The new Professional Fighters League season begins next week as fighters from across the globe begin their world title charge with cheques for $1million awaiting the winners at the end.
This season, British and Irish fight fans will now be able to watch all the action live on Channel 4 after a huge television deal was announced earlier this year.
There will also be British representation on the opening night of action with Scotland’s Stevie Ray making his PFL debut against Paraguay’s Alexander Martinez with lightweight and light-heavyweight action kicking off the new campaign in Arlington, Texas.
The 32-year-old announced his retirement from professional competition last year after four years fighting under the UFC flag. But he has been given a new lease of life and will look to start his PFL career with a bang next week.
Joining him on the card is light-heavyweight prospect Simeon Powell. The undefeated Londoner fought his way through the PFL’s Challenger Series earlier this year to earn his place in the regular season and is determined to take his chance on the big stage.
‘It is hard not to look along the line when you are a regular kid from Harrow and there is a million dollars at the end of it,’ Powell told Metro.co.uk earlier this year.
‘But of course I’m just focused on the next opponent for now, you have to be. Otherwise all of that goes away. I am 100 per cent focused.’
Defending champion Raush Manfio also returns to action and headlines Wednesday’s card. The Brazilian walked away one million dollars richer after sealing a unanimous decision win in his slugfest against Loik Radzhabov in last October’s lightweight final and will begin the defence of his crown against Don Madge.
Wednesday’s card is the first of three shows taking place over the next three weeks with another English fighter Stuart Austin looking to upset heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza at PFL 2 on April 28.
In the co-main event, Manchester’s Brendan Loughnane will launch his latest bid for featherweight gold against Ryoji Kudo. Loughnane laid down a serious marker in his debut campaign last year, reaching the semi-final stage before losing a split decision to eventual winner Movlid Khaybulaev.
‘I only lost to the eventual champion, it was a very exciting season,’ Loughnane told Metro.co.uk.
‘We’ve got this deal [with Channel 4] so signing my own new contract, my mum and dad can watch it on national telly now, so it made it a no brainer for me to come back for another season.’
Lightweight queen Kayla Harrison returns to action on 8 May after rejecting the advances of UFC and Bellator to defend her PFL crown.
On the same night, Ireland’s Myles Price is looking to cause an early shock in his opening round clash against former UFC champion Anthony Pettis in their rescheduled lightweight clash.
Pettis has lost his first two fights since leaving Dana White’s promotion for the world of PFL with Kilkenny fighter Price looking to make an instant impact in what will be his first contest since a victory over countryman Peter Queally at Bellator 217 back in February 2019.
When is PFL 1?
PFL takes place in Arlington Texas with the action getting underway in the early hours of Thursday morning [21 April] at 2am.
Where to watch PFL 1
In February, PFL announced a huge television deal with Channel 4 who are the promotion’s exclusive broadcast partner in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
All the PFL action this year will be available to watch live on Channel 4 and online on More4.
PFL 1 card in full:
Raush Manfio vs Don Madge (lightweight)
Clay Collard vs Jeremy Stephens (lightweight)
Antonio Carlos Jr vs Delan Monte
Natan Schulte vs Oliver Aubin-Mercier (lightweight)
Emiliano Sordi vs Cory Hendrcks (light-heavyweight)
Alexander Martinez vs Stevie Ray (lightweight)
Marthin Hamlet vs Teodoras Aukstuolis (light-heavyweight)
Omari Akhmedov vs Viktor Pesta (light-heavyweight)
Robert Wilkinson vs Bruce Souto (light-heavyweight)
Simeon Powell vs Clinton Williams (light-heavyweight)
PFL format
The PFL format sees fighters go to battle across a regular season format culminating in play-offs and a final championship night across six different weight classes.
MORE : Simeon Powell seeking Mike Tyson’s seal of knockout approval as he chases MMA glory in PFL Challenger Series
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
