories coming by submission.

Polizzi also captured his LFA title with a heel hook and won 50% of his ten victories by submission. He has only been finished himself once in his thirteen-fight career, which was in the final second of his fight with Yoel Romero.

Antônio Carlos "CARA DE SAPATO" Júnior

Record: 15-5-0, 2NC (5-0, 1NC PFL)

Height: 6ft 2in

Reach: 79in

Nationality: Brazilian

Fighting out of: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Opponent: Simon Biyong

Carlos Jr. is a black in ju-jitsu. He had an extensive record and notable world championships competing in ju-jitsu from 2010 to 2014 before transitioning to MMA. The Ultimate Fighter season 3 Brazil graduate has been competing at the top level of MMA his entire career. Joining the UFC with a record of just 3-0, Carlos Jr. spent seven years with the promotion before cutting ties after three straight defeats.

Carlos Jr. made an immediate impression in the PFL when he won the world championship in his debut season in 2021, winning two of his three fights via submission. Carlos Jr. continued to impress in the opening two fights of the 2022 season with a 29-second victory via Brabo choke over Delan Monte and a unanimous decision victory over Bruce Souto. Carlos Júnior was scheduled to face Omari Akhmedov in the Semifinal but suffered an ACL injury that has kept him sidelined to this day.

Carlos Jr. is one of the most dangerous competitors in the PFL and will be somebody to keep an eye on this season.

Dovletdzhan "WOLFHOUND" Yagshimuradov

Record: 21-7-1 (0-0 PFL)

Height: 5ft 11in

Reach: 72in

Nationality: Turkmenistan

Fighting out of: Kharkiv, Ukraine

Opponent: Jakob Nedoh

The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.

He's lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.#UFC287 pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v
— Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) April 5, 2023
 

Yagshimuradov began training in mixed martial arts in 2011 as a student. He made his professional debut in 2012 at the Oplot Challenge 1 tournament, where he fought to a draw against Czech fighter Rudolf Kriz. Over the next several years, Yagshimuradov compiled a record of 11 wins, five losses, and one draw, competing for various regional promotions.

In 2017, Yagshimuradov signed up for the Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) promotion, which he found to be a great success. He won seven fights, including victories over Dan Konecki, Jared Torgeson, and Joachim Christensen. His impressive knockout win over Christensen also earned him a performance bonus.

Yagshimuradov will be one of the fighters making the switch from Bellator. Riding a three-fight win streak, Yagshimuradov will be coming to the PFL with bags of confidence, and for good reason. He has finished 76% of his wins with twelve KO/TKOs and four submission wins.

Yagshimuradov has proven that he is a dangerous fighter no matter where the fight goes and will undoubtedly be a great addition to the already stacked Light Heavyweight division.

Impa "TSHILOBO" Kasangany

Record: 15-5-0 (5-1 PFL)

Height: 5ft 11in

Reach: 75in

Nationality: American

Fighting out of: Charlotte, North Carolina

Opponent: Alex Polizzi

The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.

He's lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.#UFC287 pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v
— Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) April 5, 2023
 

Kasanganay's mixed martial arts career began in 2019, and he quickly amassed a 4-0 record on the regional circuit. His performances earned him an invitation to Dana White's Contender Series in 2019 and 2020, where he secured a UFC contract after his second appearance.

He made his UFC debut against Maki Pitolo on August 29, 2020, winning the fight unanimously. However, his second UFC fight against Joaquin Buckley ended in a memorable loss. After a win against Sasha Palatnikov and a loss to Carlston Harris, Kasanganay was released from the UFC in December 2021.

Following his UFC stint, Kasanganay signed with Eagle FC, where he suffered a split-decision loss to Raimond Magomedaliev. Despite this setback, he persevered and eventually signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) after a TKO victory over Osama Elseady during the PFL Challenger Series 15. In 2023, Kasanganay won the PFL's light heavyweight championship and a $1 million prize after winning all four fights in the league tournament.

