Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis' debut with the PFL is set for April 23 and much, much more — Fightful has all the latest fight announcements in one article.
Anthony Pettis set to make PFL debut against Clay Collard on April 23
The Professional Fighters League announced the kickoff to their 2021 season and the full line-up for their opening card on April 23 via the promotion's official Twitter account. In the headlining matchup, former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will make his PFL debut against UFC veteran and professional boxer Clay Collard. Pettis who signed with the company in December of last year is riding a two-fight win streak beating Alex Morono and Donald Cerrone via unanimous decisions but hasn't won a fight at 155-pounds since submitting Michael Chiesa back at UFC 226 in July 2018. Collard's last MMA bout was in April 2019 where he defeated Randal Wallace by a unanimous decision at Final Fight Championship 35, but his last fight was a decision loss in a boxing match against Quincy LaVallais back on December 12 of last year.
The rest of the card which will air on ESPN 2, also features two other prominent promotional debuts. Bellator and UFC veteran Marcin Held will take on Nathan Schulte in his first PFL fight, while 2019 PFL Featherweight Tournament winner Lance Palmer will welcome 2011 NCAA Division I champion and former Bellator veteran Bubba Jenkins to the Decagon cage.
Augusto Sakai vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov targeted for UFC Fight Night event in May
A matchup between top ten heavyweights Augusto Sakai and Shamil Abdurakhimov is being targeted for May 1, Combate's Raphael Marinho first reported with Abdurakhimov later confirming the fight as well via his Instagram account, although the promotion hasn't officially announced anything yet. Sakai will try to bounce back from his first Octagon loss back at UFC Vegas 9, where he was stopped by Alistair Overeem via a fifth-round TKO. Abdurakhimov is 3-1 in his last four fights, being defeated by Curtis Blaydes via a second-round TKO at UFC 242 in his last appearance.
Felicia Spencer takes on Danyelle Wolf at UFC Fight Night event in May
Former UFC women's featherweight title challenger Felicia Spencer will return against Danyelle Wolf at a yet-to-announced UFC event on May 22, first reported by BJPenn.com's Cole Shelton. The promotion is hasn't officially announced the matchup or event yet. Spencer will try to rebound from her failed bid at becoming a UFC champion in her last outing losing via a unanimous decision to Amanda Nunes at UFC 250. Wolf will make her second UFC appearance after winning her promotional and professional MMA debut against Taneisha Tennant via a unanimous decision at Dana White's Contender Series 33.
Austin Hubbard to take on Natan Levy at UFC Event in April
UFC veteran Austin Hubbard will take on Natan Levy at a UFC event on April 17, first reported by MMAJunkie's Farah Hannoun and Nolan King. The promotion has yet to officially announce the event or matchup yet. Hubbard is 2-3 in his UFC run so far, most recently coming off a first-round submission due to a rear-naked choke at UFC Vegas 7. Levy will make his second UFC appearance, submitting Shaheen Santana in the third-round via an arm-triangle choke at Dana White's Contender Series 35.
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