Two-time PFL lightweight champion Natan Schulte entered 2021 PFL 1 undefeated but left with his first promotional loss.
Having made stops in the UFC and Bellator in his career, Marcin Held (27-7) made his mark in his PFL debut Friday when he defeated Schulte (20-4-1) by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in the co-main event.
With the win, Held earned three points in the lightweight standings. The victory extended his winning streak to five, which also includes three wins in ACB and one in the UFC.
As for Schulte, the defeat is his first in PFL. Prior to Friday, Schulte’s last loss came against Islam Mamedov at the final World Series of Fighting (WSOF) event in March 2017. Entering Friday, Schulte had gone 9-0-1 in the 10 fights since.
Check out some highlights in the clips below:
immediately both fighters start trading shots to start the 1st round!#2021PFL1
🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN2
🌎 https://t.co/T11Ogp2ycR pic.twitter.com/VSFCkWPPV9— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 24, 2021
These two are going all out midway through the second round!#2021PFL1
🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN2
🌎 https://t.co/T11Ogp2ycR pic.twitter.com/F33wy0mrkk— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 24, 2021
Two grappling specialists put on a striking clinic all 3 rounds! We go to the judges…#2021PFL1
🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN2
🌎 https://t.co/T11Ogp2ycR pic.twitter.com/iSbKt7ibPr— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 24, 2021
WOW! BOTH 2x Champs suffer defeat on opening night! Marcin Held moves on with 3 points in the lightweight standings#2021PFL1
🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN2
🌎 https://t.co/T11Ogp2ycR pic.twitter.com/GwUsWj3oMV— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 24, 2021
Schulte wasn’t the only two-time PFL champion to lose his 2021 season debut Friday. Earlier on the card, two-time featherweight season winner Lance Palmer was upset by Bubba Jenkins.
2021 PFL 1 took place Friday at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card aired on ESPN2 after prelims on ESPN+.
The up-to-the-minute 2021 PFL 1 results include:
- Marcin Held def. Natan Schulte via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – earns 3 points in lightweight standings
- Movlid Khaybulaev def. Lazar Stojadinovic via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – earns 3 points in featherweight standings
- Bubba Jenkins def. Lance Palmer via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – earns 3 points in featherweight standings
- Brendan Loughnane def. Sheymon Moraes via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:55 – earns 6 points in featherweight standings
- Raush Manfio def. Joilton Lutterbach via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – earns 3 points in lightweight standings
- Akhmed Aliev def. Mikhail Odintsov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – earns 3 points in lightweight standings
- Chris Wade def. Anthony Dizy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – earns 3 points in featherweight standings
- Tyler Diamond def. Sung Bin Jo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – earns 3 points in featherweight standings
- Alex Martinez def. Loik Radzhabov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) – earns 3 points in lightweight standings
