Tag: Lance Palmer

GFL draft results: Former UFC champions surprise with unexpected entries

Check out the GFL Draft results and see which of the hottest free agents and MMA legends were selected to compete in the inaugural year.

It’s not every day there’s an MMA draft, but Friday there was

The 2025 GFL Draft took place virtually with a live stream on MMA Junkie. Six teams, each representing a major city, drafted from a pool of approximately 500 fighters, including big-name free agents and rising prospects.

One-hundred-twenty athletes were be selected across 10 weight classes (heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight, bantamweight, women’s bantamweight, women’s strawweight, and women’s atomweight). However, the weight classes are divided slightly differently than the traditional weight classes. The promotion says it’s an effort to combat weight cutting.

Click here to see which fighters are eligible for the draft.

The six teams are managed and coached by MMA notables, as follows: Dubai (manager Cain Velasquez and coach Javier Mendez); London (manager Luke Barnatt and coach Carl Prince); Los Angeles (manager Wanderlei Silva and coach Rafael Cordeiro); Miami (manager Thiago Alves and coach Conan Silveira); New York (manager TBA and coach Ray Longo); and Sao Paulo (manager Lyoto Machida and coach Andre Pederneiras.

While a specific date has yet to be revealed, the promotion says it will launch in April with regular season, semi-finals, and finals events held throughout the year.

The 2025 GFL Draft results are as follows:

Round 1

  • Pick 1 (Team Dubai): Tyron Woodley
  • Pick 2 (Team Los Angeles): Sage Northcutt
  • Pick 3 (Team London): Gegard Mousasi
  • Pick 4 (Miami): Junior Dos Santos
  • Pick 5 (Sao Paulo): Fabricio Werdum
  • Pick 6 (New York): Kevin Lee

Round 2

  • Pick 7 (New York): Chris Weidman
  • Pick 8 (Sao Paulo): Douglas Lima
  • Pick 9 (Miami): Anthony Pettis
  • Pick 10 (London): Alexander Gustafsson
  • Pick 11 (Los Angeles): Aspen Ladd
  • Pick 12 (Dubai): Abubakar Nurmagomedov

Round 3

  • Pick 13 (Dubai): Derek Brunson
  • Pick 14 (Los Angeles): Tony Ferguson
  • Pick 15 (London): Josefine Knutsson
  • Pick 16 (Miami): Yoel Romero
  • Pick 17 (Sao Paulo): Carlos Petruzzella
  • Pick 18 (New York): Holly Holm

Round 4

  • Pick 19 (New York): Melissa Amay
  • Pick 20 (Sao Paulo): Camilia Reynoso
  • Pick 21 (Miami): Natasha Kuizutina
  • Pick 22 (London): Brett Johns
  • Pick 23 (Los Angeles): Urijah Faber
  • Pick 24 (Dubai): Ali Isaev

Full team reveal (following Round 5):

Team Dubai

  • [autotag]Anastasia Nikolakakos[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Jessica Aguilar[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Faine Mesquita[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Randi Field[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Alexa Conners[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Arlene Blencowe[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Farbod Iran Nezhad[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Timur Valiev[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Adilet Nurmatov[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Khumoyun Tukhtamurodov[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Tofiq Musayev[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Ronny Markes[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Ali Isaev[/autotag] (heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Todd Duffee[/autotag] (heavyweight)

Team Los Angeles

  • [autotag]Cory McKenna[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Jessica Penne[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Leslie Smith[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Urijah Faber[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Chad Mendes[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Tyler Diamond[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Sage Northcutt[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Louis Glismann[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Grant Neal[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Da Woon Jung[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Rashad Evans[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Frank Mir[/autotag] (heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag] (heavyweight)

Team London

  • [autotag]Chiara Penco[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Kelly Staddon[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Josefine Knutsson[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Karolina Owczarz[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Pannie Kianzad[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Cameron Else[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Josh Hill[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Brett Johns[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Mike Grundy[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Tim Wilde[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Norman Parke[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Gegard Mousasi[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Stuart Austin[/autotag] (heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag] (heavyweight)

