Five years ago, the sport of MMA, as well as the PFL, was entering a new decade, much like the world at-large, but as it turned out, the new decade would be greeted with an unknown enemy. What would eventually become known as COVID-19 would unleash devastation upon the earth.
In March of 2020, the PFL was planning to begin its new season two months later with an anticipated contest in the main event of the evening. That year’s opening card was to have featured a featherweight contest between 2019 champion Lance Palmer (23-8 MMA), an alumnus of The Ohio State University in Columbus and Jason Soares (14-0 MMA.)
The main event of the evening would have been the latter’s promotional debut. Soares had previously captured the featherweight championship in the late Titan FC in April of 2018, defending it three times more throughout the next year-plus. This championship reign was good enough for Jason Soares to be signed by the Professional Fighters League ahead of the organization’s 2020 schedule of events.
COVID-19 Forces PFL To Make Changes in 2020
It looked to be a promising third season for the promotion. Not only was an undefeated fighter in Soares signed and booked to be going up against a defending champion in Lance Palmer, Rory MacDonald was set to join the PFL in 2020 after Bellator MMA let his deal lapse.
However, even the best laid plans of mice and men can go awry, and the PFL was not immune to the changes that would come. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic.
By that point, 4,000 citizens had succumbed to COVID with north of 118,000 people having been infected. Other than Antarctica, every single continent on the planet had recorded a positive case at that time.
“WHO (World Health Organization) has been assessing the situation around the clock,” Dr. Tedros Ahadnom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General began, “and we are deeply concerned by both the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.” By day’s end, all NBA action would be suspended for what would prove to be four and a half months after Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus.
PFL’s Third Season Shifted to 2021
On April 20, 2020, with the PFL already having decided to delay its third season due to the effects of the virus a few weeks prior, the decision was made to pivot to contesting the $1 million tournament during 2021.
PFL delays start of 2020 season due to coronavirus pandemic https://t.co/eoosAz0y5m pic.twitter.com/BB9giPtWuM
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) March 31, 2020
“PFL is a global MMA league, with athletes from over 25 countries,” said Peter Murray, then the promotion’s CEO. “Our team has decided that first and foremost, for the health and safety of our fighters, fans, business partners and event personnel, with so much uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, we determined that this is the best course of action. It’s prudent and guided by safety.”
As a result of the postponed season, ESPN’s media contract with the PFL, which had been set to run out after 2021, was carried over into 2021. Fighters who were set to compete in the cage that year were given stipends every 30 days during the cessation in competition.
Kayla Harrison Fights In 2020 Despite PFL Season Being PPD
Even though the season was delayed by a year, action still went on as scheduled for Kayla Harrison (18-1 MMA.) She made her 2020 debut in November during Invicta FC 43. That night, she drew Courtney King (4-3 MMA) for a featherweight bout.
In true Kayla Harrison fashion, this fight was an amazing performance, with her scoring the knockout in the second round. From there, she was supposed to head down to Florida for a contest against Jozette Cotton in Titan FC 66 at lightweight.
While Harrison made weight without issue, Jozette Cotton exceeded the lightweight maximum at over 180 lbs, forcing her to be hospitalized and resulting in the bout’s cancellation.
Aftermath of Postponed 2020 Season
While Lance Palmer returned to the PFL for the 2021 season, Jason Soares would never make his promotional debut in the latter year. A planned fight during the opening night of the 2021 slate versus Movlid Khaybulaev (22-0-1 MMA) was scrapped before the show amid Soares failing pre-fight medical clearances.
Kayla Harrison scored the women’s lightweight championship in 2021, winning all four fights by way of stoppage. The $1 million tournament remained a fixture in the PFL through the end of 2024, with the promotion going to its current World Tournament format ahead of the 2025 schedule.
