PFL Lyon is occurring today and is headlined by Vadim Nemkov vs. Renan Ferreira for the PFL Heavyweight Championship. Nemkov is a former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion and has a 19-1 record with 15 finishes. Nemkov currently is on a 14-fight unbeaten streak, with his last loss coming in 2016. Ferreira lost his last fight in October 2024 to Francis Ngannou via first-round TKO.
PFL Lyon begins at 11:00 a.m. ET on ESPN’s unlimited plan. Check out my best bet for Vadim Nemkov vs. Renan Ferreira.
Under 1.5 Rounds (-175)
Before Ferreira’s previous loss, he won four consecutive bouts via TKO/KO in the PFL. He is 13-4 in his MMA career, with 12 of his 13 victories coming by finish. Ferreira has showcased his spectacular power during his career, but has been a one-dimensional fighter, which has hurt him at times.
On paper, Ferreira has the advantage, as he is eight inches taller (6’8″ vs. 6’0″) and has a nine-inch edge in standing reach (85″ vs. 76″). All 11 of Ferreira’s 11 knockouts in his career have come in the first two rounds. If Nemkov can be aggressive and get this fight to the ground early, he should be able to find success in this contest. Nemkov has the clear advantage on the ground, but still possesses power in his hands as well.
Nemkov is a massive -620 favorite with Ferreira being the underdog at +400 on DraftKings Sportsbook. Since Ferreira and Nemkov combine for 27 career finishes, taking the under on 1.5 rounds at -175 seems like the best play. Four of Ferreira’s last five fights have ended in the first round, while Nemkov has had 11 bouts end in the first round.