Team Miami

  • [autotag]Kayla Hracho[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Natasha Kuziutina[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Hannah Goldy[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Paige VanZant[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Cat Zingano[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Eric Shelton[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Andre Harrison[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Gleison Tibau[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Hector Lombard[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag] (heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (heavyweight)

Team Sao Paulo

  • [autotag]Joice Mara[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Pamela Mara[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Camila Reynoso[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Viviane Araujo[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Alejandra Lara[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Paula Bittencourt[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Julio Arce[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Maike Linhares[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Patricky Freire[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Lucas Martins[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Carlos Petruzzella[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Alan Patrick[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] (heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (heavyweight)

Team New York

  • [autotag]Bi Nguyen[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Marisa Messer-Belenchia[/autotag] (atomweight)
  • [autotag]Melissa Amaya[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Miao Ding[/autotag] (strawweight)
  • [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Liana Jojua[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Jimmie Rivera[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Zviad Lazishvili[/autotag] (bantamweight)
  • [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Kai Kamaka III[/autotag] (featherweight)
  • [autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag] (lightweight)
  • [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Dillon Danis[/autotag] (welterweight)
  • [autotag]Phillip Hawes[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag] (middleweight)
  • [autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] (light heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (heavyweight)
  • [autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag] (heavyweight)

Alex Pereira’s sister Aline, UFC veteran Robelis Despaigne, more notables booked for Karate Combat 52

Karate Combat stacks its Jan. 24 Miami return with Alex Pereira’s sister Aline, UFC vet Robelis Despaigne, and more.

Karate Combat stacked up the deck for its Miami return.

The promotion announced several big names for its Karate Combat 52 event, which is set to go down on Jan. 24. Some of the notables include UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira’s sister, [autotag]Aline Pereira[/autotag] and UFC heavyweight veteran [autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag].

Aline returns to the pit to face Argentina’s Gisela Luna in a 130-pound women’s catchweight bout. This is Aline’s second fight under the Karate Combat banner, as she debuted back in October with a knockout win over Dee Begley.

Despaigne, an Olympic medalist in taekwondo who had a brief stint in the UFC in 2024, takes on Brazil’s Marcos Brigagão. Despaigne debuted for Karate Combat last month with a four-second KO.

Additionally, ex-UFC fighters [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag] [autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag], [autotag]Efrain Escudero[/autotag], and former PFL champion [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag] will be featured on the card.

Nam takes on [autotag]Loxbey Montalva[/autotag] in a 140-pound catchweight bout. Escudero, who won season 8 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” fights Luan Santiago at welterweight.

Burns and Palmer will be competing in submission grappling bouts. Burns takes on [autotag]Daniel Sathler[/autotag], and Palmer faces [autotag]Richie Lewis[/autotag].

A lightweight championship bout pitting titleholder [autotag]Shahzaib Rind[/autotag] against challenger Edgars Skrivers headlines the card.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=103]

Global Fight League announces launch, roster includes giant list of former UFC fighters

GFL has arrived – and it’s bringing fairly massive names from UFC yesteryears with it.

A new player has entered the MMA landscape, and it has arrived with some big names.

Wednesday, Global Fight League (GFL) announced its official launch will come in the opening weeks of 2025. The GFL concept differs from that of UFC and PFL.

While it has a league format and playoffs, it is also team-based and has a draft. There will be six franchises (names and cities to follow). The draft is scheduled for Jan. 24, with an inaugural event to follow in April.

Who’s fighting?

Co-founder Darren Owen revealed on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Wednesday that the promotion has over 300 fighters under contract. Not all fighters will be drafted.

Of the 92 fighters posted to the promotion’s official website, 45 of them are former UFC fighters. Names include Tyron Woodley, Anthony Pettis, Benson Henderson, Gegard Mousasi, Wanderlei Silva, Frank Mir, Andrei Arlovski, Kevin Lee, Fabricio Werdum, and Junior Dos Santos among others.

