Dilano Taylor and Juan Adams have been thrust into the spotlight at PFL Playoffs on Saturday.
The two alternates will compete in semifinal round fights live on ESPN from Cardiff, Wales and the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena.
Taylor steps in for Magomed Umalatov in the main event vs. Rory MacDonald. That will be one of the welterweight semifinals, with the winner advancing to meet either Sadibou Sy or Carlos Leal.
Adams, meanwhile, takes the place of Denis Goltsov and will meet Matheus Scheffel. Scheffel also was cast as a replacement when Bruno Cappelozza came down with an injury.
The winner of Adams vs. Scheffel takes on either Ante Delija or Renan Ferreira in the heavyweight final later this year.
While neither Taylor or Adams were supposed to be in this position, the PFL has structured itself so that each fighter can take advantage of this tremendous opportunity.
Taylor is 9-2 and coming off a loss to Magomed Magomedkerimov that snapped his eight-fight win streak. During that run, he bested Joao Zeferino and also earned a stoppage win over Mark Martin.
In MacDonald, he will be facing his toughest opponent to date. A former UFC title contender, the Canadian has held gold in Bellator and has long been considered one of the top welterweights in the world.
The 30-year-old Adams earned a win over Sam Kei in his PFL debut this past June. He is a former Fury FC heavyweight champion and owns a record of 10-4, which includes four fights within the UFC.
Each weight class winner in the PFL season-long race will receive a world title and $1 million prize. That is life-changing money for anyone, but especially fighters like Taylor and Adams.
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
More About:Sports