2021 PFL 4 predictions: Is anyone picking against Claressa Shields?

	Shields vs. Elkin	Martinez vs. Pettis	Jenkins vs. Moffett	Diamond vs. Loughnane
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2021: 71-50 (58.7%)	Shields (73%)	Pettis (64%)	Jenkins (82%)	Loughnane (67%)
Nolan King @mma_kings 2021: 72-49 (59.5%)	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2021: 72-49 (59.5%)	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Diamond
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2021: 71-50 (58.7%)	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2021: 70-51 (57.9%) 2014 Champion	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2021: 70-51 (57.9%)	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2021: 70-51 (57.9%) 2017 Champion	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2021: 70-51 (57.9%)	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2021: 69-52 (57%) 2018 Champion	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2021: 67-54 (55.4%)	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2021: 67-54 (55.4%) 2020 Champion	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2021: 66-55 (54.5%)	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2021: 65-56 (53.7%)	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
Matthew Wells @@MrMWells 2021: 0-0 (40%)	Shields	Pettis	Jenkins	Loughnane
BetMGM Betting Favorites	Shields -275	Pettis -250	Jenkins -275	Loughnane -275

(Editor’s note: Shortly before this post published, Anthony Pettis withdrew from PFL 4.)

The PFL is back this week featherweights and lightweights on the lineup – and the MMA debut of a boxing superstar.

2021 PFL 4 takes place Thursday at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, women’s boxing champion and sensation Claressa Shields (0-0) makes her highly anticipated MMA debut at lightweight against Brittney Elkin (3-6). Shields is the betting favorite at -275 at BetMGM, and she’s one of three unanimous picks from our 13 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

In the co-feature, former UFC and WEC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis (24-11) will try to rebound from a crucial loss in his first PFL fight when he takes on Alex Martinez (8-0) in the lightweight regular season. Pettis is a -250 betting favorite and also a unanimous pick from our staff members.

Also on the main card, Bubba Jenkins (15-4) is our third unanimous pick in his featherweight regular season fight against Bobby Moffett (13-5). Jenkins is a -275 favorite in the fight.

And to open the main card, Tyler Diamond (12-1) is the only fighter keeping us from a fully unanimous main card. He’s a +225 underdog against Brendan Loughnane (20-3) in their featherweight fight. But it’s still Loughnane with a near-unanimous rout at 12-1 in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Shields (73 percent), Pettis (64 percent), Jenkins (82 percent) and Loughnane (67 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.