MMASucka staff picks are locked in for the first event of our triple-header weekend. PFL 4 2021 will go down tonight, June 10 from the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The preliminary card will begin at 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT) live for subscribers on ESPN+ with the main card kicking off at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) live on ESPN 2.
Stay tuned for parts two and three of our action-packed, triple-header weekend with Bellator 260: Lima vs. Amosov on Friday and UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori on Saturday.
The Fights
In tonight’s featured main event, Claressa Shields will take on Brittney Elkin in the lightweight division. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and multi-promotional champion Shields is set to make her mixed martial arts debut. With backing of the prestigious Jackson Wink MMA Academy, Shields hopes to make a statement on one of MMA’s biggest stages. Her opponent, Elkin, returns to the cage for the first time since fracturing her arm against Bobbi-Jo Dalziel in early 2019. The brown belt in BJJ and underdog will look for the highest profile victory of her career in her second PFL fight.
The promotion’s Regular Season also resumes tonight with fighters competing at featherweight (145 lbs.) and lightweight (155 lbs.).
Clay Collard currently leads the lightweight standings (6 points) after his impressive decision of Anthony Pettis. He will take on Joilton Lutterbach (-1 point), who looks to bounce back strong following a failed weight cut and decision loss to Raush Manfio.
In the featherweight division, Bubba Jenkins (3 points) looks to back up his upset win of Lance Palmer while Bobby Moffett (first fight) looks to get on the board in his promotional debut.
A few last-minute fight shuffles and cancellations resulted in three of our intended fights being removed. As a result, only four fights will be counted tonight for our MMASucka staff picks. See those for PFL 4 2021 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator events and a variety of fights from PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will make its debut in the summer months.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or chain from Championship Chains. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
See our PFL 4 2021: Shields vs. Elkin staff picks below.
Staff Records after UFC Vegas 28:
1T. Wesley Riddle: 76-52
1T. Nate Freeman: 76-52
3T. Michael DeSantis: 74-54
3T. Frazer Krohn: 73-55
5T. Ash Camyab: 70-53
5T. Joshua Yule: 70-53
7. Jeremy Brand: 69-60
8. Mike Lynch: 65-58
9. Mitchell Banuelos: 63-61
10. Kenny Lee: 58-51
11. Andrew Benjamin: 53-61
12. Tim Wheaton: 51-43
13. Matt Bricker: 49-55
14. Brandon Joint: 2-3
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Brendan Loughnane (20-3) vs. Tyler Diamond (12-1)
Jeremy Brand: Loughnane via UD
Wesley Riddle: Loughnane via UD
Michael DeSantis: Loughnane via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Diamond via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Loughnane via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Loughnane via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Loughnane via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Loughnane via SD
Tim Wheaton: Loughnane via UD
Brandon Joint: Loughnane via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Loughnane: 9
Staff picking Diamond: 1
Bubba Jenkins (15-4) vs. Bobby Moffett (13-5, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Jenkins via UD
Wesley Riddle: Jenkins via UD
Michael DeSantis: Jenkins via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Jenkins via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Jenkins via UD
Frazer Krohn: Jenkins via UD
Mike Lynch: Jenkins via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Jenkins via UD
Tim Wheaton: Jenkins via Round 2 TKO
Brandon Joint: Jenkins via UD
Staff picking Jenkins: 10
Staff picking Moffett: 0
Clay Collard (19-8, 1 NC) vs. Joilton Lutterbach (34-9, 1 NC)
Jeremy Brand: Collard via UD
Wesley Riddle: Collard via UD
Michael DeSantis: Collard via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Collard via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Collard via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Collard via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Collard via UD
Nate Freeman: Collard via UD
Tim Wheaton: Collard via Round 1 TKO
Brandon Joint: Collard via UD
Staff picking Collard: 10
Staff picking Lutterbach: 0
Claressa Shields (debut) vs. Brittney Elkin (3-6)
Jeremy Brand: Shields via UD
Wesley Riddle: Shields via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Shields via Round 1 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Shields via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Shields via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Shields via Round 2 TKO
Mike Lynch: Shields via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Shields via Round 1 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Shields via Round 3 TKO
Brandon Joint: Shields via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Shields: 10
Staff picking Elkin: 0
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