PFL unveiled their men’s heavyweight and women’s lightweight rosters for their 2021 season on Tuesday. The lineups include the return of the 2019 champions from both weight classes as well as high-profile names that will make their promotional debut.
10 Names Unveiled For Heavyweight Roster
Undefeated PFL Heavyweight Champion Ali Isaev will look to build his undefeated record when entering his second season under the promotion. Isaev joined the 2019 PFL season with only four wins as a pro. He built his record within the year, picking up four wins before defeating Jared Rosholt in the grand finals.
Former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum will be joining PFL’s heavyweight roster in 2021. The veteran heavyweight joins the promotion after the majority of his prior career took place in UFC, Strikeforce and Pride FC. Werdum’s last fight was in July, where he caught Alexander Gustafsson in the first round with an armbar.
Rising heavyweight prospect Mohammed Usman will enter his first PFL season in 2021. The heavyweight prospect enters the promotion following a four-fight win streak in Titan FC from 2019 to 2020.
Former UFC fighter Justin Willis will compete for the first time since departing the promotion in 2019. Willis’ UFC run saw him pick up four wins before losing a decision to Curtis Blaydes. Willis will be making his return to the promotion, as he competed under PFL’s former name, WSOF, in 2016.
Returning for his second season, Denis Goltsov has joined the 2021 lineup. Goltsov had a strong 2019 season, putting together four wins that carried him into the semi-finals of the heavyweight bracket. His run was stopped by Isaev, who finished him late in the third round of a fight with strikes.
Renan Ferreira will join the PFL after putting together six wins as a pro. His last fight was in August of 2019, where he defeated now-UFC fighter Jared Vanderaa on an LFA card.
A six-fight win streak from 2018 to 2019 has earned Hatef Moeil a spot in PFL’s season. The German fighter enters the 2021 season with a pro record of 10 wins and four losses.
Brandon Sayles will return to action in the 2021 PFL season. Sayles has fought five fights on the regional scene, picking up four wins and one loss. His last fight was in January of 2018, where he became the NFC Heavyweight Champion.
Croatian veteran Ante Delija will return to PFL in the 2021 lineup. Delija is currently on a three-fight win streak that was attained from 2018 to 2019. One of those fights was in PFL, where he defeated Carl Seumanutafa. UFC looked to book him on short-notice against Ciryl Gane in October, although contractual issues took Delija out of the fight.
Bruno Cappelozza was the 10th entrant into the 2021 heavyweight PFL lineup. Cappelozza has a pro record that includes 10 wins and five losses. His last bout was in 2018, where he lost to now-UFC fighter Jiri Prochazka.
Eight Fighters Join The Women’s Lightweight Roster
Kayla Harrison will look to continue her undefeated record and claim a second PFL belt in the 2021 season. Harrison, a former Olympic judo gold medalist, has been heavily promoted by the PFL since she made her pro debut in 2018. After winning three non-tournament bouts, Harrison competed in the 2019 season.
Harrison won four fights in 2019, including a five-round decision victory over Larissa Pacheco, to become a PFL champion. Harrison fought once during PFL’s offseason, defeating Courtney King on an Invicta FC card in a bantamweight bout.
Experienced fighter Mariana Morais will compete in PFL’s lightweight division. Morais has a record that includes fights against numerous UFC fighters like Vanessa Melo and Lara Procopio. Morais has attained a three-fight win streak in the past two years.
Genah Fabian will return for her second PFL season in 2021. Fabian competed twice in the 2019 season, losing one bout and winning the other.
Former Bellator and UFC fighter Cindy Dandois will join the PFL lightweight roster this year. Dandois was last seen on a big stage in 2018, where she lost a decision to Olga Rubin.
Larissa Pacheco is one of the returning names to PFL’s roster. The former UFC fighter made it to the finals of the 2019 tournament, where she lost a decision to Harrison. Her 2019 record finished with two wins and two losses.
Still early into her career, Laura Sanchez will fight in the 2021 season. Sanchez is just coming off her pro debut, where she defeated Miranda Barber with ground and pound in 2020.
Helena Kolesnyk will return to the cage in 2021. The former Invicta FC fighter has been absent from action since 2018, where she was submitted for the second consecutive time. All five of her pro wins come via stoppage.
Undefeated fighter Julija Pajic will get her streak tested in 2021. She enters the competition with three stoppage wins from 2019.
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