PFL Playoffs 2 Preview: UFC Vet Rory MacDonald Targets Finals Berth

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) heads to the United Kingdom for the first time in the promotion's history as its postseason wars continue this Saturday, August 13 at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Wales.

PFL Playoffs 2 features semifinal bouts in the welterweight and heavyweight division, with former UFC star and Bellator champion Rory MacDonald taking on Dilano Taylor in the main event.

Now competing in his second PFL postseason, MacDonald finds himself in a similar position as he did last year: two wins away from a PFL welterweight championship.

While last season didn't end the way "The Red King" would have wanted, he has another chance at PFL gold this season.

MacDonald began the season with a scintillating first-round submission win over Brett Cooper, which was ultimately enough for him to clinch the top seed in the division despite suffering an upset defeat in his final regular-season bout.

Now, MacDonald gets to inch closer to another world title reign and a million-dollar purse.

Just weeks ago, Taylor's maiden PFL season had seemingly come to an abrupt end.

The PFL Challenger Series standout was impressive in his regular-season debut, defeating veteran Joao Zeferino and putting himself in a position to compete for a playoff spot.

A crushing KO loss to former champion Magomed Magomedkerimov dashed Taylor's postseason aspirations as he finished the season as the seventh seed.

With visa issues forcing Magomed Umalatov to withdraw from the tournament, Taylor now finds himself with another chance this season as he steps in to face MacDonald in the semifinals.

In the co-main event, 2021 heavyweight finalist Ante Delija locks horns with knockout artist Renan "Problema" Ferreira in a heavyweight semifinals showdown.

Coming off a finals appearance last season, Delija continued to prove that he's one of the league's top heavyweights, picking up victories over Matheus Scheffel and Shelton Graves to secure the division's No. 2 spot.

Now, Delija is one win away from another championship bout, but he will first need to get past one of the division's most devastating strikers.

Despite missing the playoffs last season, Ferreria wrapped up his 2021 PFL campaign on a high note, picking up a 31-second KO win.

This season, "Problema" picked up right where he left off, scoring a historic 25-second knockout win over Jamelle Jones to clinch the division's No. 3 seat.

In his first PFL postseason appearance, Ferreira will try to add another knockout win to his resume and earn a shot at the PFL heavyweight championship.

In the other heavyweight semifinals bout, Matheus Scheffel faces Juan Adams.

While both Scheffel and Adams initially missed out on the Top Four. the two now get the chance to compete in the semifinals following withdrawals from 2021 champion Bruno Cappelozza and Denis Goltsov.

In the other welterweight semifinals bout, Sadibou Sy tests the mettle of Carlos Leal.

PFL Playoffs 2 is available in the United States on ESPN and ESPN+. The broadcast begins at 12:00 PM ET.