First round of PFL playoffs schedule and cards released, first fights on Aug. 13
Photo: PFL
With the PFL regular season in the past, all that remains is the quest for the $1 million grand prize for each weight division champion.
On August 13, fans will be blessed with more PFL action as the following two weeks also bring the first round of playoff bouts. Although the organization announced the August 13 lineup last week, it has since been altered, but now all three events are set.
The first event will be headlined by fan-favorites Ray Cooper III and Rory MacDonald. Cooper was the 2019 welterweight champion and MacDonald is a former UFC standout looking to bounce back and add a PFL title to his reign.
Although with the welterweights, lightweights will punch their ticket to the championship on that Friday. This lineup includes a bout between Clay Collard, former UFC fighter and professional boxer and the Brazilian Raush Manfio. They are likely to hit the mat early on with Collard being a striker and Manfio being a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.
The following Thursday will see women’s lightweights and heavyweights duke it out. Most notably, Olympic gold medalist and undefeated mixed martial artist Kayla Harrison will return to the cage and face Genah Fabian.
The judo standout proved to be one of PFL’s biggest signings as her ceiling in the sport has yet to be seen. Harrison seems more motivated than ever to get out there and win the belt.
The final playoff event before the title fights will be on August 27. This card will be headlined by featherweight leader Brandan Loughnane and the final seed Movlid Khaybulaev. The co-main event features fan-favorite Bubba Jenkins and rounded fighter Chris Wade.
All three of these events are there to mold a title picture for all six weight divisions.
“No sports league can match the thrilling action Professional Fighters League will deliver this August as the final four fighters for each weight division will compete for a spot in the $1 million world championship bout,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a press release. “The only playoff format in the sport gives every fighter a chance.”
To watch all three of these events, tune into ESPN at the scheduled times on August 13, 19 and 27.