Professional Fighters League (PFL) News
Kayla Harrison talks Claressa Shields MMA debut, 'this is not boxing'
Drake Riggs - June 17, 2021
Claressa Shields is officially an MMA fighter following a successful PFL 4 debut against Brittney Elkin this past Thursday. Inevitably, fans are expecting a clash of Olympic gold medals pitting Shields against the 9-0 Kayla Harrison. Currently looking to claim yet another PFL crown through the lightweight tournament, Harrison recently shared her thoughts on the boxing legend’s victory.
Claressa Shields says she wants to be the Bo Jackson of MMA and boxing: "I believe I am the greatest woman of all time"
Adam D Martin - June 17, 2021
PFL star Claressa Shields says she wants to be the Bo Jackson of MMA and boxing, saying that “I believe I am the greatest woman of all time.” Jackson was an incredible two-sport athlete who is still the only person to ever be named to a Pro Bowl team in the NFL and an All-Star team in MLB. Many consider Jackson to be one of the greatest athletes who ever lived, and many athletes have come up behind him who have wanted to accomplish what he did, which is being great at two professional sports. Of course, it’s hard enough to be an elite athlete in one sport, but Jackson proved you can be elite in two, and that’s exactly what Shields is hoping to do herself.
Claressa Shields says women's MMA is marketed better than in boxing, 'It's fair'
Drake Riggs - June 14, 2021
Claressa Shields made a successful MMA debut this past Thursday night at PFL 4. The 26-year old Flint, Michigan native is 11-0 as a professional boxer with two Olympic gold medals to her name. Shields now comfortably gets ready to build some momentum in her new sport.
PFL 4 Results: Claressa Shields earns a third-round TKO victory in her MMA debut (Video)
Harry Kettle - June 11, 2021
Boxing star Claressa Shields made a successful debut in mixed martial arts with a TKO win at PFL 4 last night. There was a whole lot of speculation heading into last night’s event with regards to how Shields would look at this level. Some felt as if she’d blow through Brittney Elkin, who was 3-6 coming into the fight, but others recognised that having nine fights more than your opponent in MMA is always going to serve as a helping hand – even with a 3-6 record.
Claressa Shields calls teammate Holly Holm the "cheat code" ahead of PFL and MMA debut
Adam D Martin - June 7, 2021
Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields called teammate Holly Holm the “cheat code” ahead of her upcoming PFL and mixed martial arts debut. Shields makes her official professional MMA debut this Thursday at PFL 4 when she takes on Brittany Elkin in a non-tournament women’s lightweight bout. Shields is one of the best women’s boxers on the planet but she has said for a few years now that MMA was her goal, and she will finally make her debut in mixed martial arts later this week against Elkin.
Fabricio Werdum forced to withdraw from slated PFL 6 fight with Brandon Sayles
Adam D Martin - June 3, 2021
Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming slated PFL 6 fight with Brandon Sayles. MMAFighting.com first reported that Werdum has been forced out of the tournament, though details of his withdrawal are scarce at the moment. According to the report, it is unknown at this time if Werdum will remain part of the PFL heavyweight tournament. There has also not been a replacement opponent given to Sayles yet for his upcoming fight.
Renan Ferreira calls PFL matchmaking "very shady," claims promotion favors Fabricio Werdum
Adam Martin - June 1, 2021
Heavyweight Renan Ferreira called the matchmaking in PFL “very shady” and claims the promotion favors rival Fabricio Werdum. Ferreira picked up the biggest win of his career when he finished Werdum with strikes in a big upset at PFL 3 last month, but the result of the contest was overturned to a No Contest. The New Jersey Athletic Control Board ruled that Ferreira had tapped out to a submission attempt from Werdum moments before the finish happened. Ferreira remains adamant that he never tapped, but video evidence appeared to be inconclusive either way. Regardless, the result of the fight was overturned, which means Ferreira gets one point instead of six in the PFL heavyweight bracket. Werdum also gets one point due to the overturned result.
Rory MacDonald vs. Gleison Tibau headlines PFL 5
Adam D Martin - May 19, 2021
PFL welterweight Rory MacDonald fights fellow UFC veteran Gleison Tibau in his next regular-season match in the Professional Fighters League. The PFL made the MacDonald vs. Tibau fight announcement official on Wednesday, along with announcing the rest of the PFL 5 card. The event takes place on Thursday, June 17 at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Check out the full card below.
