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| (Image Source: Bhutan News/International Business Times) |
The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest-growing and most innovative combat sports league, has officially announced a lineup of semifinal fights for each divisional bracket ahead of its upcoming 2021 Playoff events on August 14, 20 and 28 (Manila time) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, USA. Elite competitors from across six weight classes are set to take the next step towards earning a world title and the US$1 million purse that comes with it as twelve finalists will go on to the 2021 PFL Championships later within the year.
Fighters from the men's welterweight and lightweight divisions will compete at the first playoff event on August 14 (Manila time) with former world champions Ray Cooper III and Rory MacDonald facing off in the highly anticipated main event. Magomed Magomedkerimov will look to follow up on his 2018 PFL welterweight championship when he takes on Joao Zeferino in the semifinals. The lightweight division will see boxing crossover sensation Clay Collard taking on Raush Manfio while 2019 PFL lightweight runner-up Loik Radzhabov will start his post-season campaign against newcomer Alexander Martinez who is making his PFL Playoff debut. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2019 PFL Champion Kayla Harrison begins her quest for the 2021 women's lightweight world title when she takes on Genah Fabian on the second playoff event on August 20 (Manila time). In the other half of the division, top-seeded Larissa Pacheco faces off against Taylor Guardado for a spot at the PFL Championship. In the heavyweight division, Bruno Cappelozza matches up against Jamelle Jones while Denis Goltsov faces off against Ante Delija.
The final PFL Championship spots are up for grabs when contenders from the featherweight and light heavyweight divisions compete at the third playoff event on August 28 (Manila time). Following an impressive PFL Regular Season debut, Brendan Loughnane will look to punch his ticket to the featherweight world title when he takes on Movlid Khaybulaev in the fight's main event. Two-time PFL lightweight division semifinalist Chris Wade will look to earn his first world title shot when he faces off against Bubba Jenkins in the other half of the featherweight bracket. In the light heavyweight division, 2019 PFL Champion Emiliano Sordi begins his post-season against Antonio Carlos Jr. while Cezar Ferreira goes up against Marthin Hamlet. In the playoffs, fighters compete to advance to the 2021 PFL World Championship, the biggest night in mixed martial arts, featuring six world title fights in one night with the winner of each fight earning US$1 million.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69609112/pflplayoffs.0.jpg "2021 PFL Playoffs Semifinal Brackets") |
| Here are the brackets of the final four fighters from each division competing for a shot at the World Championship in the 2021 Professional Fighters League (PFL) Playoffs to be held on August 14, 20 and 28 (Philippine time). (Image Source: Bloody Elbow/Professional Fighters League) |
“No sports league can match the thrilling action Professional Fighters League will deliver this August as the final four fighters for each weight division will compete for a spot in the $1 million world championship bout,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The only playoff format in the sport gives every fighter a chance. The more than 550 million MMA fans around the world are going to witness unmatched intensity during every fight in the PFL SmartCage.” Quickly establishing itself as the number two MMA company in the world, PFL continues to accelerate its global expansion with the addition of world-class talents and partnerships with industry-leading brands. Catch the 2021 Professional Fighters League (PFL) Playoff events live and on-demand on TAP Sports (SKYcable channel 188, Cignal channel 94, GSAT channel 32, Cablelink channel 215) and via TAP GO available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store. For more PFL MMA news and updates, visit www.pflmma.com and PFL MMA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