Kasanganay later competed in the cross-over event of PFL vs. Bellator, losing a closely fought fight in a split decision to Johnny Elben in a Middleweight bout for the "PFL Champion vs. Bellator Champion" Super Belt.

Jakob "The Gorilla" Nedoh

Record: 8-1-0 (3-0 PFL)

Height: 6ft 3in

Reach: 73in

Nationality: Slovenian

Fighting out of: Ljubljana, Slovenia

Opponent: Doveletdzhan Yagshimuradov

The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.

He's lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.#UFC287 pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v
— Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) April 5, 2023
 

Nedoh has a total of 6 knockouts and two submission wins, with all of his victories bar his most recent ending in the first round; his last fight at PFL 4 ended in the second round, where he won via TKO over Simeon Powell.

He is on an eight-fight winning streak, with his only loss coming in his first professional bout. Before his MMA career, Nedoh was a kickboxer and competed in boxing matches. He has trained in various martial arts since childhood, including kickboxing, boxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Josh "Coninha" Silveira

Record: 12-2-0 (5-2 PFL)

Height: 6ft 1in

Reach: 75in

Nationality: American

Fighting out of: Coconut Creek, Florida

Opponent: Sadibou Sy

Silveira has an impressive record of 12 wins and 2 losses, with six wins coming by submission and five by knockout. During the 2023 season, Silveira finished all three of his opponents in the first round and made it to the final, where he unfortunately fell short against Impa Kasanganay.

Before joining the PFL, Silveira had a successful career in various regional promotions, including Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) and Titan FC. His notable victories include a rear-naked choke submission against Rafael Viana at LFA 106 and a knockout against Tee Cummins at LFA 115.

Silveira is known for his versatile fighting style, which includes striking and grappling skills. He will be looking to welcome Sadibou Sy, the 2022 Welterweight champion and 2023 finalist, to the Light Heavyweight division this weekend.

Phil "Mr Wonderful" Davis

Record: 24-7-0 (0-0 PFL)

Height: 6ft 2in

Reach: 78in

Nationality: American

Fighting out of: San Diego, California

Opponent:

The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.

He's lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.#UFC287 pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v
— Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) April 5, 2023
 

Davis is a former four-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler at Penn State and holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Lloyd Irvin. He began his professional MMA career in 2008 and has a record of 24 wins and seven losses, with 13 wins by decision, five wins by submission, and six wins by knockout.

Davis is a former Bellator Light Heavyweight champion with a notable career in both the UFC and in Bellator. His resume includes wins over Tim Boetsch, Antônio Rogério Nogueira, Glover Teixeira, Lyoto Machida, and Yoel Romero. Davies was scheduled to fight Rob Wilkinson on this weekend's card but has since had to withdraw from the fight and currently doesn't have a scheduled opponent.

Robert 'Razor' Wilkinson

Record: 17-2-0 (4-0, 1NC PFL)

Height: 6ft 3in

Reach: 80in

Nationality: Australian

Fighting out of: Englewood, Colorado

Opponent: Tom Breese

The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.

He's lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.#UFC287 pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v
— Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) April 5, 2023
 

Wilkinson began his professional MMA career in 2011 and quickly made a name for himself on the regional circuit, amassing an impressive record of 11-0, with most of his victories coming via stoppage in the first round. His early success led him to capture the Australian Fighting Championship middleweight title and the BRACE middleweight championship belt.

Wilkinson made his promotional debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on September 2, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve, where he faced Siyar Bahadurzada and suffered his first career loss via TKO in the second round. He then faced Israel Adesanya on February 11, 2018, at UFC 221, where he lost via TKO in the second round. Following these two fights, Wilkinson was released from his UFC contract on August 14, 2018

In 2022, Wilkinson joined the PFL and had an impressive season. He won all his fights by stoppage and ultimately claimed the PFL Light Heavyweight World Championship and the $1 million collective tournament pool. His victories included a second-round TKO over Bruce Souto, a first-round TKO over Viktor Pešta, a first-round knockout of Delan Monte, and a doctor-stoppage win against Omari Akhmedov in the finals.

