The PFL’s second season kicks off May 9, with four of five Season 1 champions returning to defend their belts.
The roster of PFL titleholders includes featherweight champ Lance Palmer, lightweight champ Natan Schulte, welterweight champ Magomed Magomedkerimov, and heavyweight champ Philipe Lins.
Fresh off a new broadcast deal that will see all events broadcast on ESPN 2 or ESPN+, the PFL is welcoming back several veterans from its inaugural season, as well, including welterweight Ray Cooper III, Rashid Magomedov, Steven Siler, and Vinny Magalhaes.
A women’s lightweight tournament is also slated to be announced later this week with Olympic gold medalist judoka Kayla Harrison to participate.
The promotion’s format remains the same, with 16 fighters across five weight divisions competing in a regular season for a spot in a playoff tournament where the winner takes the belt and a $1 million prize. Points are earned in regular season fights with the top eight competitors advancing to the playoffs.
Two of the champions from Season 1 will not be defending their belts. Light heavyweight champ Sean O’Connell retired from competition after stopping Magalhaes to win the tournament, and middleweight champ Louis Taylor is headed down to welterweight division, according to ESPN.com.
For more on the PFL’s upcoming schedule, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
