We have a home for the 2021 PFL Regular
Season! @TheOceanAC
will host all 6 regular-season events in a bubble environment.— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague)
March 4, 2021
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the PFL live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. The Professional Fighters League has its home for
its upcoming tournament season. Via press release from the organization on Thursday, each of the
six fight cards of the PFL regular season will be held at the Ocean
Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The league has erected a
“state-of-the-art” bubble environment, which will require fighters
to check in 17 days before their bouts to quarantine. The PFL will
be running heightened COVID-19 protocols in order to preserve all
of the tournament matchups. It is unclear how the promotion will
handle short-notice replacement fights in the event of a fighter’s
withdrawal, or if any competitor falls ill. No fans will be allowed
to attend any of these events.
PFL CEO Peter Murray discussed the decision in the release,
stating, “Our six regular season events will be staged at the
world-class Ocean Casino Resort where we’ve held successful events
in the past. The property has all of the necessary amenities to
support our athletes in a bubble environment to ensure their safety
as it relates to COVID-19.”
Within the bubble, the fighters will have access to training rooms
and will be provided with varying meals while they reside inside
the bubble. The PFL is partnering with equipment provider Fuji, who
will be stocking the training center, training rooms and warm-up
areas with whatever fighters need to prepare. All the while,
fighters will be subjected to daily COVID-19 tests, must wear their
masks when around others and will not be allowed to come in close
proximity to one another.
The 2021 PFL season will commence on April 23, where it will begin
a three-week stretch of events that include shows on April 29 and
May 6 for the first leg of the regular season. The first fight card
will consist of featherweights and lightweights, while the April 29
show will play host to the welterweight division and light
heavyweight. The May 6 card will contain heavyweights and women’s
lightweight participants. The second half of the season takes place
on June 10, 17 and 25, which will determine the seeding for the
fall playoffs. All events are slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30
p.m. PT on the ESPN+ prelims, with main cards kicking off on ESPN2
at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
