Dilano Taylor previews PFL Welterweight Championship fight, career journey, and defeating Rory MacDonald
The road to the 2022 PFL welterweight championship was no easy task for Dilano Taylor. The Kill Cliff FC fighter was an alternate three times during the 2022 season and on just a day’s notice, he was set to take on former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald in the semi-finals. Although MacDonald had ups-and-downs during his tenure with the PFL, Taylor still understood and respected the challenge that the former champion presented in their matchup.
Dilano Taylor would go on to make his mark against MacDonald, defeating the former Bellator champion by first-round stoppage, and cashing his ticket to the welterweight championship. Taylor will face Sadibou Sy in the championship, with both fighters having previously beaten MacDonald during their 2022 season.
After picking up a win over Mark Martin in the 2022 Challenger Series, Dilano Taylor was not selected to the original season roster, but got the call to face Joao Zeferino on short-notice and made the most of the opportunity when he picked up a split decision win.
The short-notice calls would not stop there as Taylor would then replace Zeferino to take on former PFL champion Magomed Magomedkerimov at PFL 6 in July, a fight that he would lose in the second round.
As the tale continued in the story of Dilano Taylor’s 2022 season, his fight against Rory MacDonald was also made last minute after Magomedkerimov had visa issues and couldn’t make the fight. Taylor would seize the opportunity and get the first-round finish over “The Red King” which would also lead to MacDonald announcing his retirement from active competition.
In an interview with MyMMANews, Dilano Taylor discusses his upcoming matchup against Sadibou Sy and the roller coaster of his 2022 season. Taylor also opens up about how his team of coaches and teammates at Kill Cliff FC have kept him prepared throughout the entire season, and he peels the curtain back on what it would mean to be PFL welterweight champion, win $1 million, and how he would prepare for the 2023 season.
Watch the interview above for the conversation with Dilano Taylor.
