Tag: Renan Ferreira

2021 PFL 3 video: Renan Ferreira upsets Fabricio Werdum after appearing to tap

Renan Ferreira became the latest underdog to take out a highly touted PFL free agent signing. But there may be some controversy looming.

[autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] on Thursday became the latest underdog to take out a highly touted PFL free agent signing. But there may be some controversy looming.

Replays showed Ferreira may have given two quick taps while in a [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] triangle choke – but they weren’t seen by referee Keith Peterson. When Werdum loosened the choke, Ferreira got back to work – and got an eventual TKO finish.

Ferreira (7-2) officially has a first-round knockout win over former UFC heavyweight champion Werdum (24-10-1). The win came at the 2:32 mark of the first round and gave Ferreira a crucial 6 points in the 2021 PFL heavyweight season.

Just 12 seconds into the fight, Werdum got the fight to the canvas and into his wheelhouse. Ferreira, also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, tried to work his way back to his feet. But Werdum kept the pressure on and tried to work his way to mount.

That gave Ferreira an opportunity to roll out of trouble and Werdum was on his back. But he quickly found himself in a triangle choke. That’s when he appeared to have tapped, but the fight wasn’t stopped. Then he had to deal with a brief armbar attempt.

Ferreira managed to wriggle out, though, and on top he dropped some big punches on Werdum to stun him. And when Werdum couldn’t work his way out from underneath, Ferreira dropped hammerfists on him until he got the finish.

“I think everyone saw the fight. He tapped,” Werdum said in his post-fight interview. “I have to respect my opponent. … I stopped because he tapped. I’ve fought for 23 years. When he taps with an open hand, I have to stop. In my mind, it was over because I felt him tap my shoulder.”

[vertical-gallery id=608564]

2021 PFL 3 live results

The PFL’s 2021 season continues Thursday, and you can get live results of all the action here at MMA Junkie beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The PFL’s 2021 season continues Thursday, and you can get live results of all the action here at MMA Junkie beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

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

The card sees the heavyweight and women’s lightweight divisions kick off their 2021 campaign in hopes of winning the promotion’s season championship and the accompanying $1 million bonus.

At 2021 PFL 3, former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (24-9-1) faces fellow Brazilian [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (6-2) in the headlining bout, while 2019 women’s lightweight champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (8-0) faces promotional newcomer [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-10) in the night’s co-feature.

Follow along with our live results beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Fabricio Werdum vs. Renan Ferreira
  • Kayla Harrison vs. Mariana Morais
  • Brandon Sayles vs. Mohammed Usman
  • Larissa Pacheco vs. Julija Pajic

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Ante Delija
  • Cindy Dandois vs. Kaitlin Young
  • Genah Fabian vs. Laura Sanchez
  • Muhammed DeReese vs. Denis Goltsov

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Taylor Guardado vs. Helena Kolesnyk
  • Magomed Umalatov def. Kyron Bowen via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 0:07

[vertical-gallery id=608190]

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		 werdum2021
Werdum
(75%)		 harrison2021
Harrison
(94%)		 usman2021
Usman
(82%)		 pajic2021
Pajic
(55%)
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 61-32		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 59-34
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 58-35		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 56-37		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 56-37		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 55-38
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 55-38		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 54-39		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 54-39
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 53-40
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 51-42		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 50-43		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
BetMGM
Betting Favorites		 werdum2021
Werdum -250		 harrison2021
Harrison -2000		 usman2021
Usman -375		 pacheco2021
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.

[listicle id=587389]

[vertical-gallery id=608190]

2021 PFL 3 weigh-in results: Fabricio Werdum official for PFL debut; Muhammed DeReese replaces Justin Willis

The weigh-ins are in the books for PFL’s this event of 2021, with heavyweights and women’s lightweights ready to kick off their season.

The weigh-ins are in the books for PFL’s this event of 2021, with heavyweights and women’s lightweights ready to kick off their season after hitting the scales at Wednesday’s official ceremony.

In the night’s main event, former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (24-9-1) makes his promotional debut when he takes on fellow Brazilian [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (6-2) Both fighters made weight without issue, with Werdum at 241.4 pounds, and Ferreira heavier at 252 pounds.

In the night’s co-feature, 2019 PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (8-0) looks to keep her career record perfect when she takes on Brazilian contender [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-10).

