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PFL Commits To Holding Events In Africa And Europe In 2022

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will be branching out beyond North America in 2022, with plans to hold events in Africa and Europe.

The PFL is one of the fastest-growing MMA promotions in the world. Ever since adopting its season-themed appr…

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will be branching out beyond North America in 2022, with plans to hold events in Africa and Europe.

The PFL is one of the fastest-growing MMA promotions in the world. Ever since adopting its season-themed approach to the sport, the PFL has begun airing on ESPN and has become the home to stars of yesterday and tomorrow, with names like Rory MacDonald, Anthony Pettis, Kayla Harrison, and Claressa Shields competing in the promotion. With the $1 million prize offered to the winner of each division’s tournament, the PFL is expected to continue attracting big names for several years to come.

As the promotion continues to grow, one of its New Year’s resolutions is to continue its expansion onto new soil. This includes Africa, a continent that has given birth to UFC champions Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya, and Francis Ngannou. Yet, according to PFL CEO Peter Murray, the PFL will be putting on events in Africa before the UFC does.

“We’ll be making announcements in the first quarter of 2022,” Murray said. “What I can tell you is we’re committed to Africa as a priority market, to develop and grow the sport – at the pro level, at the grassroots level,” Murray told The Independent.

“We’re committed to expanding PFL distribution throughout the continent in 2022, and we’re also committed to staging events in Africa in 2022. So, the plans are firm, it’s just a matter of finalising partnerships and rolling out those details. But come first quarter, we’ll be in a better position to share some context on that.”

Murray also plans on making a splash in the European market next year as well, with the continent figuring largely into the promotion’s 2022 plans.

“With respect to Europe, and in particular the UK, we’re excited about staging events,” Murray said. “We’ll have a new premium distribution partner in the UK in 2022 – critically important for the PFL – so we expect to tick the box on both distribution and live events in the UK next year.”

The PFL is currently being distributed in 160 countries. In addition to these expansion plans, the PFL has also recently announced a “Challenger Series” that will serve as a scouting mechanism for new talent, similar to Dana White’s Contender Series. With all these changes coming down the pike, 2022 figures to be a very ambitious year for the North American promotion.

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Abigail Montes Shares How She Sees Herself Beating Claressa Shields

Abigail Montes is confident she can pull off the upset and defeat Claressa Shields in the PFL finals on Wednesday. In a non-championship bout, the undefeated pro boxer in Shields is set for her second MMA fight against Montes. It’s a step-up in competition for Shields and Montes knows she has the skills to be […]

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Abigail Montes is confident she can pull off the upset and defeat Claressa Shields in the PFL finals on Wednesday.

In a non-championship bout, the undefeated pro boxer in Shields is set for her second MMA fight against Montes. It’s a step-up in competition for Shields and Montes knows she has the skills to be able to expose the holes in the boxer’s game.

“I saw her debut – obviously, her boxing is top level and it’s explosive and strong, but there are many holes,” Montes told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “Translating boxing to MMA is completely different. Adapting that to MMA is difficult because you have patterns from your entire life and you can’t change that overnight. It takes time. I’m telling you, I saw a lot of holes that I can take advantage of and use to get my win.”

With Abigail Montes seeing holes in Claressa Shields’ game she is confident she will be able to pull off the upset. The 2-0 MMA fighter knows a win over Shields would be massive for her career as the boxer is a massive star in combat sports and handing her, her first loss would be special.

“I knew of her. I follow her career and I knew that she had just made the jump to MMA,” Montes said, recalling how she got the call to fight Shields. “At first, I was taken away by the offer, but I never doubted on taking the fight because I saw it as an opportunity. But I was taken away by it and excited, too. It was like, ‘Wow in just my third fight I can fight someone that I follow and admire.’ That’s super cool. Things happen for a reason and opportunity doesn’t come twice, so here I am.”

However, for Montes, once she steps into the cage with her, she says she’ll view her as any other opponent. She also shared how she envisions the fight ending tomorrow night.

“I visualize the moment of victory often,” she told Mexican News Daily. “I foresee a potential ground-and-pound or submission victory.”

The 2021 PFL season finale takes place Wednesday, October 27, 2021. The main card begins at 8:00 PM ET and will be available on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Do you think Abigail Montes will be able to beat Claressa Shields?

Continue Reading Abigail Montes Shares How She Sees Herself Beating Claressa Shields at MMA News.

