Brandon Sayles – Syndication Server

2021 PFL 6 weigh-in results: Kayla Harrison, Cindy Dandois make main event official

Watch the weigh-ins for 2021 PFL 6, which features Kayla Harrison vs. Cindy Dandois in the main event.

The weigh-ins are complete for PFL’s sixth event of 2021, with heavyweights and women’s lightweights ready to close out their season after hitting the scales at Thursday’s official ceremony.

The event also features matchups in the men’s lightweight and featherweight divisions.

Lightweight stars own the evening on Friday, as 2018 and 2019 PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] is set to meet [autotag]Cindy Dandois[/autotag] in the main event. The co-main features former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] against [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag].

2021 PFL 6 takes place Friday at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.

Check out the complete weigh-in results below and watch the full video above.

MAIN CARD (ESPN 2, 10 p.m. ET)

Kayla Harrison (156) vs. Cindy Dandois (152.2)
Anthony Pettis (156) vs. Raush Manfio (156)
Lance Palmer (146) vs. Movlid Khaybulaev (145.4)
Denis Goltsov (246.4) vs. Brandon Sayles (264.4)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

Bruno Cappelozza (233.4) vs. Muhammed DeReese (254.2)
Larissa Pacheco (156) vs. Olena Kolesnyk (157.6)
Ante Delija (239.2) vs. Chandler Cole (262)
Genah Fabian (155.6) vs. Julija Pajic (156)
Renan Ferreira (251) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (260)
Taylor Guardado (155) vs. Laura Sanchez (155.2)
Kaitlin Young (155.6) vs. Mariana Morais (154.2)
Klidson Abreu (258) vs. Jamelle Jones (245)

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2021 PFL 3 video highlights: Controversy, dominance, upset rule wild night

Reacap the action from PFL 3, where Fabricio Werdum lost in controversial fashion, while Kayla Harrison picked up where she left off in 2019.

The PFL was back in action Thursday, and what a wild night of twists and turns it was – except for one defending champion picking up right where she left off.

In the main event, former UFC champ [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (24-10-1) made his promotional debut, which ended with a TKO loss to [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (7-2) in controversial fashion after video replays showed referee Keith Peterson missed Ferreira tapping out while in a triangle choke. In the co-headliner, 2019 PFL champ [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (9-0) needed only 83 seconds to take out [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-11). The night also featured a surprise upset for [autotag]Brandon Sayles[/autotag] (6-1), who choked out [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag] (7-2) in the second round.

Check out the highlights from 2021 PFL 3, which featured fights in the heavyweight and women’s lightweight divisions, in the video above.

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2021 PFL 3 video: Brandon Sayles chokes Mohammed Usman out cold in upset

From a betting perspective, Brandon Sayles wasn’t expected to be in the game against Mohammed Usman.

From a betting perspective, [autotag]Brandon Sayles[/autotag] wasn’t expected to be in the game against [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag].

But after a competitive first round against the UFC welterweight champion’s brother, Sayles (6-1) choked Usman (7-2) unconscious after a second knockdown in the second at 2021 PFL 3 in Atlantic City, N.J. Usman was as much as a 6-1 favorite in the fight.

Sayles and Usman beat on each other for the first five minutes, trading punches and kicks, and neither fighter seemed to really stun the other.

Midway through the second, Sayles dropped Usman and tried to put him away on the canvas. Somehow, Usman got back to his feet, only to find himself in a standing guillotine choke. Usman got out of that and tried to regain his composure on the feet. But once again, Sayles put him on the canvas with a punch.

There, Sayles went after ground-and-pound a second time, then locked in a rear-naked choke. Usman tried to fight it, but it wasn’t long before he was out cold.

“You shouldn’t just assume something just because of a last name,” Sayles said. “I’m here to show what hard work over skill will sometimes get you.”

Check out Sayles’ finish of Usman below.

Brandon Sayles puts Mohammed Usman to sleep! #2021PFL3 LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/WfOt9XBfzk pic.twitter.com/SeucuJAcdF

— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 7, 2021

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2021 PFL 3 predictions: Four unanimous picks on the main card

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2021 PFL 3 main card, which includes Fabricio Werdum and Kayla Harrison.

