PFL have just announced the lineups for the both the Lightweight and Featherweight editions of their 2021 season and it’s fantastic news for any fans of elite grappling in MMA. The Lightweight division in particular looks guaranteed to produce a number of submission finishes as it involves some fantastic BJJ and Judo black belts like Marcin Held, Anthony Pettis, and Olivier Aubin-Mercier. Held in particular is known for competing on the highest stages of submission grappling, having earned a bronze medal at the ADCC European trials and was recently seen putting in a solid performance when representing Team Europe at the very first edition of Polaris Squads.
PFL 2021 Lightweight Division! 👊
🇧🇷👑 Natan Schulte
🇺🇸 Anthony Pettis
🇹🇯 Loik Radzhabov
🇨🇦 Olivier Aubin-Mercier
🇺🇸 Clay Collard
🇵🇱 Marcin Held
🇺🇸 Johnny Case
🇷🇺 Akhmed Aliev
🇩🇪 Joilton Lutterbach
🇧🇾 Mikhail OdintsovWho takes home the PFL Lightweight crown in 2021? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/R668ZSiFrA
— Darren Russell (@DarrenRussell_) February 2, 2021
Anthony Pettis and Olivier Aubin-Mercier are both seriously skilled grapplers who have only recently moved over to PFL after making the move from the UFC, where Pettis was once a World Champion. The PFL 2021 Lightweight season will also feature another UFC veteran who could provide an upset in Johnny Case, although the purple belt in BJJ has found far more success with his striking ability. Jason Soares is the one to watch out of the Featherweight lineup as he’s known for his ability to take the back and finish from there, with the undefeated fighter having come up just short on his attempt at earning a UFC contract through the Ultimate Fighter.
The reigning Featherweight champion has had a solid amount of success stem from his grappling ability too, as Lance Palmer is not only a BJJ brown belt, but also an ex-NCAA division 1 silver medalist and Big Ten Champion. While these men will battle it out for the chance to become the PFL 2021 season Champion, this year will also feature the debut of Olympic boxing champion Claressa Shields who signed for the promotion recently and has just started her grappling journey ready for her first fight.
The 2021 PFL Featherweight division is STACKED! 🔥
🇺🇸👑 Lance Palmer
🇺🇸 Bubba Jenkins
🇬🇧 Brendan Loughnane
🇷🇺 Movlid Khaybulaev
🇰🇷 Jo Sungbin
🇧🇷 Sheymon Moraes
🇺🇸 Tyler Diamond
🇺🇸 Jason Soares
❓ TBA
❓ TBA pic.twitter.com/w7bYY0FMDQ— Darren Russell (@DarrenRussell_) February 2, 2021
The regular PFL season events will take place on April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17, and June 25, and can be watched live on ESPN, click here to find out more.