Scroll below to see the released names:

  • [autotag]Marcel Adur[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Amirkhon Alikhuzhaev[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Omar Arteaga[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Stuart Austin[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Deberson Batista[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Raimundo Batista[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Stephen Beaumont[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alan Belcher[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Claudeci Brito[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Will Brooks[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Yan Cabral[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alexsandro Cangaty[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Pedro Carvalho[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Rafael Carvalho[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alexa Conners[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kyle Daukaus[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ayton de Paepe[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Patrizio de Souza[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Marcelo Dias[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Miao Ding[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Cameron Else[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Tonya Evinger[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kalindra Faria[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Marciano Ferreira[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Chauncey Foxworth[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Glaico Franca[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Andre Harrison[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Guto Inocente[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Michael Irizarry[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Pannie Kianzad[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag]
  • [autotag]William Lima[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Hector Lombard[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ruan Machado[/autotag]
  • [autotag]John Makdessi[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lucas Martins[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Aleksandr Maslov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jordan Mein[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Dominick Meriweather[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Frank Mir[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Silvania Monteiro[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Killys Motta[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Gegard Mousasi[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Bi Nguyen[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ayinda Octave[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Renan Oliveira[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Karolina Owczarz[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Oscar Ownsworth[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Denis Palancica[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Rousimar Palharaes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Chiara Penco[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jefferson Pontes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jimmie Rivera[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Cleiton Silva[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Wanderlei Silva[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Julio Spadaccini[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Andre Soukhamthath[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Roggers Souza[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Gabriel Souza Galindo[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mohamed Tarek Mohey[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Diego Teixeira[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Oli Thompson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Austin Tweedy[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Feruz Usmonov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jozef Wittner[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag]

What does GFL provide athletes that other promotions don’t?

According to Owen, GFL offers fighters a 50-50 split in revenue sharing. Additionally, the promotion provides comprehensive support for training and medical bills, retirement benefits, insurance coverage, and more.

Who is behind GFL and where is the money coming from?

Owen is listed as the co-founder and commissioner for GFL and serves essentially as the public face for the promotion. He served as COO of PFL vs. October 2015 to May 2020 and was the founder and CEO of World Series of Fighting Canada, according to his LinkedIn page.

Also listed on the promotion’s website are Arun Parimi (co-founder and COO), Scott Parker (CMO), and Jeffrey Pollack (senior advisor).

Owen declined to identify the source of the funds behind the operation, but did say it’s a silicon valley investor.

How does the regular season work?

Similarly to PFL, GFL has a point system for regular season fights.

A finish victory notches a fighter’s team four points. A decision win earns three points. A draw earns two points. A decision loss earns one point. If a fighter loses by finish, he or she walks away with zero points.

2022 PFL salaries from Atlanta: Anthony Pettis tops disclosed payouts despite loss; Kayla Harrison second

This marks the first time that PFL salaries have been revealed in 2022.

The back half of the 2022 PFL regular season recently took place in Atlanta with three cards in three weeks at Overtime Elite Arena.

Each card spotlighted two specific divisions. PFL 4 took place June 17 and featured men’s lightweights and light heavyweights. One week later, PFL 5 featured featherweights and heavyweights. Last Friday, PFL 6 consisted of welterweights and women’s lightweights.

On Wednesday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of disclosed show and win purses from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, the regulatory body that oversaw the events.

Former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] ($750,000) led all paydays despite a submission loss to [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag]. Two-time PFL season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] ($500,00) was second on the list, followed by former UFC title challenger and Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] ($250,000).

[autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag], [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag], [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag], [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag], and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] also received six-figure disclosed payouts.

It’s important to note that the figures given do not reflect potential “locker room” bonuses, streaming points, or promotional sponsorship payments.

Scroll below to see the complete payouts for the most recent three PFL events.

PFL 2022, Week 2 predictions: Who are our three unanimous picks in Texas?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the PFL’s second event of the 2022 regular season, which features featherweights and heavyweights in Texas.