PFL 3: Werdum vs. Ferreira Takes Place Live Tonight On ESPN & ESPN+

Tonight, 2021 PFL 3 will take place from the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., and will feature fighters from the heavyweight and women’s lightweight divisions. In the main event of tonight’s PFL card, Fabricio Werdum will make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira. In the co-main event, undefeated Olympian Kayla Harrison will make her […]

Anthony Pettis Knows He Has ‘A Target On My Back’ Entering PFL

Anthony Pettis knows all eyes will be on him when the PFL kicks off their new season Friday. The former UFC lightweight champion will headline the first card of the new PFL season opposite Clay Collard on Friday. He knows that his resume makes him arguably the biggest star on the roster, which is sure […]

Anthony Pettis knows all eyes will be on him when the PFL kicks off their new season Friday.

The former UFC lightweight champion will headline the first card of the new PFL season opposite Clay Collard on Friday. He knows that his resume makes him arguably the biggest star on the roster, which is sure to draw attentions from both fans and fellow fighters. ‘Showtime’ wasn’t afraid to address the hype surrounding his name at the PFL media day. In fact, he’s even come to embrace it (H/T MMA Junkie).

“Just the resume I have puts a target on my back,” Pettis told reporters. “These guys know who I am and they have watched me in this sport, so I definitely have a target on my back.”

“I was the champion in every organization, so I’ve always had a target on my back,” Pettis continued. “I know what these guys are looking forward to. The scary part about it is that (Collard has) got nothing to lose. He can just go out there, bite on his mouth piece and go – and that’s what I’m not trying to get caught up in. It’s another fight. These guys, there’s some good talent in this organization, and I have to be sharp and on my game.”

Pettis ended his UFC career off the strength of back-to-back wins, and has remained a top contender ever since losing his title back in 2015. Despite all that he has accomplished, he believes he can still add to his legacy by winning the 2021 PFL season.

“My legacy is kind of already written, (but) I’m still going,” Pettis said. “I’m 34 years old. This camp was amazing. I felt so good. The structure and the motivation is everything that came along with this. Before, when I was up and coming, I wanted to be remembered as the guy who fought anyone, anywhere, any time while I was fighting at 145, 155 and 170.

“And now I have an opportunity to become a three-organization champion, and that can be done in a year. Im very exited about the opportunity that’s in front of me.”

Do you think Anthony Pettis is the favorite to win the 2021 PFL lightweight season?

Report – Anthony Pettis Draws Clay Collard In PFL Debut On April 23

Former WEC and UFC lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis has his welcoming party nailed down for his promotional debut under the PFL (Professional Fighters League) banner on April 23. Headlining the event, Pettis draws fellow former UFC feature, professional boxer, Clay Collard in his first outing to boot — as the pair open up the 2021 […]

Former WEC and UFC lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis has his welcoming party nailed down for his promotional debut under the PFL (Professional Fighters League) banner on April 23.

Headlining the event, Pettis draws fellow former UFC feature, professional boxer, Clay Collard in his first outing to boot — as the pair open up the 2021 lightweight tournament.

Also featured on the card is former two-time PFL 155-pound titleholder, Natan Schulte who clashes with former UFC, Bellator, and ACA grappling talent, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Marcin Held in a co-main event slot.

Opening the event’s four-fight main card as the PFL return to a schedule for the first time since December 2019 amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, featherweight kingpin, Lance Palmer clashes with another promotional newcomer, former Brave CF titleholder, Bubba Jenkins.

Recent Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Manchester standout, Brendan Loughnane also makes his return, hoping to make it six wins on the trot as he opens the event against former UFC featherweight contender, Sheymon Moraes. Another former Octagon talent also lands on the card as Canada’s, Olivier Aubin-Mercier clashes with Joliton Lutterbach on the ESPN+ portion of the event. (H/T MMA Fighting)

Inking terms with the promotion following a nine-year stay under the UFC’s bannerPettis, Milwaukee favourite, Pettis tested free-agency after his unanimous decision victory over the Alex Morono in December last at UFC Vegas 17.

Pettis joins a list of hugely-recognisable acquisitions for the promotion recently, linking up with the likes of former UFC heavyweight champion, Fabricio Werdum, as well as Olympic gold medalist and boxing world champion, Claressa Shields.

A former UFC lightweight titleholder, Pettis submitted fellow grappling ace, Benson Henderson at UFC 164 in August of 2013 to claim the throne, before knocking back former Strikeforce gold holder, Gilbert Melendez with a second round guillotine at UFC 181 in December of 2014 in his sole successful title defence.

Making his return to mixed martial arts for the first time since April of 2019, three-fight UFC veteran, Collard returned his hand to professional boxing in May of that year — establishing a commendable 9-3-3 professional résumé since then.

18-8(1) as a professional mixed martial artist, Collard is currently riding a two-fight winning run, dropping his UFC debut to former featherweight kingpin, common-foe, Max Holloway back in August of 2014. In his sole promotional win, Collard took a judging victory over Alex White before decision losses to both Gabriel Benitez and Tiago Trator.

PFL Announces Welterweight & Light Heavyweight Roster for 2021 Season

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 heavywei…