PFL 7 (2021)

Last updated
PFL 7
ProfessionalFighterLeague72021.jpg
The poster for PFL 7
Promotion Professional Fighters League
DateAugust 13, 2021 (2021-08-13)
Venue Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
City Hollywood, Florida, United States
Event chronology
PFL 6 PFL 7 PFL 8

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+. [1]

Contents

Background

Rory MacDonald and Ray Cooper III headlined the first PFL playoff card, with the Welterweight and Lightweight playoffs holding their semifinal bouts. MacDonald made his third appearance with PFL cage, going 1-1 in the regular season, with his most recent outing being a highly controversial decision loss to Gleison Tibau. He took on the former PFL champion Cooper, who was 2-0 during the regular season in 2021. [2]

The Lightweight bracket saw UFC and boxing veteran Clay Collard take on Raush Manfio while Loik Radzhabov and Alexander Martinez fought in the other lightweight semifinal. [3]

Featured additions included a lightweight contest include two-time PFL champion Natan Schulte taking on 12-time UFC veteran Olivier Aubin-Mercier, as well as planned bout with Swedish PFL vet Sadibou Sy facing 28-time UFC veteran Gleison Tibau. [2] [3]

On August 4, it was announced that João Zeferino was out of his Semi-Final match-up against Magomed Magomedkerimov, with #5 ranked Sadibou Sy taking his place. Curtis Millender (replacing Sy) was then scheduled to face Gleison Tibau. Natan Schulte was also announced to have been scratched, with Olivier Aubin-Mercier now fighting Darrell Horcher. Lastly, Nikolay Aleksakhin was removed from his bout against Brett Cooper, with Cooper now facing Tyler Hill. [4] On August 12, Millender was announced to have pulled out of the bout against Tibau, so Tibau instead faced Micah Terrill, while Magomed Umalatov faced Leandro Silva. [5]

At weigh-ins, Darrell Horcher and Leandro Silva weighed in at 159.25 and 172.5 pounds, missing weight by 3.25 and 1.5 pounds respectively. The bouts proceeded at catchweight and they were fined 20% of their purses, which went to their opponents Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Magomed Umalatov respectively. [6]

Results

Main Card (ESPN 2)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
Welterweight Ray Cooper III def. Rory MacDonald Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00
Welterweight Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Sadibou Sy Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00
Lightweight Raush Manfio def. Clay Collard Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00
LightweightLoik Radzhabovdef.Alexander MartinezDecision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)35:00
Preliminary card (ESPN+)
Welterweight Gleison Tibau def.Micah TerrillTechnical Submission (arm-triangle choke)12:18
Catchweight (159.25 lb) Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Darrell Horcher Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 30-26, 29-27)35:00
Welterweight Brett Cooper def.Tyler HillKO (punches)12:32
Catchweight (172.5 lb) Magomed Umalatov def. Leandro Silva Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00
WelterweightMichael Lombardodef.Kyron BowenTKO (leg kicks)13:42
LightweightElvin Espinozadef.Hopeton StewartTechnical Submission (rear-naked choke)12:45

    2021 PFL Welterweight playoffs

    Semifinals Finals
          
    5 Flag of Sweden.svg Sadibou Sy* 3
    4 Flag of Russia.svg Magomed Magomedkerimov UD
    4 Flag of Russia.svg Magomed Magomedkerimov 3
    3 Flag of the United States.svg Ray Cooper III KO
    2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rory MacDonald 3
    3 Flag of the United States.svg Ray Cooper III UD
    Legend
    (SD)
     (Split Decision)
    (UD)
     (Unanimous Decision)
    (MD)
     (Majority Decision)
    SUB
     Submission
    (T)KO
     (Technical) Knock Out
    L
     Loss

    2021 PFL Lightweight playoffs

    Semifinals Finals
          
    1 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Loik RadzhabovUD
    4 Flag of Paraguay.svg Alexander Martinez 3
    1 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Loik Radzhabov 5
    3 Flag of Brazil.svg Raush Manfio UD
    2 Flag of the United States.svg Clay Collard 3
    3 Flag of Brazil.svg Raush Manfio UD
    Legend
    (SD)
     (Split Decision)
    (UD)
     (Unanimous Decision)
    (MD)
     (Majority Decision)
    SUB
     Submission
    (T)KO
     (Technical) Knock Out
    L
     Loss

    See also

    References

    1. Lee, Alexander K. (2021-06-08). "PFL 2021 playoff dates announced for August". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
    2. 1 2 "2021 PFL Playoffs 1 additions include Oliver Aubin-Mercier vs. Natan Schulte". MMA Junkie. 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
    3. 1 2 Newswire, MMA Fighting (2021-07-27). "PFL announces full card for first playoff event headlined by Rory MacDonald vs. Ray Cooper III on Aug. 13". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
    4. "2021 PFL Playoffs 1 sees four matchups altered, one fight added". MMA Junkie. 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
    5. "Updated Fight Card for Tomorrow Night's Prelims!". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
    6. Sherdog.com. "PFL Playoffs Weigh-in Results: Welterweight & Lightweight Semifinals Set, 2 Fighters Heavy". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-08-13.