Austin
vs.
Cappelozza		 Palmer
vs.
Wade		 Kudo
vs.
Loughnane		 Ferreira
vs.
Jones		 Goltsov
vs.
Goodale
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
59-30		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza
(94%)		 palmer2022
Palmer
(55%)		 loughnane2022
Loughnane
(90%)		 ferreira2022
Ferreira
(89%)		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
(85%)
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
67-36		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
67-36		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
66-37
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 wade2022
Wade		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
65-38		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
65-38
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
64-39
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 jones2022
Jones		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Nolan King
@mma_kings
64-39		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 jones2022
Jones		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
63-40		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 jones2022
Jones		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
62-41		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 wade2022
Wade		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
59-44		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 wade2022
Wade		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
49-54		 cappelozza2022
Cappelozza		 palmer2022
Palmer		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 ferreira2022
Ferreira		 goltsov2022
Goltsov

The PFL is back for the second week of its 2022 season with featherweights and heavyweights on the bill.

PFL 2022, Week 2 takes place Thursday at Esports Arena in Arlington, Texas. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, 2021 heavyweight season champion [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] (14-5) takes on [autotag]Stuart Austin[/autotag] (15-7). Cappelozza is a heavy betting favorite to start the season out with a win, and all 11 of our editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have him as one of three unanimous picks on the main card.

In the co-feature, two-time season champion [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag] (22-5) will try to get back on the right track at featherweight against [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (20-7). Wade came up short in the 2021 final. But Palmer has not won a fight since his 2019 title; he lost both his fights in 2021. Wade is a slight betting favorite, but it’s Palmer with a big 8-3 lead in the picks.

The second biggest favorite on the card is [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (21-4), who takes on [autotag]Ryoji Kudo[/autotag] (10-2-1) in a featherweight bout to open the regular season. Loughnane is one of our three unanimous picks.

[autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (8-2) meets [autotag]Jamelle Jones[/autotag] (12-7) in a heavyweight bout. Brazil’s Ferreira is as much as an 8-1 betting favorite, but he’s not a unanimous pick. Still, he’s got a sizable 8-3 lead from our staff pickers.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] (27-7) is our third unanimous pick against heavyweight late-notice replacement [autotag]Cody Goodale[/autotag] (8-5). Goltsov is the biggest favorite on the card.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Cappelozza (94 percent), Palmer (55 percent), Loughnane (90 percent), Ferreira (89 percent) and Goltsov (85 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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How to watch 2022 PFL 2: Who’s fighting, lineup, start time, broadcast info

Here’s how you can watch PFL 2, which features featherweights and heavyweights in action this week.

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The PFL regular reason rolls on this week with 2022 PFL 2, which features featherweights and heavyweights in action for the first time this year.

Here’s how to watch PFL 2, with a complete lineup and breakdown by division.

Brendan Loughnane, Lance Palmer among fighters set for 2022 PFL 2 card on April 28

PFL has announced the featherweight and heavyweight matchups for their second regular season show.

PFL has announced the featherweight and heavyweight matchups for its second regular season show.

2022 PFL 2 takes place April 28 at Esports Arena in Arlington, Texas and streams on ESPN+ and ESPN, promotion officials announced Tuesday.

The event will be headlined by reigning heavyweight tournament winner [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] (14-5), who meets England’s [autotag]Stuart Austin[/autotag] (15-7). In the co-headliner, breakout star [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (21-4) will take on Japan’s [autotag]Ryoji Kudo[/autotag] (10-2-1).

The ESPN+ prelims will feature a matchup between former back-to-back featherweight tournament winner [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag] (22-5) and 2021 PFL finalist [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (20-7). Due to injury, reigning PFL featherweight champion Movlid Khaybulaev will not participate in the 2022 PFL season.

