HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — After a full season of PFL fights in six divisions, and a playoff win for each fighter remaining, 12 fighters will walk into the cage Wednesday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, with a chance to be a champion. Only six will end the night with a PFL gold title belt and a $1 million first-place payout.
Three fighters on the PFL World Championship (Live on ESPN2/ESPN+) card have been there before. Kayla Harrison has swept through the majority of two consecutive PFL seasons in the women’s lightweight division, and she has a chance to cap her second straight campaign as a PFL champion. The only person standing in her way is Taylor Guardado.
Magomed Magomedkerimov won the inaugural PFL welterweight champion in 2018, defeating Ray Cooper III in the finals. In 2019, with Magomedkerimov forced out midway through the playoffs, Cooper won that title. The long-awaited rematch will determine the PFL’s welterweight king in 2021.
In non-title action, ESPN’s No. 2 women’s pound-for-pound boxer Claressa Shields fights for the second time in the world of MMA, taking on Abigail Montes in a 155-pound showcase fight.
Mike Coppinger is in attendance, and he and Jeff Wagenheim will cover the action live. Follow along throughout the night for instant updates and analysis.
Fight in progress:
PFL welterweight championship: No. 3 Ray Cooper III vs. No. 4 Magomed Magomedkerimov
Women’s lightweight showcase: Abigail Montes def. Claressa Shields by split decision
Shields suffered the first defeat of her professional fighting career Wednesday, as a fast start wasn’t enough to make up for Montes’ takedowns and ground control in Rounds 2 and 3.
In her second MMA fight, Shields was outpointed by Abigail Montes via split decision. One judge scored the fight for Shields, 29-28, while the other two judges scored it for Montes, 29-28.
PFL heavyweight championship: No. 1 Bruno Cappelozza def. No. 3 Ante Delija by unanimous decision
In a bloody battle for…
Source : espn
