One of PFL’s biggest acquisitions has a date and opponent for his debut.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum is set to headline PFL 2021, Week 3 against Renan Ferreira 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 Kayla Harrison returns to action in the co-main event as the two-time Olympic gold medalist takes on Mariana Morais.
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.
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
PFL 2021, Week 3: Fabricio Werdum’s debut headlines; Kayla Harrison featured in co-main