The 2022 PFL 2 lineup includes:

  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Stuart Austin
  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Ryoji Kudo
  • Ante Delija vs. Matheus Scheffel
  • Renan Ferreira vs. Jamelle Jones
  • Lance Palmer vs. Chris Wade
  • Bubba Jenkins vs. Jo Sungbin
  • Denis Goltsov vs. Sam Kei
  • Ali Isaev vs. Klidson Abreu
  • Sheymon Moraes vs. Boston Salmon
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Saba Bolaghi

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Triple Take: Highlights and lowlights of the 2021 PFL regular season

Our Triple Take panel looks at the PFL’s six regular season events to examine the highs – and lows – on the way to the $1 million playoffs.

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The 2021 PFL regular season is in the books, and after taking a one year hiatus from live events due to the coronavirus pandemic, the promotion has rebounded and reasserted itself as a top player in MMA.

From putting on live events on ESPN2 to signing a number of key free agents to seeing some of those free agents getting upset in the cage, there have been many twists and turns in what arguably has been PFL’s breakout year.

With the playoffs and $1 million championship rounds up next, there’s more to come from PFL before the year is out. With six regular season events complete, we thought it was a good time to examine the good and the bad from PFL this year.

In the latest edition of MMA Junkie’s “Triple Take,” the panel of Mike Bohn, Farah Hannoun and Nolan King offer up their highlights and lowlights from the 2021 PFL regular season.

2021 PFL 6 results: Movlid Khaybulaev wins decision, eliminates Lance Palmer from playoffs

Lance Palmer and Movlid Khaybulaev met in a high-stakes battle on Friday to earn a playoff spot and keep their 2021 PFL season alive.

Two-time PFL featherweight champion [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag] was eliminated from the 2021 season on Friday after failing to finish [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag].

In Friday’s bout to finalize the featherweight playoffs bracket, Palmer needed to record a finish before the end of the second round in order to advance, but Khaybulaev didn’t let that happen.

Palmer (22-5) dropped his season opener to Bubba Jenkins by unanimous decision at 2021 PFL 1, whereas Khaybulaev (17-0-1) won against Lazar Stojadinovic by unanimous decision that same evening to earn three points.

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

The first round started off methodically, with both fighters trying to find the range without leaving openings for counters. As the round wore on, both men began to let the strikes fly a little more frequently. Khaybulaev landed a nice lunging left hook on Palmer for one of the best strikes of the opening round.

Khaybulaev switched up the plan of attack early in the second round as he quickly secured a takedown on Palmer. Knowing the playoff window was closing quickly, Palmer did everything he could to stifle the heavy wrestling attack of his opponent. With just over a minute remaining, he was able to separate from Khaybulaev and he began to throw heavy left-hand strikes.

Palmer couldn’t land a punch to hurt his opponent and his playoff hopes were ended as the round concluded.

While the playoffs were no longer an option for Palmer, winning the fight was still a possibility, but he would need a statement third round.

Khaybulaev would have his say on how the final round would play out as he stayed patient and landed a nice flurry midway through. In the closing moments of the round, Palmer landed a nice left hand to get his opponent’s attention, but the Russian was able to prevent any further damage before the fight concluded.

The judges scored the bout in favor of Khaybulaev unanimously with matching scores of 29-28.

The third and fourth seeds of the featherweight bracket have come down to Khaybulaev and Bubba Jenkins, who are tied in the featherweight standings. A coin flip will determine their placement to finalize the bracket.

Up-to-the-minute results of 2021 PFL 6 are below:

  • Movlid Khaybulaev def. Lance Palmer via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Denis Goltsov def. Brandon Sayles via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:24
  • Bruno Cappelozza def. Muhammed DeReese via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:21
  • Larissa Pacheco def. Helena Kolesnyk via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 4:48
  • Ante Delija def. Chandler Cole via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:39
  • Genah Fabian def. Julija Pajic via TKO (Punches) – Round 2, 4:16
  • Renan Ferreira def. Carl Seumanutafa via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
  • Taylor Guardado def. Laura Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Mariana Morais def. Kaitlin Young via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Jamelle Jones def. Klidson Abreu via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:43

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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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