With the loss, Popov has a 17-fight winning streak snapped. The 2024 season marked Popov’s first in PFL after being imported from Bellator. Popov defeated Steve Mowry, Davion Franklin, and Vassell to earn Friday’s opportunity.

Popov is known to grind opponents down en route to decision wins and is a dominant grappler, so when Goltsov swiveled his hips and locked up his ankles in the early stages of a triangle choke, it did not seem like a big issue.

Denis Goltsov finally achieved his dream to become a PFL champion with a nasty triangle choke that put Oleg Popov to sleep in the heavyweight finals

Check out these photos from Denis Goltsov's submission victory over Oleg Popov to win $1 million at 2024 PFL Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photos by Jose Peñuela, PFL MMA)