2021 PFL 6 lineup set: 2019 champ Ali Isaev out, but Pettis and Palmer return
One of the PFL’s 2019 champions won’t be a repeat winner in 2021.
Ali Isaev (9-0), who won the 2019 heavyweight season, was not medically cleared to fight and is off next week’s 2021 PFL 6 card, the promotion announced Thursday. Isaev didn’t fight at PFL 3 in May when he was ruled out the week of the event.
Isaev was set to take on Renan Ferreira (6-2). Instead, Ferreira now will take on alternate Stuart Austin (15-6) on the preliminary card. Ferreira currently sits at No. 4 in the heavyweight standings with 1 point after a no contest in May. Austin is a heavyweight alternate who will be fighting for the first time this season.
In addition, with Hatef Moeil (10-4) off the card, Ante Delija (17-4) has a new opponent in heavyweight alternate Chandler Cole (8-2). And Klidson Abreu (15-4) and Jamelle Jones (11-6) will fight each other as heavyweight alternates.
PFL 6 also sees the rebooking of Anthony Pettis (24-11) against Raush Manfio (12-3) in the lightweight season. Pettis was supposed to fight Alex Martinez at PFL 4, but was forced out with an illness. Pettis lost his first fight after coming to the PFL as a free agent from the UFC, meaning the former UFC and WEC lightweight champion likely needs an early finish against Manfio to make the four-man playoffs.
And two-time featherweight champ Lance Palmer (22-4) will be on the card, as well, rebooked from a week ago. Now he takes on Movlid Khaybulaev (16-0-1) in a crucial fight on the main card. Palmer lost to Bubba Jenkins in his first fight, leaving him with 0 points in the standings. But like Pettis, an early stoppage would give him a shot at the playoffs and keep him in line to challenge for a third straight title.
2021 PFL 6 takes place June 25 at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.
With the changes, the 2021 PFL 6 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (ESPN2, 10 p.m. ET)
- Kayla Harrison vs. Cindy Dandois
- Raush Manfio vs. Anthony Pettis
- Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Lance Palmer
- Denis Goltsov vs. Brandon Sayles
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
- Bruno Cappelozza vs. Muhammed DeReese
- Helena Kolesnyk vs. Larissa Pacheco
- Chandler Cole vs. Ante Delija
- Genah Fabian vs. Julija Pajic
- Stuart Austin vs. Renan Ferreira
- Taylor Guardado vs. Laura Sanchez
- Mariana Morais vs. Kaitlin Young
- Klidson Abreu vs. Jamelle Jones