MacDonald gets new opponent on 2 days' notice for PFL playoffs

Rory MacDonald won't be facing Magomed Umalatov in Saturday's PFL 8 main event.

Dilano Taylor has stepped in and will square off with MacDonald on two days' notice in the PFL welterweight semifinals, the promotion announced Thursday. Umalatov was unable to secure a visa to enter the U.K.

MacDonald, the former UFC title challenger and Bellator champion, is looking to advance to the PFL finals for the first time after coming up short in the 2021 semifinals. He went 1-1 in the 2022 regular season, submitting Brett Cooper and then losing to Sadibou Sy by unanimous decision. His efforts were still enough to lock up the No. 1 seed going into the playoffs.

Taylor earned a spot in the regular season as an alternate after winning on the PFL Challenger Series in February. He defeated Joao Zeferino in his promotional debut but then lost to 2018 champ Magomed Magomedkerimov and fell short of the postseason. Taylor is 9-2 as a pro and has spent most of his career with Titan FC.

Taylor was the PFL's third choice as an alternate for the playoffs. Magomedkerimov and Ray Cooper III, who both missed the postseason but finished above Taylor in the regular-season standings at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, were unable to compete. Taylor finished seventh.

PFL 8 is scheduled to take place in Cardiff, Wales, and is the second of three playoff events before the finals go down Nov. 25.