New Jersey commission overturns Renan Ferreira's controversial win over Fabricio Werdum
Cole Shelton - May 10, 2021
The New Jersey Athletic Control Board has overturned Renan Ferreira’s controversial win over Fabricio Werdum at PFL 3. Werdum headlined the card and just seconds into the fight, he got the fight to the ground. He then threatened a triangle choke and it looked like it was tight, but Ferreira landed ground and pound and got the first-round KO win over Werdum.
Renan Ferreira fires back at Fabricio Werdum following controversial win in PFL
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2021
Brazilian heavyweight Renan Ferreira fired back at his countryman Fabricio Werdum following his recent controversial win in PFL. Ferreira scored the biggest win of his MMA career to date when he knocked out Werdum in the first round of their PFL regular season fight, but the finish was controversial as it appeared as though Ferreira had tapped to a triangle choke seconds beforehand. Werdum was upset about the finish and his team has already appealed the result of the contest. Fans online for the most part seem to agree there was a tapout, but the referee missed it and Ferreira didn’t acknowledge it, thus leading to Werdum not getting his hand raised.
Fabricio Werdum says he didn't want to pull a Rousimar Palhares against Renan Ferreira at PFL 3
Adam D Martin - May 7, 2021
PFL heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum talked about the phantom tap by Renan Ferreira, saying he didn’t want to pull a Rousimar Palhares. Werdum lost via a first-round TKO after Ferreira landed a number of hammer fists on him from top position and finished him with ground and pound. However, replays after the fight showed that a triangle choke that Werdum had locked in moments earlier had caused Ferreira to tap out. The referee didn’t see the tapout and the fight continued, with Werdum losing by knockout. Considering what it means to win and lose in the tournament for the $1 million dollars, this is a big loss for Werdum and he is filing an appeal with the commission.
Video | Kayla Harrison scores another brutal finish at PFL 3
Harry Kettle - May 7, 2021
Kayla Harrison took her professional MMA record to 9-0 and began her 2021 PFL campaign with a decisive win over Mariana Morais last night. The finish came less than 90 seconds into the first round of their contest with Harrison, who won the 2019 PFL Women’s Lightweight Championship, hoping to repeat as champion this season.
Fabricio Werdum files appeal following controversial loss to Renan Ferreira at PFL 3
Christopher Taylor - May 6, 2021
Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum has already filed an appeal following his controversial loss to Renan Ferreira at PFL 3. Werdum (24-10-1 MMA) was making his PFL debut in tonight’s event headliner against a fellow Brazilian in Ferreira (7-2 MMA).
Pros react after video shows Renen Ferreira tapped out prior to his KO of Fabricio Werdum
Christopher Taylor - May 6, 2021
Pros react after tonight’s PFL 3 headliner between heavyweight fighters Fabricio Werdum and Renan Ferreira ends in controversial fashion. Werdum (24-10-1 MMA), a former UFC heavyweight champion, was returning to action this evening for the first time since July of 2020, where he had scored a first round victory over Alexander Gustafsson.
PFL 3 Results: Renan Ferreira KO's Fabricio Werdum (Video)
Christopher Taylor - May 6, 2021
A heavyweight bout between Fabricio Werdum and Renan Ferreira headlined tonight’s PFL 3 event from Atlantic City, New Jersey. Werdum (24-9-1 MMA), a former UFC heavyweight champion, was returning to action for the first time since July of 2020 where he had scored a first round victory over Alexander Gustafsson. That win had snapped a two-fight losing skid for Frabricio, as ‘Vai Cavalo’ had previously suffered losses to Alexander Volkov and Alexei Oleinik respectively.
PFL 3 Results: Brandon Sayles puts Mohammed Usman to sleep in Round 2 (Video)
Christopher Taylor - May 6, 2021
A heavyweight bout between Mohammed Usman and Brandon Sayles took place on the main card of tonight’s PFL 3 event. Mohammed, the younger brother of UFC welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman, entered tonight’s PFL Tournament sporting a 7-1 record, with five of those seven victories coming by way of stoppage.
Curtis Millender plans to "hurt" and "punish" Rory MacDonald at PFL 2 "to get some more respect on my name"
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
Curtis Millender jumped at the chance to compete in PFL and fight Rory MacDonald. After David Michaud was forced out of the fight, the PFL signed UFC and Bellator veteran, Curtis Millender to face MacDonald. It is a big opportunity for “Curtious” who says this is a bucket list fight for him.
Anthony Pettis issues statement following loss to Clay Collard at PFL 1
Christopher Taylor - April 24, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has issued a statement following his unanimous decision loss to Clay Collard at PFL 1. Pettis (24-11 MMA) made his Professional Fighters League debut at Friday’s event in Atlantic City where he squared off with Collard in the opening round of the promotions lightweight tournament.