Two of the PFL’s most exciting strikers will take centre stage as the promotion gets set to kick off its 2022 season in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday night.
Lightweight and light heavyweights will feature at PFL 1, with two-sport star “Cassius” Clay Collard set to face former UFC featherweight contender Jeremy Stephens in an explosive main event at the Esports Stadium.
Collard starts his season with a real chip on his shoulder after being edged out on the scorecards by eventual lightweight season winner Raush Manfio in the semi-finals last year. Collard firmy believes he won that fight, and plans to hit the ground running with victory over former UFC stalwart Stephens, who is set to make his PFL debut.
“Lil’ Heathen” is moving up a weight class, where the lack of a weight cut will, he hopes, make him an even more explosive threat as he targets the lightweight championship and the $1 million prize.
Lightweight champion Manfio is also set for action, and he’ll make his first appearance in the co-main event against South African contender Don Madge.
The light heavyweight champion, Brazil’s Antonio Carlos Junior – aka “Shoeface” – is also on the card, and will face off against fellow countryman Delan Monte, while former two-time lightweight champion Natan Schulte gets his 2022 campaign underway against Canadian UFC veteran Olivier Aubin-Mercier.
Scottish former UFC lightweight Stevie Ray is also set for his PFL debut against Paraguay’s Alex Martinez.
PFL 1: Fight Card
MAIN CARD
- Clay Collard vs. Jeremy Stephens
- Raush Manfio vs. Don Madge
- Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Delan Monte
- Natan Schulte vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Emiliano Sordi vs. Cory Hendricks
- Alex Martinez vs. Stevie Ray
- Marthin Hamlet vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis
- Omari Akhmedov vs. Viktor Pesta
- Rob Wilkinson vs. Bruce Souto
- Simeon Powell vs. Clinton Williams
