Visa Issues Knock Denis Goltsov, Magomed Umalatov Out of PFL 8 Playoffs

BREAKING: Due to the inability to secure a visa to enter the United Kingdom, Denis Goltsov and Magomed Umalatov will be replaced by alternates @chosenjuan285 & @PostmanTaylor. #PFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Oj7PAfu6sy

— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 11, 2022

The Professional Fighters League’s decision to hold its playoff shows in the U.K. has backfired for multiple semifinalists.

The organization released the news on Thursday that two semifinal matches at PFL 8 Playoffs had changed. Both heavyweight Denis Goltsov and 170-pounder Magomed Umalatov were unable to acquire visas to enter the United Kingdom. This forced them out of their semifinal bouts with Matheus Scheffel (16-8) and Rory MacDonald (23-9-1), respectively. Their replacements will be Juan Adams (10-4) for Goltsov, and Dilano Taylor (9-2) for Umalatov. On just a few days’ notice, Taylor and Adams will be competing at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, on Aug. 13.

Adams made the most of his single PFL appearance this year, punching out Sam Kei at the midpoint of the second round at PFL 5 to claim five points and a high alternate spot. The Ultimate Fighting Championship vet left the promotion after four appearances, having registered a single win – a knockout of Chris de la Rocha in 2018. A trio of defeats drummed him out of the organization, and “The Kraken” moved on to the Texas-based Fury FC league, where he won by stoppage four times across five appearances. Per TSN, Adams has been in the country since Tuesday, and he had already planned on cutting weight and clocking in as a backup should the need arise.

Taylor joined the PFL at the beginning of the year, facing off against Mark Martin in the second episode of its Challenger Series and disfiguring Martin’s face to get the injury TKO win. Although he did not get the contract the end of the night, he managed to slide in as an alternate in the 2022 season, where he beat Joao Zeferino by split decision in short notice at PFL 3. A subsequent outing as a late replacement against Magomed Magomedkerimov did not go his way, and "The Postman" succumbed to strikes in Round 2. The three points claimed by Taylor were enough to snag him an alternate spot at welterweight, where he now is two wins away from the $1 million prize.

PFL 8: 2022 Playoffs goes down on Aug. 13 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, and MacDonald vs. Taylor will serve as its main event at 170 pounds. The co-headliner comes at heavyweight, with Ante Delija taking on Renan Ferreira for one half of the bracket’s semifinals. The other portion comes between Scheffel and Adams. Kicking off the semifinal matches is a welterweight scrap between Sadibou Sy and Carlos Leal Miranda, but it will not be the main card opener. Instead, a 145-pound qualifier for next year’s season will serve in that role, with Nathan Kelly squaring off against Ben Ellis.