Anthony Pettis vs. Clay Collard to headline PFL 2021 season opener

After a full 2020 season hiatus due to COVID-19, the PFL makes its long-awaited return with its first event of the year.

PFL 2021, Week 1 will see the first matchups at featherweight and lightweight, including the promotional debut of former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.

Pettis (24-10) will feature in the night’s main event against two-sport athlete Clay Collard (18-8), while the organization’s lightweight and featherweight champions from 2019, Natan Schulte and Lance Palmer, also are scheduled for action.

Brazilian grappling ace and two-time lightweight champ Schulte (20-3-1) will take on Polish mat specialist Marcin Held (26-7) in the co-main event, while two-time featherweight champ Palmer (22-3) will line up against former Brave CF featherweight champ – and former collegiate wrestling rival – Bubba Jenkins (14-4) on the main card.

The main card also will feature a featherweight bout between Movlid Khaybulaev (15-0-1) and undefeated promotional newcomer and former Titan FC featherweight champion Jason Soares (14-0).

PFL 1 takes place Friday, April 23 at a venue to be confirmed. The event will air on ESPN 2 following prelims on ESPN+. Further regular season events will follow on April 29, May 6, and June 10, 17, and 25.

The full PFL 1 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN 2)

• Anthony Pettis vs. Clay Collard
• Marcin Held vs. Natan Schulte
• Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Jason Soares
• Bubba Jenkins vs. Lance Palmer

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

• Johnny Case vs. Loik Radzhabov
• Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Joilton Lutterbach
• Akhmed Aliev vs. Mikhail Odintsov
• Tyler Diamond vs. Jo Sungbin
• Brendan Loughnane vs. Sheymon Moraes