2021 in Professional Fighters League

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2021 in Professional Fighters League
GenreSports
Country of originUnited States
Original release
NetworkESPN
ReleaseApril 23, 2021 (2021-April-23)

This is a list of events and standings for the Professional Fighters League, a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States, for the 2021 season.

PFL's 2021 roster included 60 fighters competing across six weight classes. The late additions to the season were the welterweights Gleison Tibau, Alexey Kunchenko and Jason Ponet, featherweights Chris Wade and Anthony Dizy, women’s lightweights Kaitlin Young and Taylor Guardado and light heavyweight Nick Roehrick.[1]

2021 world champions[edit]

Division Upper weight limit Champion Date
Heavyweight 265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st) Bruno Cappelozza October 27, 2021 (PFL 10)
Light Heavyweight 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) Antônio Carlos Júnior October 27, 2021 (PFL 10)
Welterweight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) Ray Cooper III October 27, 2021 (PFL 10)
Lightweight 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) Raush Manfio October 27, 2021 (PFL 10)
Women's Lightweight 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) Kayla Harrison October 27, 2021 (PFL 10)
Featherweight 145 lb (66 kg; 10.5 st) Movlid Khaybulaev October 27, 2021 (PFL 10)

Rule Changes[edit]

A fighter who is overweight on the scale at weigh-ins will be deducted one point in the standings in the PFL's season structure. In previous seasons, a fighter who missed weight could not earn any points even in a victory, but no standings points were actually taken away until now.

In 2021, the top four fighters per division after the regular season will make the playoffs, a number down from the eight who made the playoffs in men's divisions in previous seasons. The women's lightweight division will have the top four make the playoffs the way it did in 2019, the PFL's most recent season. The four athletes making the playoffs will advance directly to the semifinals in each division. There will be no quarterfinals, nor a situation where a fighter must win twice in a single night.[2]

Events[edit]

The first event of the 2021 PFL season will kick off on April 23, 2021. The prelims were broadcast on ESPN+, while the main card was broadcast on ESPN2.[3] All of the regular season events were held in the Atlantic City, New Jersey, at the Ocean Casino Resort in a “bubble environment”. All fighters will undergo a 17-day quarantine period, as a precaution for COVID-19.[4]

The trio of events constituting the season playoffs will be held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Hollywood, Florida.[5]

# Event Date Venue Location
10 PFL 10 October 27, 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood Hollywood, Florida, United States
9 PFL 9 August 27, 2021
8 PFL 8 August 19, 2021
7 PFL 7 August 13, 2021
6 PFL 6 June 25, 2021 Ocean Casino Resort Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
5 PFL 5 June 17, 2021
4 PFL 4 June 10, 2021
3 PFL 3 May 6, 2021
2 PFL 2 April 29, 2021
1 PFL 1 April 23, 2021

2021 PFL Heavyweight playoffs[edit]

Semifinals Finals
      
1 Brazil Bruno Cappelozza TKO
4 United States Jamelle Jones 2
1 Brazil Bruno Cappelozza UD
3 Croatia Ante Delija 5
2 Russia Denis Goltsov 3
3 Croatia Ante Delija UD
Legend
(SD)
   (Split Decision)
(UD)
   (Unanimous Decision)
(MD)
   (Majority Decision)
SUB
   Submission
(T)KO
   (Technical) Knock Out
L
   Loss

2021 PFL Light Heavyweight playoffs[edit]

Semifinals Finals
      
1 Brazil Antônio Carlos Júnior UD
4 Argentina Emiliano Sordi 3
1 Brazil Antônio Carlos Júnior SUB
3 Norway Marthin Hamlet 1
2 Brazil Cezar Ferreira 1
3 Norway Marthin Hamlet TKO
Legend
(SD)
   (Split Decision)
(UD)
   (Unanimous Decision)
(MD)
   (Majority Decision)
SUB
   Submission
(T)KO
   (Technical) Knock Out
L
   Loss

2021 PFL Welterweight playoffs[edit]

Semifinals Finals
      
5 Sweden Sadibou Sy* 3
4 Russia Magomed Magomedkerimov UD
4 Russia Magomed Magomedkerimov 3
3 United States Ray Cooper III KO
2 Canada Rory MacDonald 3
3 United States Ray Cooper III UD
Legend
(SD)
   (Split Decision)
(UD)
   (Unanimous Decision)
(MD)
   (Majority Decision)
SUB
   Submission
(T)KO
   (Technical) Knock Out
L
   Loss

