PFL 2 (2021)

Last updated
PFL 2
ProfessionalFighterLeague2-2021.png
The poster for PFL 2
Information
Promotion Professional Fighters League
DateApril 29, 2021 (2021-April-29)
Venue Ocean Casino Resort
City Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Estimated viewers136,000 [1]
Event chronology
PFL 1 PFL 2 PFL 3

The PFL 2 mixed martial arts event for the 2021 season of the Professional Fighters League was held on April 29, 2021. This was the second regular season event of the tournament and included fights in the Welterweight and Light heavyweight divisions. [2]

Contents

Background

The event was to be headlined by a welterweight clash between the former UFC title contender and Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald and the former UFC veteran David Michaud. [3] On April 8, Michaud announced that he had to pull out of the bout due to medicals discovering a congenital heart condition, congenital bicuspid aortic valve with dilated aortic root, which put him at risk of aortic dissection. His future in MMA is also uncertain. [4] He was replaced for the season by Curtis Millender. [5]

In the co-main event, the 2019 PFL Welterweight tournament winner Ray Cooper III is scheduled to fight Jason Monet. [6]

The remaining two fights of the main card are scheduled in the light heavyweight division: Jordan Johnson will fight Tom Lawlor, and 2019 PFL Light Heavyweight tournament winner Emiliano Sordi will fight former long time UFC fighter Chris Camozzi. [7]

Jordan Johnson was set to fight Tom Lawlor at this event. However, in March, it was announced that Johnson pulled out and was replaced by Antônio Carlos Júnior. [8] Later, PFL announced that Antônio Carlos Júnior will replace Johnson for the whole season. [9]

On March 25, it was announced that Magomed Magomedkerimov and Alexey Kunchenko pulled out of their bouts due to undisclosed reasons. Due to this, Gleison Tibau and João Zeferino were scheduled to face each other. [10]

At weigh-ins, Vinny Magalhães missed weight and had to be taken to the hospital due to complications of his weight cut, and he was replaced by Askar Mozharov. [11] The next day it was announced that Mozharov pulled out for medical reasons so Jordan Young will receive a walkover win and 3 points. [12]

Results

Main Card (ESPN 2)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
Welterweight Rory MacDonald def. Curtis Millender Submission (rear naked choke)13:38
Welterweight Ray Cooper III def.Jason PonetSubmission (arm-triangle choke)11:23
WelterweightJoão Zeferinodef. Gleison Tibau Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00
Light HeavyweightEmiliano Sordidef. Chris Camozzi Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 28-27)35:00
Preliminary card (ESPN+)
Light Heavyweight Antônio Carlos Júnior def. Tom Lawlor Submission (guillotine choke)14:43
Light Heavyweight Cezar Ferreira def.Nick RoehrickKO (punches)10:37
WelterweightSadibou Syvs.Nikolay AleksakhinNo Contest (accidental eye poke)21:56
Light HeavyweightMarthin Hamletdef. Dan Spohn Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke)20:52

    Standings After Event

    The PFL points system is based on results of the match. The winner of a fight receives 3 points. If the fight ends in a draw, both fighters will receive 1 point. The bonus for winning a fight in the first, second, or third round is 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point respectively. The bonus for winning in the third round requires a fight be stopped before 4:59 of the third round. No bonus point will be awarded if a fighter wins via decision. For example, if a fighter wins a fight in the first round, then the fighter will receive 6 total points. A decision win will result in three total points. If a fighter misses weight, the opponent (should they comply with weight limits) will receive 3 points due to a walkover victory, regardless of winning or losing the bout, with the fighter who missed weight being deducted 1 standings point; if the non-offending fighter subsequently wins with a stoppage, all bonus points will be awarded. A fighter who was unable to compete for any reason, will receive a 1-point penalty (-1 point in the standings). The fighters who made weight will not receive a walkover, but will earn points and contracted purse amounts based on their performance in the altered matchup. [13]

