A look at three key fights from the weekend’s regional, developmental and international scene. This edition previews Titan FC 33, ACB 15 and Fight Nights “Cup of Moscow.”
MMA Fighting
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It was a tough night to be a favorite in the PFL as the Season 3 opener ended with three upsets, including the lightweight headliner between former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and Clay Collard.
Collard nearly finished Pettis in the second round with a flurry of brutal punches and then survived a last-minute head kick and flying knee from the ex-champ to capture a unanimous decision with two scores of 29-27 and one of 29-28 in the main event of Friday’s fight card at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.
Collard had early success by keeping Pettis on his heels with straight line attacks and body shots. Pettis sniped with kicks at range and had increasing success on the back of Collard’s punches as he adjusted his timing. Feeling momentum, Pettis went airborne with an acrobatic kick and instead ended up on his back, a pattern that would repeat over the fight.
Anthony Pettis set to make PFL debut: PFL 1 weigh-in results
April 22, 2021
The PFL debut of Anthony “Showtime” Pettis was made official when the MMA icon tipped the scales at 156-pounds. His opponent, hard-hitting striker Clay Collard came in at 154.6-pounds. The lightweights will take their first steps towards the 2021 PFL title and the $1 million championship prize when they enter the PFL SmartCage tomorrow night.
Two-time lightweight PFL champion Natan Schulte also came in right at the 156-pound limit to kick off his 2021 campaign in hopes of notching his third consecutive PFL title. He will face Polish leg-lock expert Marcin Held who weighed in at 155.8-pounds.