Two-time PFL lightweight champion Natan Schulte hopes to get the opportunity to add a marquee name to his resume.
Schulte (20-3), who’s won back-to-back season championships with the PFL, will look to make it three straight when he enters the 2021 season as reigning champion. He’ll be taking on some new faces, as well, starting with Marcin Held in the co-main event of PFL 2021, Week 1, which takes place Friday at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.
But there’s one particular name with whom Schulte is most excited to cross paths: former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (24-10), who meets Clay Collard on the night’s headliner.
“It’s a great pleasure to be surrounded by huge names in the industry,” Schulte told MMA Junkie. “On top of that, being able to have Pettis on my resume as a win, it’s going to be amazing.”
First, Schulte has to get past leglock specialist Held, who’s won his past four in a row, including victories over current UFC lightweight Nasrat Haqparast and “The Ultimate Fighter 14” winner Diego Brandao. Schulte acknowledges the test in front of him but is confident he can get past Held.
“Marcin Held is a tough opponent and has great jiu-jitsu,” Schulte said. “I see myself winning the fight before the end of the third round.”
Having already twice won the PFL title and the accompanying $1 million prize, what continues to motivate Schulte? The Brazilian grappling ace insists it’s not the money.
“What motivates me is fighting; it’s not the money,” Schulte said. “I’d be lying if I said the money doesn’t fuel me up. Sure the money is great, but my entire career I always dreamed of sustaining myself with fighting. Today I am able to live my dream, to do what I love, which is to fight. I did this for over 10 years, and I wasn’t getting paid much at all. If money was the motivation, I would have stopped competing by now.”
PFL 2021, Week 1 airs live on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.
Natan Schulte excited at prospect of having Anthony Pettis on his resume: ‘It’s going to be amazing’