Carlos Leal got the opportunity to participate in the 2022 PFL regular season after a first-round finish of Korey Kuppe and a split-decision win over Chris Brown during the 2022 Challenger Series. After scoring a late-notice upset of former champion Ray Cooper III, Leal made the postseason, where he fell to eventual champion Sadibou Sy, which snapped an 11-fight win streak for Leal. Leal — a former LFA welterweight champion and Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion — scored a first-round TKO of David Zawada in April to get a big start to his 2023 season.
After his appearance in the 2022 PFL Challenger Series, Dilano Taylor’s regular season saw him earn a decision over Joao Zeferino but get stopped by Magomed Magomedkerimov. But on short notice, Taylor earned the biggest moment of his career — and arguably the Upset of the Year in MMA — when he finished Rory MacDonald in the first round of their semifinal bout. Taylor then fought for PFL gold but came up short against Sy. A former Titan FC welterweight champion, Taylor was stopped by Magomed Umalatov in the first round of their regular-season bout in April.
Leal will earn a playoff spot with any kind of win, while Taylor is unable to make the playoffs due to missing weight.
Round 1
The two trading strikes very early on in this fight. Taylor lands a couple of left hands. Leal lands a combination, but Taylor lands a sharp counter right. Taylor gets another right hand. The two trading leg kicks. Taylor with a combination. Leal coming inside and Taylor using his reach to his advantage.
Carlos Leal & Dilano Taylor exchange shots! We go to the 2nd round..#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 24, 2023
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Leal initiates a battle in the clinch, with one man landing a knee to the body. Leg kick and a short combination from Taylor. One-two from Leal doesn’t land. Taylor misses the right straight. Leal tries for a choke but Taylor scrambles. Taylor tries to come forward, but Leal fires off a flurry that drops Taylor’s mouthpiece out. The two get into a firefight, as Leal is now the aggressor and coming inside on Taylor.
Round 2
Taylor worked the left hand and a low kick. Taylor comes in with a small combination. Leal with a low kick, and Taylor responds with a powerful right punch. Leal comes in close on Taylor, and he lands a right that rocks Taylor and sends him into retreat. Leal firing off a couple of more shots. A left hook knocks Taylor out on his feet! A few more shots, capped by a right hook, and Taylor drops to the floor as the referee stops the fight!
THE LION!! Carlos Leal puts Taylor on Ice Skates and gets the finish!
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 24, 2023
Carlos Leal is going back to the #PFLPlayoffs!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
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Carlos Leal (quite literally) punches his ticket to the playoffs!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Carlos Leal defeats Dilano Taylor by 2nd round KO (1:13) earning 5 points and clinching a playoff spot in the PFL Welterweight Division