    Light heavyweight

    FighterWinsDrawsLosses1st2nd3rdTotal
    Points [14]
    Antônio Carlos Júnior 1001006
    Cezar Ferreira 1001006
    Marthin Hamlet1000105
    Emiliano Sordi1000003
    Jordan Young1000003
    Chris Camozzi 0010000
    Tom Lawlor 0010000
    Nick Roehrick0010000
    Dan Spohn 0010000
    Vinny Magalhães 000000-1

    Welterweight

    FighterWinsDrawsLosses1st2nd3rdTotal
    Points [15]
    Ray Cooper III 1001006
    Rory MacDonald 1001006
    João Zeferino1000003
    Nikolay Aleksakhin0000001
    Sadibou Sy0000001
    Curtis Millender 0010000
    ason Ponet0010000
    Gleison Tibau 0010000
    Alexey Kunchenko 000000-1
    Magomed Magomedkerimov000000-1

    See also

    Related Research Articles

    Janigleison Herculano Alves, better known as Gleison Tibau is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. A professional since 1999, he has competed for the UFC, Professional Fighters League (PFL), DEEP, and Golden Boy Promotions.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Vinny Magalhães</span> Brazilian practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial artist

    Vinicius "Vinny" de Magalhães is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Light heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, he was a finalist in The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir and has fought five times within two stints with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Titan FC Light heavyweight Champion, M-1 Global Light heavyweight Champion and is also a former jiu-jitsu no-gi world champion and ADCC champion. Magalhães was inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame in 2024.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Lawlor</span> American mixed martial arts fighter

    Thomas Joseph Lawlor is an American professional wrestler, retired mixed martial artist and podcast host. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was the inaugural and longest reigning NJPW Strong Openweight Champion, and Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he is a former one-time MLW World Tag Team Champion, one-time MLW World Heavyweight Champion and the winner of the first-ever Battle Riot in 2018 and the 2020 Opera Cup tournament.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Rory MacDonald (fighter)</span> Canadian mixed martial artist (born 1989)

    Rory MacDonald is a Canadian former mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Prior to signing with the PFL, MacDonald competed for Bellator MMA, where he is a former Bellator Welterweight World Champion. Having been a professional competitor since 2005, MacDonald was a top contender in the UFC with an overall UFC record of 9–4, and challenged for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 189 in against then-champion Robbie Lawler. He is also a former King of the Cage Lightweight Champion.

    Christopher Allen Camozzi is an American professional Glory kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the Light heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2006, Camozzi has formerly competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, MFC, Shark Fights, HDNet Fights, and was also a contestant on Spike TV's 11th season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2010.

    Daniel Spohn is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, he has competed for the UFC, Bellator, and was a competitor on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn.

    Cezar Jesus Ferreira, better known in his home country Brazil as Cezar Mutante, is a mixed martial artist currently competing in the light heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Professional Fighters League. He was also the inaugural winner of Globo's The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Antônio Carlos Júnior</span> Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts practitioner

    Antônio Carlos Coelho de Figueiredo Barbosa Júnior, also known as Antônio Carlos Jr. and professionally by his ring name Cara de Sapato, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Light Heavyweight division and is currently signed to the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he became champion in 2021. Carlos Júnior is most known for his time spent fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he competed in the Light Heavyweight division in addition to Middleweight. A multiple time champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Júnior was World Cup Champion in 2006 and 2x World Champion in 2010. He is the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Heavyweight tournament and the 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion. In 2023, he was cast as contestant in the reality show Big Brother Brasil 23.

    David Michaud is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2009, he formerly competed for the Professional Fighters League, Legacy Fighting Alliance, the UFC and Titan FC.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Millender</span> American mixed martial artist

    Curtis Millender is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2013, Millender has formerly competed in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator MMA, Professional Fighters League (PFL), and Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Johnson (fighter)</span> American mixed martial arts fighter

    Jordan David Johnson is a retired American professional mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2014, he also competed for the Resurrection Fighting Alliance and Professional Fighters League.