2021 PFL Lightweight playoffs[edit]

Semifinals Finals
      
1 Tajikistan Loik Radzhabov UD
4 Paraguay Alexander Martinez 3
1 Tajikistan Loik Radzhabov 5
3 Brazil Raush Manfio UD
2 United States Clay Collard 3
3 Brazil Raush Manfio UD
Legend
(SD)
   (Split Decision)
(UD)
   (Unanimous Decision)
(MD)
   (Majority Decision)
SUB
   Submission
(T)KO
   (Technical) Knock Out
L
   Loss

2021 PFL Featherweight playoffs[edit]

Semifinals Finals
      
1 England Brendan Loughnane 3
4 Russia Movlid Khaybulaev SD
4 Russia Movlid Khaybulaev UD
2 United States Chris Wade 5
2 United States Chris Wade UD
3 United States Bubba Jenkins 3
Legend
(SD)
   (Split Decision)
(UD)
   (Unanimous Decision)
(MD)
   (Majority Decision)
SUB
   Submission
(T)KO
   (Technical) Knock Out
L
   Loss

2021 PFL Women's Lightweight playoffs[edit]

Semifinals Finals
      
5 Brazil Mariana Morais 3
4 United States Taylor Guardado SD
4 United States Taylor Guardado 2
2 United States Kayla Harrison SUB
2 United States Kayla Harrison TKO
3 New Zealand Genah Fabian 1

* Larissa Pacheco was originally scheduled to face Taylor Guardado but was unable to continue in the tournament. She was replaced by #5 ranked Mariana Morais.

Legend
(SD)
   (Split Decision)
(UD)
   (Unanimous Decision)
(MD)
   (Majority Decision)
SUB
   Submission
(T)KO
   (Technical) Knock Out
L
   Loss

Standings[edit]

The PFL points system is based on results of the match. The winner of a fight receives 3 points. If the fight ends in a draw, both fighters will receive 1 point. A no-contest will be scored as a draw. The bonus for winning a fight in the first, second, or third round is 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point respectively. The bonus for winning in the third round requires a fight be stopped before 4:59 of the third round. No bonus point will be awarded if a fighter wins via decision. For example, if a fighter wins a fight in the first round, then the fighter will receive 6 total points. A decision win will result in three total points. If a fighter misses weight, the opponent (should they comply with weight limits) will receive 3 points due to a walkover victory, regardless of winning or losing the bout, with the fighter who missed weight being deducted 1 standings point; if the non-offending fighter subsequently wins with a stoppage, all bonus points will be awarded. A fighter who was unable to compete for any reason, will receive a 1-point penalty (-1 point in the standings). The fighters who made weight will not receive a walkover, but will earn points and contracted purse amounts based on their performance in the altered matchup.[6]

Heavyweight[edit]

The heavyweight roster included the current PFL Heavyweight champion Ali Isaev, the former UFC Heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, the former Jungle Fight champion Bruno Cappelozza, former ACB champion Denis Goltsov, M-1 Global title challenger Ante Delija, UFC veteran Justin Willis, Renan Ferreira, Hatef Moeil, Brandon Sayles and Mohammed Usman.[7]


Fighter Wins Draws Losses NCs 1st 2nd 3rd Total

Points[8]

♛ Brazil Bruno Cappelozza 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 12
♛ Russia Denis Goltsov 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 10
♛ Croatia Ante Delija 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 6
♛ United States Jamelle Jones 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 6
E United States Brandon Sayles 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 5
E Brazil Renan Ferreira 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
E Brazil Fabricio Werdum 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
E United States Muhammed DeReese 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
E Brazil Klidson Abreu 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
E Samoa Carl Seumanutafa 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
E United States Chandler Cole 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
E Nigeria Mohammed Usman 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Light Heavyweight[edit]

The first nine light heavyweights announced for the 2021 season were the 2019 PFL champion Emiliano Sordi, the former UFC and Glory fighter Chris Camozzi, UFC veterans Cezar Ferreira, Jordan Johnson, Daniel Spohn and Tom Lawlor, Marthin Hamlet, Smealinho Rama and Jordan Young.[9] Nick Roehrick was later added to the roster,[10] while the former UFC middleweight Antônio Carlos Júnior joined the roster on March 6, 2021.[11] PFL announced that Antônio Carlos Júnior will replace Jordan Johnson for the whole season.[12] At the beginning of April, Smealinho Rama was replaced by Vinny Magalhães for the whole season.[13] At weigh-ins of PFL 2, Vinny had to be taken to the hospital due to complications of his weight cut and was replaced by Askar Mozharov.[14]


