The Professional Fighters League returns for its third season after taking last season off. The regular season will begin tonight with PFL 1 2021, happening live from the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Tonight will feature the opening bouts for fighters in the lightweight and featherweight divisions.
Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will make his debut with the organization in the main event, facing off against fellow UFC veteran and professional boxer Clay Collard. Collard will be making his first MMA appearance in just over two years, going 8-5-3 in boxing during that span. While “Showtime” Pettis has not looked the same since losing his title in 2015, he is currently riding a two-fight win streak and is a tough out any night.
Twice-reigning PFL champions Natan Schulte and Lance Palmer will look to begin their defenses in their respective divisions on the main card as well. Schulte, who has not lost any of his ten PFL bouts, takes on former Bellator lightweight title challenger and UFC veteran Marcin Held. Former World Series of Fighting featherweight champion Palmer has also not lost since PFL began, and will be taking on former Bellator and Brave CF contender Bubba Jenkins.
The PFL 1 2021 main card is rounded out by a featherweight matchup between undefeated “Killer” Movlid Khaybulaev, owner of one of PFL’s most memorable knockouts, taking on Dana White Contender Series alum “BronxBomber” Lazar Stojadinovic. The preliminary card will be headlined by UFC, Bellator, and Dana White Contender Series veteran Brendan Loughnane taking on former WSOF title challenger and UFC veteran Sheymon Moraes, while also featuring notable names like UFC veterans Tyler Diamond, Sung Bin Jo, Chris Wade.
MMA Sucka has fight fans covered with PFL 1 2021 results, with the prelims starting live on ESPN+ at 5:30pm ET/2:30pm PT followed by the main card at 9pm ET/6pm PT on ESPN2.
PFL 1 2021 Results
Main Card
Clay Collard def. Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision (29-27 x2, 29-28), earns three points
Marcin Held def. Natan Schulte via unanimous decision (29-28 x3), earns three points
Movlid Khaybulaev def. Lazar Stojadinovic via unanimous decision (30-27 x3), earns three points
Bubba Jenkins def. Lance Palmer via unanimous decision (30-27 x3), earns three points
Preliminary Card
Brendan Loughnane def. Sheymon Moraes via KO (punches), 2:55 of Round 1, earns six points
Raush Manfio def. Joilton Lutterbach via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28), earns three points
Akhmet Aliev def. Mikhail Odintsov* via unanimous decision (29-28 x3), earns three points
Chris Wade def. Anthony Dizy via unanimous decision (29-28 x3), earns three points
Tyler Diamond def. Sung Bin Jo via unanimous decision (30-27 x3), earns three points
Alexander Martinez def. Loik Radzhabov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27), earns three points
*Odintsov missed weight- will forfeit 20% of his purse, loses a point in the standings, and is unable to earn points tonight
