The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced the welterweight and light heavyweight rosters for the upcoming 2021 season.
The PFL will return to ESPN platforms (ESPN 2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+) on April 23, and the welterweights and light heavyweights will be featured on the April 29 broadcast. The promotion announced the rosters for both divisions Wednesday in a press release.
The biggest name in the welterweight division is former Bellator welterweight champion and UFC legend Rory MacDonald. After coming up short in the 2019 Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix, MacDonald will now try his hand at the $1 million prize offered by the PFL. In order to claim this prize, MacDonald will have to get through last season’s prize winner Ray Cooper III as well as the 2018 season winner Magomed Magomedkerimov.
At light heavyweight, Emiliano Sordi will look to repeat as champion in 2021. Sordi won every single fight by stoppage in the 2019 season, and the 29-year-old may very well enter this year’s tournament as the favorite. Also in the light heavyweight tourney is former UFC vet and 2019 runner-up Jordan Johnson, Jordan Young, and UFC alums Chris Camozzi, Cezar Ferreira, and Tom Lawlor.
Below is the full list of the talent competing in the 2021 welterweight and light heavyweight season:
2021 Welterweight Roster
- Nikolai Aleksakhin
- Ray Cooper III
- Rory MacDonald
- Magomed Magomedkerimov
- David Michaud
- Sadibou Sy
- Joao Zeferino
2021 Light Heavyweight Roster
- Chris Camozzi
- Cezar Ferreira
- Marthin Hamlet
- Jordan Johnson
- Tom Lawlor
- Smealinho Rama
- Emiliano Sordi
- Dan Spohn
- Jordan Young
The 2021 PFL Season will begin April 23 on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ in primetime. The rest of the regular season schedule dates are April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17, and June 25.
Who are your picks to win the welterweight and light heavyweight 2021 PFL tournaments?
