The competition for Fabrizio Werdum and Kayla Harrison has been revealed.
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.