PFL unveils 2021 event schedule, welterweight and light heavyweight rosters

After having to cancel their 2020 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the PFL is back in 2021. Last week they revealed their…

By: Tim Bissell | 2 years ago
PFL unveils 2021 event schedule, welterweight and light heavyweight rosters
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

After having to cancel their 2020 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the PFL is back in 2021. Last week they revealed their lightweight and featherweight rosters and now we know what that promotions’ welterweight and light heavyweight tournaments will look like.

For the 170lbers, all of whom will be vying for a one million dollar prize, Rory MacDonald leads the way as far as notoriety. The former UFC title challenger and Bellator welterweight champion joined PFL last year, but had his debut scuppered by the COVID-forced cancellations.

Competing with MacDonald for the prize will be Ray Cooper III (who was a finalist in PFL’s first season and the winner of its second season), Magomed Magomedkerimov (who beat Cooper to win the first season), Nikolay Aleksakhin (former ONE title challenger and Fight Nights Global champion), David Michaud (who lost to Cooper in last season’s final), Sadibou Sy and Joao Zeferino.

The light heavyweight bracket includes last season’s champion Emiliano Sordi and runner-up Jordan Johnson.Joining those two are TUF/UFC veterans Chris Camozzi, Cezar Ferreira and Tom Lawlor. Rounding out that division are Daniel Spohn (ex UFC and Bellator), Jordan Young (ex Bellator), Marthin Nielsen (former Cage Warriors title challenger) and Smealinho Rama (former WSOF heavyweight champion).

PFL’s 2021 season will be broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+ with events airing on April 23, April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17 and June 25.

Share this story

About the author
Tim Bissell
Tim Bissell

Tim Bissell is a writer, editor and deputy site manager for Bloody Elbow. He has covered combat sports since 2015. Tim covers news and events and has also written longform and investigative pieces. Among Tim's specialties are the intersections between crime and combat sports. Tim has also covered head trauma, concussions and CTE in great detail.

Email me at tim@bloodyelbow.com. Nice messages will get a response.

More from the author

Related Stories