PFL 2021 #3: Werdum vs Ferreira preview, weigh-in results May 6, 2021, 3:00pm EDT
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PFL rolls out week 3 to being both of their heaviest divisions taking center stage this week.
While there’s some interesting action to check out, there’s one thing of note that needs to be mentioned from the outset: some of these matches aren’t the most competitive.
There’s a lot of reasons for this that we don’t need to get into here, but on paper, there’s some very, very tough matchups for some of the competitors here. Now, we’ve had some wild upsets so far in only two events, including some previous tournament champs that appeared somewhat unbeatable losing in some eye-opening upsets. Can that happen here as well? Absolutely. But there’s no reason to bet the kid’s college fund on the long shots that we’ll b
This week’s Professional Fighters League card, PFL 2021 3, gives us five fights as the company kicks off its women’s lightweight tournament. There are several fights I am looking forward to watching, so I decided to use this week’s preview to take a look at those contests.
We’ll look at 2019 PFl champ Kayla Harrison’s match-up with Mariana Morais, the veteran clash between Cindy Dandois and Kaitlin Young, and Helena Kolesnyk’s fight with Taylor Guardado. In addition to these three bouts, the PFL will also host 2019 runner-up Larissa Pacheco’s fight with Julija Pajić and Genah Fabian’s clash with Laura Sanchez.
PFL 2021 3: Regular Season Preview and Predictions
May 3, 2021
You never know what to expect at a 2021 season event from the Professional Fighters League. The first show of the year provided a number of upsets, whereas the second event delivered the outcomes fans and pundits surely expected from the biggest names in the lineup. Which direction will the third show, which features the promotional debut of Fabricio Werdum and appearances by both of the 2019 women’s lightweight finalists, go?
Werdum’s debut comes against Renan Ferreira, a mostly unheralded member of Team Nogueira. “Vai Cavalo” is now five years removed from his UFC title reign, and he’s just 1-2 over his last three appearances. However, a fresh start in the PFL could reignite his competitive flame. Ferreira would love to play spoiler, though. “Problema” stands 6-foot-10 and will tower over Werdum. However, the 31-year-old already suffered a submission loss to Vinicius Moreira and could get victimized by
The Professional Fighters League returns on April 23 with its third season. Over the weeks and months that follow, the company will host its 2021 regular season, which features featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight competition on the men’s side and lightweight competition on the women’s side.
The 2021 season airs on ESPN2 and ESPN+ and aims to give fighters a chance to win a $1 million grand prize.
As the season approaches, Combat Press will preview each division. Let’s look at women’s lightweight, where Kayla Harrison seeks to repeat as the champion.
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The Favorite: Harrison
There is no doubt about the favorite here. The PFL literally goes out of its way to have a women’s lightweight tournament so that Harrison has consistent competition. She’s one of the company’s biggest stars. She is also one of the few legit lightweight ladies around. While she has fought at 145 pounds, she’s still a large 155er. The remainde
The Professional Fighters League has announced its main event and full card matchups for PFL 3, commencing on May 6. Fabricio Werdum, one of the greatest heavyweights in mixed martial arts history and a former UFC heavyweight champion, will make his PFL debut against the 6-foot-8 Brazilian Renan Ferreira. Werdum, who has fought numerous sports greats around the globe, will have his hands full with Ferreira, also known as “The Problema” when the two square off in a highly intriguing matchup.
The co-main event features two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2019 women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison, who will look to defend her throne in her second PFL campaign against Mariana Morais. Harrison, who is undefeated in her MMA career, is on a mission to be recognized as the best fighter on the planet. Morais, a young Brazilian, earned her spot on the PFL roster via the PFL International Qualifier Series and looks to carry that momentum in her promotional debut.