After missing the entirety of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Professional Fighters League (PFL) will make its return to mixed martial arts (MMA) on Fri., April 23, 2021 inside a special quarantine bubble at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ, an environment not unfamiliar to fans with knowledge of “Fight Island.”
NFL star Ray Lewis has been tapped to help usher in the upcoming season, which features former UFC champions Anthony Pettis and Fabricio Werdum, as well as boxing phenom Claressa Shields. In addition, the promotion is rolling out select changes to its rules and format for ESPN 2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ broadcasts.
From ESPN:
- Fighters who miss weight will be deducted one point in the season standings
- Fighters will no longer complete twice in one night
- Division playoffs will be reduced from eight fighters to four
- Semifinal bouts will be three rounds, championship fights will be five rounds
Each regular season victory nets a fighter three points; however, athletes can add to that total with finishes in Round 1 (3 points), Round 2 (2 points) and Round 3 (1 point). The current schedule calls for six regular-season cards, three playoff events, and one season finale, where champions will earn a $1 million purse.
For much more on the April 23 fight card click here.