There was one late replacement on the day, as heavyweight alternate [autotag]Muhammed DeReese[/autotag] (8-2) stepped in for [autotag]Justin Willis[/autotag] (8-2), who was not medically cleared to compete. DeReese now faces [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] (25-6) at Thursday’s event, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ from Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

The complete 2021 PFL 3 weigh-in results included:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Fabricio Werdum (241.4) vs. Renan Ferreira (252)
  • Kayla Harrison (155.2) vs. Mariana Morais (153)
  • Brandon Sayles (264.2) vs. Mohammed Usman (239)
  • Larissa Pacheco (155.2) vs. Julija Pajic (155.8)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Bruno Cappelozza (234) vs. Ante Delija (233.2)
  • Cindy Dandois (153) vs. Kaitlin Young (155)
  • Genah Fabian (155.8) vs. Laura Sanchez (155.4)
  • Muhammed DeReese (257.6) vs. Denis Goltsov (240.4)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Taylor Guardado (154.6) vs. Helena Kolesnyk (155.2)
  • Kyron Bowen (170.8) vs. Magomed Umalatov (170.2)

[vertical-gallery id=608190]

PFL 2021, Week 3: Fabricio Werdum’s debut headlines; Kayla Harrison featured in co-main

Fabricio Werdum and Kayla Harrison have their first fights of the season booked.

One of PFL’s biggest acquisitions has a date and opponent for his debut.

Former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] is set to headline PFL 2021, Week 3 against [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] on May 6. The bout is part of the heavyweight season that will determine which fighters make it to the playoffs to compete for the $1 million prize and title.

Additionally, 2019 PFL women’s lightweight champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] returns to action in the co-main event as the two-time Olympic gold medalist takes on [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag].

PFL 3 takes place at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The event will air on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+. Further regular season events will follow on June 10, 17, and 25.

[lawrence-related id=592122,590802]

Werdum (24-9-1) last fought in July, submitting Alexander Gustafsson with a first-round arm-bar at UFC on ESPN 14. The win closed out his contract with the UFC. He tested free agency and signed with PFL months later in November. Werdum is 1-1 since his return from a 10-month U.S. Anti-Doping Agency suspension.

His opponent, Ferreira (6-2), is coming off a submission win in August 2019 at LFA 74. The 31-year-old is 4-1 in his past five bouts.

Meanwhile, PFL champ Harrison (8-0) looks keep her unbeaten run in MMA. She was last in action last November when she picked up a TKO win over Courtney King at Invicta FC 43. Despite being under contract with PFL, the organization allowed her to compete outside of the promotion as PFL’s 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic.

Facing Harrison, Morais (16-10) looks to extend her current wining streak to four in a row. Morais holds three consecutive wins under the Shooto banner. She competed twice in 2020, fighting both bouts in the same night back in March.

Below is the full card for PFL 3:

MAIN CARD (ESPN 2):

  • Fabricio Werdum vs. Renan Ferreira
  • Kayla Harrison vs. Mariana Morais
  • Ali Isaev vs. Hatef Moeil
  • Genah Fabian vs. Laura Sanchez

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+):

  • Mohammed Usman vs Brandon Sayles
  • Denis Goltsov vs. Justin Willis
  • Larissa Pacheco vs. Julija Pajic
  • Ante Delija vs. Bruno Cappelozza
  • Cindy Dandois vs. Kaitlin Young
  • Olena Kolesnyk vs. Taylor Guardado

[jwplayer HVM7KLHJ-FLu19iir]

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.

[lawrence-related id=552714,547926,539651]

“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.”

[vertical-gallery id=476929]

10 heavyweights you can expect to see on Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4

The return of Dana White’s Contender Series isn’t far off, and here are 10 big men who are candidates to appear on the show.

Dana White’s Contender Series has become a focal point for fighters on the regional scene. Since its inception in 2017, the UFC Fight Pass-turned-ESPN+ summer original removed some of the guesswork for up-and-comers trying to make it big.

With UFC president Dana White and matchmakers Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby cageside, the stakes are high. Have an impressive, exciting win on the show, and you’re in.

Rumored for a late-June 2020 start date, DWCS Season 4 is almost here. The lineups haven’t been announced quite yet, but advanced planning is underway. While there are hundreds of fighters qualified to compete on the show, we’ll be narrowing each divisional pool to 10 fighters you should expect to see on the show this summer.

We begin with the big boys – heavyweights.

****

Hugo Cunha

Record: 5-0
Age: 27
Height: 6’4″
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro

Brazil is known for its roots in jiu-jitsu, but [autotag]Hugo Cunha[/autotag] lives by his wrestling. A coach to Alex Oliviera, Thiago Santos and more, Cunha is highly touted among Brazilians for his wrestling abilities, but his ground skills don’t stop there. Cunha also has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Competing for Future FC, Titan FC, and WOCS, Cunha has finished all five of his professional fights. He’s green, but he’s improving. What better way to figure out if he’s ready for the big leagues than DWCS?

Image via CFFC

Chris Daukaus

Record: 8-3
Age: 30
Height: 6’2″
Birthplace: Philadelphia

Brother of DWCS Season 3 competitor Kyle Daukaus, [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] deserves his fix, too. After starting his career at 2-2, Daukaus has won six of seven. His lone loss in the stretch came against Azunna Anyanwu – a fight he was largely winning. Daukaus is currently booked to face a DWCS alumnus Shawn Teed, one of the three men to hold wins over Daukaus. If Daukaus successfully defends his CFFC title and avenges a loss in the process, DWCS should be next.

More fighters on the next page:

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4