    Apostolis "Smealinho" Rama is a Greek mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. He competed in the Professional Fighters League, where he was the promotion's inaugural Heavyweight Champion, and also competed in the MFC.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexey Kunchenko</span> Russian mixed martial arts fighter

    Alexey Andreevich Kunchenko is a Russian former mixed martial artist (MMA) who competed in the welterweight division. He is a former M-1 Global welterweight champion and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Professional Fighters League (PFL).

    This is a list of events and standings for the Professional Fighters League, a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States, for the 2021 season.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">PFL 5 (2021)</span> Professional Fighters League MMA event in 2021

    The PFL 5 mixed martial arts event for the 2021 season of the Professional Fighters League was held on June 17, 2021. This was the second regular season event of the tournament and included fights in the Welterweight and Light heavyweight divisions.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">PFL 7 (2021)</span> Professional Fighters League MMA event in 2021

    The PFL 7 mixed martial arts event for the 2021 season of the Professional Fighters League was held on August 13, 2021. This was the start of the playoffs for the Welterweight and Lightweight divisions. This event aired on ESPN2, with the prelims on ESPN+.

    Raynald "Ray" Cooper III is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2012, Cooper is most notable for his time in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he is a two-time Welterweight champion.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">PFL 1 (2022)</span> Professional Fighters League MMA event in 2022

    The PFL 1 mixed martial arts event for the 2022 season of the Professional Fighters League was held on April 20, 2022 at the Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas. This marked the first regular season event of the tournament and included fights in the Lightweight and Light Heavyweight divisions.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">PFL 3 (2022)</span> Professional Fighters League MMA event in 2023

    The PFL 3 mixed martial arts event for the 2022 season of the Professional Fighters League was held on May 6, 2022, at the Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas. This will be the third regular season event of the tournament and included fights in the Women's Lightweight and Welterweight divisions.

    Sadibou Sy is a Swedish mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League.

    References

    1. Martin, Damon (5 May 2021). "Ratings Report: UFC Vegas 25 still lands in top-10 despite move to ESPN2; PFL drops in return to Thursday night". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
    2. "Fight Card - 2021 PFL 2". PFL.
    3. Damon Martin (March 2, 2021). "Rory MacDonald faces David Michaud in PFL debut as welterweights, light heavyweights begin season on April 29". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
    4. Pettry, Jay. "Citing Heart Problems, David Michaud Withdraws From 2021 PFL Season". Sherdog. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
    5. "Curtis Millender steps in to fight Rory MacDonald at PFL 2021, Week 2 on April 29". MMA Junkie. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
    6. Martin, Damon (2 March 2021). "Rory MacDonald faces David Michaud in PFL debut as welterweights, light heavyweights begin season on April 29". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
    7. Head, Simon (2 March 2021). "PFL 2021, Week 2: Rory MacDonald set for debut as welterweight, light heavyweight seasons begin". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
    8. Martin, Damon (7 March 2021). "Antonio Carlos Junior signs with PFL for Season 3, meets fellow UFC vet Tom Lawlor". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
    9. PFL [@PFLMMA] (March 23, 2021). "ROSTER UPDATES: • Antonio Carlos Jr. replaces Jordan Johnson for the 2021 Season • Raush Manfio steps in for Olivier Aubin-Mercier at #PFL1 https://t.co/IxV9NTtoHQ" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 June 2021 via Twitter.
    10. Sherdog.com. "Gleison Tibau Meets Joao Zeferino at PFL 2 After Two Fighters Withdraw from Card". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
    11. Martin, Damon (2021-04-28). "Vinny Magalhaes out of PFL 2 after being taken to hospital, Askar Mozharov stepping in as replacement". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
    12. Lee, Alexander K. (2021-04-29). "Askar Mozharov vs. Jordan Young off of PFL 2 following Mozharov withdrawal". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
    13. "2021 Official Rules" (PDF).
    14. The four fighters with most points advance to the playoffs
    15. The four fighters with most points advance to the playoffs