	Werdum vs. Ferreira	Harrison vs. Morais	Sayles vs. Usman	Pacheco vs. Pajic
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2021: 57-36	Werdum (75%)	Harrison (94%)	Usman (82%)	Pajic (55%)
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2021: 61-32	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2021: 59-34 2018 Champion	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2021: 58-35	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Nolan King @mma_kings 2021: 56-37	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2021: 56-37	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2021: 55-38 2017 Champion	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2021: 55-38	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2021: 54-39	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2021: 54-39 2020 Champion	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2021: 53-40 2014 Champion	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2021: 51-42	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2021: 50-43	Werdum	Harrison	Usman	Pacheco
BetMGM Betting Favorites	Werdum -250	Harrison -2000	Usman -375	Pacheco -500

The PFL is back for its third event of the 2021 regular season with heavyweights and women’s lightweights on the docket.

2021 PFL 3 takes place Thursday at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (24-9-1) makes his PFL debut against [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (6-2). Werdum is the favorite at -250 at BetMGM, and he’s one of four unanimous picks on the main card from our 12 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, 2019 women’s lightweight season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (8-0) is back to go after her second $1 million prize. She’s the biggest favorite on the card by far – and biggest favorite we’ve seen in this space all year – against [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-10) at -2000. Not surprisingly, she’s a unanimous pick from our staff members.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag] (7-1), the younger brother of UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, takes his first step toward the $1 million heavyweight season prize when he takes on [autotag]Brandon Sayles[/autotag] (5-1). Usman is a -375 favorite and our third unanimous pick.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (13-4) takes on [autotag]Julija Pajic[/autotag] (3-0) in the women’s lightweight regular season. Pacheco is a 5-1 favorite and a 12-0 pick – though our readers are taking Pajic in an upset at a 55 percent clip.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Werdum (75 percent), Harrison (94 percent), Usman (82 percent) and Pajic (55 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Ex-UFC veterans Cezar Ferreira, Sheymon Moraes feature as PFL announces eight new signings

The Professional Fighters League has announced eight more new signings to their roster for 2021, including former UFC veterans Cezar Ferreira and Sheymon Moraes.

The PFL has bolstered its fighter roster ahead of the promotion’s 2021 season with the addition of eight new faces.

The most recognizable of the group is Brazilian middleweight [autotag]Cezar Ferreira[/autotag] (13-8), who enjoyed a 15-fight stint in the UFC after winning “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.” “Mutante” will be joined by fellow countryman and former UFC colleague [autotag]Sheymon Moraes[/autotag] (11-4), who will join the PFL’s featherweight lineup for the coming season.

Also joining the promotion is Norwegian light heavyweight [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] (6-1), a former Cage Warriors title challenger at 205 pounds and current teammate of UFC middleweight contender Jack Hermansson, while German-based Brazilian lightweight [autotag]Joilton Santos Lutterbach[/autotag] (34-8) and South Korean featherweight [autotag]Sung Bin Jo[/autotag] (9-1) have also joined the roster.

Meanwhile, the PFL confirmed that the heavyweight division will welcome three new names in 2021, with Brazil’s [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (6-2), Germany’s [autotag]Hatef Moeil[/autotag] (10-4) and American [autotag]Brandon Sayles[/autotag] (5-1) all set for action in 2021 as they join more recently announced arrivals in Mohammed Usman, Jordan Young, Johnny Case, Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Bubba Jenkins on the PFL’s new-look 2021 roster.

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“We are extremely excited to welcome a diverse group of world-class talent to the Professional Fighters League as part of the 2021 roster,” said PFL president Ray Sefo, via press release. “The addition of elite competitors from countries such as Brazil, Norway, South Korea and Germany is representative of PFL’s global reach. We look forward to seeing what these fighters can do on the biggest stage, as they look to advance through a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship and earn a title and million-dollar prize.”

PFL CEO Peter Murray added, “PFL is a global brand with distribution to over 160 countries, and top talent from around the world are recognizing the unique opportunity PFL provides in terms of competing on the biggest stage, against the best competition, for an equal shot at a title and life-changing money.

“We are committed to consistently elevating our roster and we’re excited about the depth of talent that will be on display in 2021. Through PFL Studios and our wide network of distribution partners, we look forward to telling their stories and documenting each individual’s journey to the top of the sport.”

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