The league announced Thursday via press release that its six upcoming regular season events will take place at a “bubble environment” set up at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The PFL’s first event of 2021 is scheduled for April 23 and will be headlined by a lightweight bout between Anthony Pettis and Clay Collard.
Also announced were the league’s COVID-19 safety protocols, which include a 17-day quarantine period for fighters prior to competition.
The release states, “The league will support its athletes with full access to training facilities and the PFL cage, as well as a variety of meal options throughout the duration of their time in Atlantic City. Athletes will be reporting to the bubble 17 days prior to their scheduled fights, allowing for initial quarantine and additional measures to ensure full participation.”
The PFL has previously held events at Ocean Casino Resort in its 2018 and 2019 seasons. There will be no fans in attendance during the 2021 regular season. No official announcement has been made on a date or location for the PFL playoffs and championship events.
The 2021 PFL season airs on ESPN+ and ESPN2, with events scheduled for April 23, April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17, and June 25.
“PFL is excited to be back on ESPN to showcase our MMA 2.0 product – featuring returning champions, new star signings and next generation SmartCage technology innovation,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said in the release. “Our six regular season events will be staged at the world-class Ocean Casino Resort where we’ve held successful events in the past. The property has all of the necessary amenities to support our athletes in a bubble environment to ensure their safety as it relates to COVID-19.”
A headliner has already been announced for the April 29 event as former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald fights David Michaud. Former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum is also set to compete in the 2021 PFL season.
The top fighters from the PFL regular season will move on to compete in the playoffs and then the championship, where six divisional champions will be crowned and awarded with a $1,000,000 prize.
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