Wilkinson began his 2023 PFL season with a bout against former UFC Light Heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos on April 1, 2023, at PFL 1, which he won via unanimous decision. However, the result was later overturned to a no-contest after Wilkinson tested positive for an elevated t/e ratio. This weekend will mark the return of the 2022 champion, who will be out to prove himself again.

Sadibou 'The Swedish Denzel Washington' Sy

Record: 16-7-2 (10-5-2, 1NC PFL)

Height: 6ft 3in

Reach: 80in

Nationality: Swedish

Fighting out of: Stockholm, Sweden

Opponent: Josh Silveira

Sy's MMA career began in the Stockholm-based IRFA (International Ring Fight Arena) organization. He amassed a 2-1 record before debuting at SC 12, where he defeated Englishman Carl Booth via first-round TKO. After two fights with other organizations, Sy returned to Superior Challenge with a 6-2 record.

At SC 14, he gained widespread attention for his viral head-kick KO against Welshman David Round. Sy continued his winning streak at SC 16, defeating Greek fighter Nikos Sokolis with another first-round TKO. In the PFL, Sy has had a successful career, winning the Welterweight championship in 2022 and reaching the final in 2023. His most recent fight was in the final against Magomed Magomedkerimov at PFL 10, which ended in a loss via submission.

Sy will make the jump from Welterweight to Light Heavyweight as the PFL doesn't have a Middleweight division. Many will be keen to see how the former Welterweight champion fares at the much heavier weight class.

Simon "HEMLÉ" Biyong

Record: 9-3 (0-0 PFL)

Height: 6ft 5in

Reach: 80in

Nationality: Cameroonian

Fighting out of: Genova, Italy

Opponent: Antônio Carlos Júnior

Biyong will be another former Bellator athlete making his PFL debut against a dangerous and game opponent. Biyong was only in Bellator for a few years and had a record of 2-2.

Biyong's fighting style is characterized by his striking abilities, particularly his knockout power. He is also known for his aggressive approach and ability to finish fights quickly. With seven out of his nine wins coming from KO/TKO, he is a dangerous opponent for anybody in the Light Heavyweight division.

Tom Breese

Record: 18-4 (1-0 PFL)

Height: 6ft 3in

Reach: 73.5in

Nationality: English

Fighting out of: Birmingham, England

Opponent: Rob Wilkinson

The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.

He's lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.#UFC287 pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v
— Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) April 5, 2023
 

Breese has a professional MMA record of 18 wins, four losses, and 0 draws, with five wins by knockout, 12 by submission, and one by decision. His most recent fight was on December 8, 2023, where he defeated C. Silva by submission (rear-naked choke) in the third round at the PFL Europe Championship.

Breese began training MMA at 16 and skipped college to train full-time. He successfully made his professional debut for the promotion BAMMA in 2010. Breese fought exclusively in his native country, England, and amassed an undefeated record of 7-0, with all but one win coming by submission. In the UFC, Breese made his promotional debut against Luiz Dutra Jr. on May 30, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 67. He won the fight via TKO in the first round after dropping his opponent with a straight left and following up with ground and pound to earn the TKO victory. The win also earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus award.

Breese faced Cathal Pendred on October 24, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 76. He dominated the fight with striking exchanges en route to another TKO victory in the first round. Like his UFC debut, Breese dropped his opponent with a straight left and followed up with ground and pound to earn the TKO victory. The win also earned him his second Performance of the Night bonus award.

Since leaving the UFC, Breese has fought across Levels Fight League and KSW; he is currently riding a three-fight win streak and will undoubtedly be coming into his fight with the former champ with confidence.