PFL Challenger Series: Featherweight roster announced for March 11 event

The fighters have been revealed for a March 11 PFL Challenger Series event, and they’ll come from the featherweight division.

PFL’s eight-week series of prospects-based events will air on Fubo Sports Network from Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. The debut event takes place on Feb. 18 and features eight light heavyweight prospects aiming for a PFL contract. The Feb. 25 event features welterweights. And now 145-pounders have their date booked on the calendar.

Exact matchups are not yet announced, but the list of fighters who will be on the card is set.

“Featherweights have a blend of power and speed that make it one of the most entertaining divisions in MMA,” PFL president Ray Sefo stated. “We have a talented roster of up-and-coming fighters looking to prove themselves and I’m looking forward to them facing off in Orlando.”

Reinaldo Ekson (17-5), a Pitbull Brothers product from Brazil, is a 32-year-old who won EFC’s 145-pound title in South Africa in June 2021 with a first-round submission of Egeu Kabesa. He defended the belt with a second-round tapout of August Kayambala this past December.

Edwin Cooper Jr. (5-1) is a former University of Iowa wrestling standout who trains at the esteemed JacksonWink MMA in Albuquerque, N.M. His past four fights have been under the LFA banner, where he’s won three straight.

The featherweights on the card also include Aaron Blackie (8-2), an Australian grappling standout who will be making his U.S. debut; Scottie Stockman (3-1), a wrestler who trains at Roufusport in Milwaukee; South Korea’s Do Gyeom Lee (8-4); and Americans Brahyan Zurcher (2-0), Josh Blyden (9-2) and Mike Barnett (11-3).