Carlos Leal secured his spot in the PFL playoffs with a dominating win on Friday night that caught the attention of his welterweight peers. Headlining PFL 6’s undercard, Leal achieved his goal with a spectacular knockout of Dilano Taylor, runner-up for the 2022 welterweight title.

Despite a rocky start in the opening round, Leal bounced back to rock Taylor with a powerful right hook, followed by a barrage of lefts and rights that sent the competitor’s mouthpiece flying. A final devastating right hook sealed the deal as Taylor was sent to the mat.

Leal’s victory statement makes it clear that he intends to continue his reign as the undeniable force of the welterweight division. The 29-year-old has impressed greatly throughout PFL 2023’s regular season, achieving knockouts over David Zawada and Dilano Taylor to earn his playoff berth. Leal will look to reclaim his shot at the title and reset the balance, after his defeat against incumbent PFL champion Sadibou Sy in last year’s semifinals.