[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLus7_iYH2k&w=560&h=315]
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 is making game
changing alterations to its 2021 season. The tournament-based league released a video on Thursday narrated
by newly announced Athlete Advisory Board member Ray Lewis. In
the video, it showed off several high-profile acquisitions
including Anthony
Pettis and Rory
MacDonald, and formally stated when its first event – April 23
is the date – will take place. All of these events will be held on
ESPN2, with prelims and additional coverage on ESPN+. The PFL’s
campaign this year is called “More Than A Fight,” and more videos
and packages will follow.
That was not the only bit of information to come from the PFL on
Thursday, however, as broadcast partner
ESPN made public a few significant differences to the 2021
season. In an effort to stifle the issues with weight cutting, as
multiple combatants came in over their divisional limits in 2019,
the PFL is cracking down on weight offenders.
The previous rule in place was that fighters that missed weight
could not earn playoff points, even if they won their bouts. This
prevented Ronny
Markes and Efrain
Escudero from winning points when they finished Sigi
Pesaleli and Jason High,
respectively. The penalty will be even stiffer now, as a single
playoff point will be deducted should a fighter miss weight. This
point removal will add to the measure where heavy fighters cannot
earn points in the regular season. The league did not address how
it would handle fighters that miss weight in the playoffs.
Additionally, a substantial change is coming to the playoff system
itself. Past seasons forced fighters to compete twice in one night
to qualify for the finals, with a two-round quarterfinal and a
three-round semifinal that evening. The two-round bouts produced
over a dozen draws the last two years, and they will be removed
altogether. Instead, the PFL will cut down on the number of playoff
participants, where only four fighters per division will qualify to
compete for the $1 million prize. This was already set for the
women’s lightweight division due to the smaller number of fighters
on its roster, and it will be the same for all male divisions going
forward.
Like the 2019 season, the PFL will run 10 events this year. Six
previously announced regular season events will begin on April 23
and carry on through May, before fighters receive a break and
resume the season on June 10. Three unannounced events will contain
the playoffs, which will hold semifinal bouts as there will no
longer be quarterfinals. One final card on New Year’s Eve will
decide the six million-dollar victors.
