PFL is gearing up for the start of their heavyweight season. The promotion has announced it’s first round of matchups which will take place on May 6th on ESPN. Headlining the card is former UFC heavyweight champion, Fabricio Werdum (24-9-1).
PFL made a number of big signings in 2020. While the promotion held no fights last year, they went to work in gearing up for their biggest season yet. One of their biggest signings was the former UFC champion.
Werdum is coming off of a huge win against Alexander Gustafsson and the 43 year old is ready to make a run at the PFL heavyweight title. In his first matchup, Werdum will be taking on fellow Brazilian, Renan Ferreira (6-2).
Ferreira will be making his debut with the promotion. The last time he fought was in 2019 when he took on current UFC heavyweight, Jared Vanderaa. Ferreira won that fight by submission.
Ferreira is a huge heavyweight standing 6’8 and usually weighing around the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds. All six of his wins have come via TKO or submission so you know that he’s not going to make Werdum’s PFL debut easy.
Other PFL heavyweight matchups
There are several other key matchups in this initial heavyweight round for PFL. One guy to watch would be the 2019 champion Ali Isaev (9-0). The Dagestani heavyweight will be taking on Hatef Moeil (10-4).
Moeil will enter PFL having won six fights in a row including wins over James McSweeney and Ricco Rodriguez. Another heavyweight I have my eyes on is Mohammed Usman (7-1). Usman is the younger brother of UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman.
Mohammed Usman will be making his PFL debut against Brandon Sayles (5-1). UFC veteran Justin Willis (8-2) also makes his return for this upcoming season in PFL. Willis hasn’t fought since his loss to Curtis Blaydes. That loss in 2019 snapped an eight-fight win streak.
In his debut, Willis will be taking on Russian contender, Denis Goltsov (25-6). Goltsov lost to Isaev in the semi-finals of the 2019 season. This is arguably the matchup I’m the most excited about. The 2021 PFL heavyweight season should be a good one and I’m excited for it to get going.
Kayla Harrison kicks off her 2021 campaign and Fabricio Werdum makes his @ProFightLeague debut on May 6 ? pic.twitter.com/qIthshDMUP
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 9, 2021