PFL 2: Denis Goltsov vs. Yorgan de Castro Preview, Odds and Predictions

Heavyweight action between Denis Goltsov and Yorgan De Castro is set for the upcoming PFL 2 event at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. De Castro will now face Goltsov in a three-round bout instead of Ante Delija as planned. A highly anticipated clash against the Croat, who is the reigning champion, had to be canceled due to Delija’s problems. Both Goltsov and De Castro have a reputation for being formidable in the ring, so this bout should be exciting to watch. Their style is completely different, with Goltsov preferring to take action to the mat, while De Castro aims to end fights with hard KOs. 

Preview

Denis Goltsov (-300) is a 6’5” titan from Russia with a 78″ reach who likes to wrestle and grapple. It is strange to see a guy of this size taking his business down to the ground when he can practically reach any rival from a distance while being in the standup. 

The Russian has had 29 triumphs and seven losses throughout his career. His method of winning shows that Goltsov possesses versatility inside the ring and knows how to deal with any type of rival’s tactics. He KOd the opponents on 13 occasions, has 10 submissions, and six decision wins.  

Goltsov comes into this event with back-to-back victories over Cody Goodale (TKO) and Maurice Greene, whom he defeated via unanimous decision. The previous loss Russian experienced was against the reigning champ, ante Delija, back in the 2021 PFL semifinals. 

Yorgan De Castro (+240) is an MMA veteran who has UFC experience behind him. The Mad Titan as the fans call De Castro, will make a debut in the PFL against Goltsov, and for the moment, even though he stands as the undergod in this clash, many expect to see him attack the title right away.

His KO power is incredible, and we saw an example of the same at the Eagle FC 47 in May 2020, once he trashed the former UFC heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos in the third round. De Castro has 12 professional bouts in his career, winning nine and losing three.

The Cape Verdean’s stint in the UFC ended when he had three defeats in a row, over Greg Hardy, Carlos Felire, and Jarjis Danho, which was arguably the worst part of his career. Previously, he was impressive during Dana White’s Contender Series 17, and on his UFC debut, he KOd Justin Tafa in the first round. 

Prediction

De Castro is still an enigma for most analysts. He had everything needed to become a solid UFC fighter, but Yorgan would simply lose his ground somewhere along the way. A win over Dos Santos brought him back to the center of attention, yet to be honest, for the moment, Goltsov looks like a better and more versatile warrior. De Castro won’t have any chance on the mat, and at some point, the Russian will drag him to the ground. Goltsov can eat that one huge hit, which will be a decisive difference in this clash. The odds aren’t that high, but we would go with the Russian’s win, and, if possible, pick submission as a method of victory. 

Pick: Goltsov wins -300

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