The PFL playoffs will commence on Aug. 13 with welterweights and lightweights highlighting the card including a featured main event where Rory MacDonald will take on Ray Cooper III in a highly anticipated showdown at 170 pounds.
The PFL events will shift from New Jersey to Florida for the playoffs with the cards taking place on Aug. 13, Aug. 19 and Aug. 27.
MacDonald will make his return on Aug. 13 as the former Bellator champion looks to bounce back from a very controversial loss in his last outing against fellow UFC veteran Gleison Tibau. Despite the unexpected outcome, MacDonald had still accumulated enough points from his first win in the PFL to punch his ticket to the playoffs.
He now faces off with Cooper, who is a former PFL champion from 2019 and a finalist from the first season in 2018. Cooper went 2-0 in his two fights during the 2021 season, although a weight miss in his second fight cost him from actually earning any more points, which is why he was slotted at No. 3 overall in the division.
The other welterweight matchup on Aug. 13 will feature Joao Zeferino against Magomed Magomedkerimov with the winner then moving onto the finals later this year.
The lightweights will also be featured on the Aug. 13 card with Clay Collard taking on Raush Manfio while Loik Radzhabov faces off with Alexander Martinez.
On Aug. 19, the PFL playoffs will air on ESPN with a featured card headlined by two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison as she seeks to remain undefeated in her career while taking on Genah Fabian in the opening round of the playoffs. Former PFL finalist Larissa Pacheco will also compete on the card against Taylor Guardado.
The upcoming PFL card on Aug. 19 will also feature the second MMA bout of multi-time and multi-weight class champion Claressa Shields, although she’s still awaiting word on an opponent.
Finally, the PFL playoffs will move onto Aug. 27 for the light heavyweights and featherweights including a matchup pitting Contender Series veteran Brendan Loughnane against Movlid Khaybulaev while Bubba Jenkins meets Chris Wade in the second bout at 145 pounds.
2019 PFL champion Emiliano Sordi will also compete on Aug. 27 as he takes on UFC veteran Antonio Carlos Junior in a bout at 205 pounds.
The date and location for the finals for the PFL will be announced later this year with each division winner taking home the $1 million grand prize.
Here’s the complete playoff lineup for the 2021 PFL season:
PFL Playoffs 1 Card (Aug. 13 on ESPN2)
Ray Cooper III vs. Rory MacDonald
Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Joao Zeferino
Clay Collard vs. Raush Manfio
Loik Radzhabov vs. Alexander Martinez
PFL Playoffs 2 Card (Aug. 19 on ESPN)
Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian
Bruno Cappelozza vs. Jamelle Jones
Larissa Pacheco vs. Taylor Guardado
PFL Playoffs 3 Card (Aug. 27 on ESPN2)
Brendan Loughnane vs. Movlid Khaybulaev
Chris Wade vs. Bubba Jenkins
Emiliano Sordi vs. Antonio Carlos Jr.
Cezar Ferreira vs. Marthin Hamlet