Following a 52-second win, Denis Goltsov already has his next
PFL matchup booked.| 📷: PFL MMA
The
Professional Fighters League has added a heavyweight matchup to
its upcoming event in Chicago.
Promotion officials confirmed to Sherdog on Wednesday that 2024 PFL
heavyweight tournament champion Denis
Goltsov will return against Maxwell
Djantou Nana on Oct. 16. The matchup features two ranked
contenders in the division.
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2024 PFL heavyweight tournament champion Denis Goltsov faces
Maxwell Djantou Nana on Oct. 16
Goltsov most recently competed at
PFL Charlotte, where he stopped Hasan
Mezhiev via technical knockout in just 52 seconds in his first
appearance of 2026.
Before that victory, Goltsov suffered a loss to Corey
Anderson in July 2025. The Russian entered that bout on a
four-fight winning streak that included his run to the 2024 PFL
heavyweight tournament championship.
Djantou Nana has emerged as one of PFL Africa’s success stories,
despite losing to Justin
Clarke in the 2025 championship. He has compiled a 4-1 record
since joining the PFL and also won his lone appearance under the
One
Championship banner.
The rising heavyweight will make his third appearance of 2026.
Djantou Nana earned a decision over Karl
Williams before scoring a third-round technical knockout
against Eduardo
Neves earlier this month.
PFL Chicago will mark its second trip to the Windy City in
2026. The event is headlined by an undisputed women’s flyweight
title rematch between Liz
Carmouche and Jena
Bishop.
Carmouche defeated Bishop during the 2025 PFL women’s flyweight
tournament, but the two will meet again with the championship at
stake.