Fighter Wins Draws Losses 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Points[15]
♛ Brazil Antônio Carlos Júnior 1 0 0 1 0 0 7
♛ Brazil Cezar Ferreira 1 0 1 1 0 0 6
♛ Norway Marthin Hamlet 1 0 1 0 1 0 5
♛ Argentina Emiliano Sordi 1 1 0 0 0 0 4
E United States Cory Hendricks 1 0 0 0 0 1 4
E United States Chris Camozzi 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E United States Jordan Young 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E United States Tom Lawlor 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E United States Dan Spohn 0 1 1 0 0 0 1
E Brazil Vinny Magalhães 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Welterweight[edit]

The first seven welterweights announced for the 2021 season were the 2019 PFL champion Ray Cooper III, former Bellator champion Rory MacDonald, PFL veteran Magomed Magomedkerimov, UFC veterans David Michaud and João Zeferino, Nikolai Aleksakhin and Sadibou Sy.[9] Alexey Kunchenko was additionally announced for the 2021 season.[16] Jason Ponet and former UFC Lightweight Gleison Tibau were later added on.[10] After revealing a heart condition, David Michaud had to back out of the season and was replaced by Curtis Millender.[17]

Sy replaced Zeferino because of an injury before the PFL semifinals.


Fighter Wins Draws Losses 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Points[18]
E Brazil João Zeferino 2 0 0 0 1 0 8
♛ Canada Rory MacDonald 1 0 1 1 0 0 6
♛ United States Ray Cooper III 2 0 0 1 0 0 5
♛ Russia Magomed Magomedkerimov 1 0 0 1 0 0 5
♛ Sweden Sadibou Sy 1 0 0 0 0 0 4
E Russia Nikolay Aleksakhin 0 0 1 0 0 0 4
E Brazil Gleison Tibau 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E France Jason Ponet 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
E United States Curtis Millender 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
E Russia Alexey Kunchenko 0 0 1 0 0 0 -1

Lightweight[edit]

The 2021 Lightweight roster included the two-time PFL Lightweight champion Natan Schulte, former UFC Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, UFC veterans Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Clay Collard, Marcin Held and Johnny Case, as well as Akhmed Aliev, Joilton Lutterbach, Mikhail Odintsov and Loik Radzhabov.[19] On April 7, 2021, Alexander Martinez replaced Johnny Case in the lightweight roster, after Case was charged with domestic battery.[20]

Round 1 (PFL 1)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight Alexander Martinez def. Loik Radzhabov Decision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) 3 5:00
Lightweight Akhmet Aliev def. Mikhail Odintsov Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Raush Manfio def. Joilton Lutterbach Decision (split) (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Marcin Held def. Natan Schulte Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Clay Collard def. Anthony Pettis Decision (unanimous) (29-27, 29-27, 29-28) 3 5:00
Round 2 (PFL 4 & PFL 6)
Lightweight Loik Radzhabov def. Akhmet Aliev TKO (punches) 1 0:27
Lightweight Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Marcin Held Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 3 5:00
Lightweight Natan Schulte def. Alexander Martinez Decision (split) (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Clay Collard def. Joilton Lutterbach Decision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Raush Manfio def. Anthony Pettis Decision (split) (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Semifinals (PFL 7)
Lightweight Loik Radzhabov def. Alexander Martinez Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Raush Manfio def. Clay Collard Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Final (PFL 10)
Lightweight Raush Manfio def. Loik Radzhabov Decision (unanimous) (48-46, 48-46, 49-46) 5 5:00 [a]
Non-tournament bouts
Lightweight Christian Lohsen def. Jonas Flok Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Brandon Jenkins def. Jacob Kilburn KO (flying knee) 1 2:56
Lightweight Don Madge def. Nathan Williams Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 2:15
  1. ^ For the 2021 PFL Lightweight Championship.


Fighter Wins Draws Losses 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Points[21]
♛ Tajikistan Loik Radzhabov 1 0 1 1 0 0 6
♛ United States Clay Collard 2 0 0 0 0 0 6
♛ Brazil Raush Manfio 2 0 0 0 0 0 6
♛ Paraguay Alexander Martinez 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E Brazil Natan Schulte 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E Poland Marcin Held 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E Russia Akhmet Aliev 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E Canada Olivier Aubin-Mercier 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
E United States Anthony Pettis 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
E Brazil Joilton Lutterbach 0 0 2 0 0 0 -1

Women's Lightweight[edit]

The women's 2021 roster included the 2019 PFL champion Kayla Harrison, Cindy Dandois, Genah Fabian, Olena Kolesnyk, Mariana Morais, Larissa Pacheco, Julija Pajic and Laura Sanchez.[7] Kaitlin Young and Taylor Guardado rounded out the roster.[10]

Pacheco was eliminated at the semifinals when she was two pounds over the lightweight limit.[22]


Fighter Wins Draws Losses 1st 2nd 3rd Total

Points[23]

