PFL announces heavyweight and women’s lightweight rosters for 2021 season

Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

After announcing their featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and light heavyweight rosters the PFL has now revealed who will be competing for $1 million in their heavyweight and women’s lightweight tournaments.

In the lightweight competition, few would argue that last season’s champion Kayla Harrison is the favourite. The two-time Olympic gold medallist has looked unstoppable since switching codes from judo to MMA. She’s a perfect 8-0 in her career with her last fight, versus Courtney King in Invicta last year, ending by TKO.

In her field are Cindy Dandois (formerly of the UFC and Bellator), Olena Kolesnyk (whose last two fights were against future Invicta champs Pam Sorenson and Felicia Spencer) and Larissa Pacheco (formerly of TUF and the UFC who lost to Harrison in last season’s final).

Rounding out the bracket are Mariana Morais (a 26 fight veteran from Brazil), Genah Fabian (an Australian with a 2-1 record), Julija Pajic (a 2-1 Montenegrin who has fought at welterweight) and Laura Sanchez (who is 1-0).

The heavyweight roster boasts former UFC heavyweight champion Fabrizio Werdum. Werdum signed for the PFL after fighting out his UFC contract with a win over former light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson.

The BJJ ace will compete alongside fellow former UFC heavyweight Justin Willis, Mohammed Usman (younger brother of UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman) and last season’s champion Ali Isaev.

Also in the heavyweight tournament are Brazilian regional scene veteran Bruno Cappelozza, LFA veteran Renan Ferreira, former M-1 title challenger Ante Delija and last season’s semi-finalist Denis Goltsov,

Rounding out the field are Hatef Moeil (who beat James McSweeney and Ricco Rodriguez in 2019) and 5-1 US regional fighter Brandon Sayles.

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Cindy Dandois
Genah Fabian
Kayla Harrison
Olena Kolesnyk
Mariana Morais
Larissa Pacheco
Julija Pajic
Laura Sanchez

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Bruno Cappelozza
Ante Delija
Renan Ferreira
Denis Goltsov
Ali Isaev
Hatef Moeil
Brandon Sayles
Mohammed Usman
Justin Willis
Fabricio Werdum

The 2021 PFL regular season airs on ESPN2 and ESPN+ on April 23, April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17 and June 25.

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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.