PFL 1 Results - 2021 Season

After one year break due to global pandemic, PFL (Professional Fighters League) is back and we are ready for another and only MMA season format competition. This year sesason have 6 weight classes: Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Welterweight, Lightweight (both man and women) and featherweight. Also, all PFL events and fights will be held in Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. PFL formed a bubble where fighters will be able to train and have everything that they need while keeping Covid protocols and testing under control.

Rules are same as far as points concerned, 3 points fighter gets for a win, while bonus system gives you extra points for finish ( R1 3 pts; R2 2 pts; R3 1 pts ). Also, important to mention is that only four best placed on standings will advance to playoffs and continue to compete for 1 million dollar reward.

First event of season bring us fights from Lightweight and Featherweight division.

To open the card and whole season, we saw very close fight between Alexander Martinez and Loik Radzhabov ( 2019 PFL Lightweight runner-up ). After three rounds of an a very close battle, split decision winner was Martinez, earning three points.

Former TUF alumni Tyler Diamond defeated Sung Bin Jo, who had an one fight UFC in 2019 ( it was unanimous decision loss against Daniel Teymur ). Diamond didn't give a chance to Jo in first two rounds using constant pressure, clinch and even a takedown at the end of second round. At the start of third round, Jo almost finished Diamond but Diamond survives and even got a takedown. He then start to land a lot of punches but he didn't have enough energy to finish the fight. Neverthless, well deserved win for Diamond and 3 earned points.

Chris Wade (two time PFL Lightweight semifinalist) had decided to move down to 145 in this PFL season and try to make a title run in a different weight class. His opponent was Anthony Dizy. In round one Dizy was the better fighter and he landed few very good punches. In second and third round Wade made some impact and remind everyone why was he PFL semifinalist in last two seasons. Overall, this was a close fight but Chris Wade made enough adventage in round two and especially round three to earn well deserved unanimous decision victory.

Akhmed Aliev (2019 PFL Lightweight semifinalist) had a good start against Mikhail Odintsov and earn unanimous decision win and 3 points. Very good first round for Aliev, he even got chance for a finish but he didn't capitalise his oportunity. Second round was close but with Aliev's adventage in striking part. Third and final round was really tough to judge, but Odintsov really pushed in that final round but he couldn't get a finish.

Raush Manfio and Joilton Lutterbach fought a three round fight, and must admit, very close one. In first round, Manfio maybe did enough to win the round while second round was certainly Joilton's round. Third and final round, again on feet, and again it seems like maybe Manfio did enough to secure the round and a win. After three very close rounds, judges decision was a split and the winner was Raush Manfio.

Brendan Loughnane made a quick work of Sheymon Moraes to earn 6 points and lead standingns in featherweight division as we close the prelims show and move on to the main card.

On to the main card where Bubba Jenkins made a surprise after his excellent perfomance against Season 1 & Season 2 PFL Featherweight champion Lance Palmer that earned him 3 points and well deserved unanimous decision victory. Jenkins outwrestled Palmer and neutralize Palmer biggest weapon, wrestling. Only in third round, Palmer had nice choke attempt but Jenkinks stay calm and composed so he escape and got a win.

Movlid Khaybulaev dominated Lazar Stojadinovic through the whole fight. Few times the fight looked near finish but Stojadinovic was able to survive and therefore we did go to decision. With few takedowns, excellent control on ground and good ground and pound Khaybulaev secured well deserved unanimous decision win and 3 points to his name in official Professioonal Fighters League Standings.

Marcin Held and Natan Schulte (PFL season 1 & season 2 Lightweight champion) put on a striking show for the fans watching around the world. What a pace from both fighters and what a fight. In first two rounds, Held and his pace combined with a huge amount of landed shots was a key factor while in a third round Schulte was the one to put pressure and landing more. After three rounds of war, well deserved unanimous decision win for Marcin Held and another huge upset on the card after Lance Palmer's defeat.

In a main event fight, we saw former WEC and UFC Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis against also a veteran and former UFC fighter Clay Collard. Collard, who is also a professional boxer, demonstrate his boxing skills in first round and show how good he is. In a second round, he was even more dominant and it looked like he was near finish 2 times in that round but somehow Pettis was able to survive. In a third and final round, Pettis needed a finish and he almost got one in last 60 seconds of the fight when he landed a kick but Collard was able to survive and earn a well deserved unanimous decision win and another huge upset on this card.

Overall, an incredible night of fights, even though we saw only one finish, all fights was exciting, really good way to open a new season.

Results:

Preliminary card

Alexander Martinez def. Loik Radzhabov by Decision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

Tyler Diamond def. Sung Bin Jo by Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Chris Wade def. Anthony Dizy by Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Akhmed Aliev def. Mikhail Odintsov by Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Raush Manfio def. Joilton Lutterbach by Decision (split) (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Brendan Loughnane def. Sheymon Moraes via KO (punches) in round 1

Main Card

Bubba Jenkins def. Lance Palmer by Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Movlid Khaybulaev def. Lazar Stojadinovic by Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Marcin Held def. Natan Schulte by Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Clay Collard def. Anthony Pettis by Decision (unanimous) (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)

Standings

Featherweight rankings Lightweight rankings

Brendan Loughnane 6 pts Clay Collard 3 pts

Bubba Jenkins 3 pts Akhmed Aliev 3 pts

Movlid Khaybulaev 3 pts Alexander Martinez 3 pts

Tyler Diamond 3 pts Marcin Held 3 pts

Chris Wade 3 pts Raush Manfio 3 pts

Anthony Dizy 0 pts Joilton Lutterbach 0 pts

Sung Bin Jo 0 pts Natan Schulte 0 pts

Lance Palmer 0 pts Loik Radzhabov 0 pts

Lazar Stojadinovic 0 pts Anthony Pettis 0 pts

Sheymon Moraes 0 pts Mikhail Odintsov -1 pts [a]

[a] Odintsov missed weight at therefore he lost 1 point in standings