E Brazil Larissa Pacheco 2 0 0 2 0 0 12
♛ United States Kayla Harrison 2 0 0 2 0 0 12
♛ New Zealand Genah Fabian 1 0 0 0 1 0 8
♛ United States Taylor Guardado 2 0 0 0 0 0 6
♛ Brazil Mariana Morais 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E United States Kaitlin Young 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E Belgium Cindy Dandois 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
E United States Laura Sanchez 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
E Montenegro Julija Pajić 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
E Ukraine Olena Kolesnyk 0 0 2 0 0 0 -1

Featherweight[edit]

Eight fighters were initially announced for the 2021 season. The two-time PFL champion Lance Palmer, UFC veteran Sheymon Moraes, Bellator veteran Bubba Jenkins, Tyler Diamond, Sung Bin Jo, Movlid Khaybulaev, Brendan Loughnane and Jason Soares.[19] Chris Wade, who previously competed in the PFL Lightweight division, was added to the featherweight roster. Anthony Dizy was later added as well.[10] Jason Soares was not medically cleared, hence he was replaced by Lazar Stojadinovic.[24]


Fighter Wins Draws Losses 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Points[25]
♛ England Brendan Loughnane 2 0 0 1 0 0 9
♛ United States Chris Wade 2 0 0 0 1 0 8
♛ United States Bubba Jenkins 2 0 0 0 0 0 6
♛ Russia Movlid Khaybulaev 2 0 0 0 0 0 6
E Brazil Sheymon Moraes 1 0 1 0 1 0 5
E United States Tyler Diamond 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
E United States Lance Palmer 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
E United States Bobby Moffett 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
E Russia Arman Ospanov 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
E United States Jesse Stirn 0 0 1 0 0 0 -1

♛ = Clinched playoff spot --- E = Eliminated

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ MMA Fighting Newswire (25 February 2021). "PFL finalizes 2021 roster with additional signings including UFC vet Gleison Tibau, Invicta FC's Kaitlin Young". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  2. ^ Raimondi, Marc (1 April 2021). "PFL makes rule changes ahead of 2021 season". ESPN.com. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  3. ^ Simon, Zane (2 February 2021). "PFL announces 2021 season debut for April 23 on ESPN 2". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  4. ^ MMA Fighting Newswire (4 March 2021). "PFL announces Atlantic City venue for 2021 regular season events, 'bubble environment' quarantine protocol". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  5. ^ Fontana, Scott (8 June 2021). "PFL playoffs slated for August in Florida casino". nypost.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  6. ^ "2021 Official Rules" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-07.
  7. ^ a b Holland, Jesse (9 February 2021). "PFL announces heavyweight, women's lightweight rosters for 2021 season feat. Fabricio Werdum, Kayla Harrison". mmamania.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  8. ^ The four fighters with most points advance to the playoffs
  9. ^ a b MMAWeekly.com Staff (4 February 2021). "PFL unveils 2021 welterweight and light heavyweight rosters". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d Pettry, Jay. "PFL Completes 60-Fighter Roster for 2021 Season Including Gleison Tibau, Kaitlin Young". sherdog.com. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  11. ^ Raimondi, Marc (6 March 2021). "PFL signs UFC veteran Antonio Carlos Junior for 2021 season". espn.com. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  12. ^ Morgan, John (6 March 2021). "Antonio Carlos Junior signs with PFL, debuts against Tom Lawlor". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  13. ^ "PFL MMA". twitter.com. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  14. ^ Martin, Damon (2021-04-28). "Vinny Magalhaes out of PFL 2 after being taken to hospital, Askar Mozharov stepping in as replacement". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  15. ^ The four fighters with most points advance to the playoffs
  16. ^ Hannoun, Farah (19 February 2021). "Ex-UFC fighter Alexey Kunchenko inks deal with PFL, joins 2021 welterweight season". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Curtis Millender steps in to fight Rory MacDonald at PFL 2021, Week 2 on April 29". MMA Junkie. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  18. ^ The four fighters with most points advance to the playoffs
  19. ^ a b Martin, Damon (2 February 2021). "PFL announces lightweight and featherweight rosters along with regular season schedule for 2021". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  20. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (6 April 2021). "Alex Martinez replaces Johnny Case at PFL 1, Case releases statement". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  21. ^ The four fighters with most points advance to the playoffs
  22. ^ "Larissa Pacheco out of PFL playoffs after missing weight, Mariana Morais to fight Taylor Guardado at PFL 8". 18 August 2021.
  23. ^ The four fighters with most points advance to the playoffs
  24. ^ "Curtis Millender Joins PFL 2021 Tournament, Faces Rory MacDonald on April 29". Sherdog. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  25. ^ The four fighters with most points advance to the playoffs
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