PFL Announces Welterweight, Light Heavyweight Rosters for 2021

Ray Cooper III PFL
Ray Cooper III Credit: Ryan Loco/PFL

The Professional Fighters League has revealed the roster for two more weight classes for its upcoming 2021 season. On Thursday, PFL officials revealed via press release the bulk of their welterweight and light heavyweight divisions, including, of course, key free agent signing Rory MacDonald.

Joining MacDonald in the PFL’s welterweight division will be returning 170lb champ Ray Cooper III, who came out on top in the league’s 2019 season. 2018 champ Magomed Magomedkerimov is also back. Seven names in total were announced Thursday:

Nikolai Aleksakhin
Ray Cooper III
Rory MacDonald
Magomed Magomedkerimov
David Michaud
Sadibou Sy
Joao Zeferino

Three roster spots remain in the weight class.

Credit: PFL

Light heavyweight, meanwhile, sees 2019 205lb king Emiliano Sordi return. Joining him will be former Bellator top prospect Jordan Young, plus former UFC fighters Tom Lawlor and Chris Camozzi.

The full list of announced light heavyweights is as follows:

Chris Camozzi
Cezar Ferreira
Marthin Hamlet
Jordan Johnson
Tom Lawlor
Smealinho Rama
Emiliano Sordi
Dan Spohn
Jordan Young

Credit: PFL

“The welterweight division might be the deepest weight class in the PFL,” said PFL President of Fighter Operations, Ray Sefo, in Thursday’s press release. “With the addition of Rory to our two returning champions, there are no easy fights. The light heavyweights are stacked as well with Sordi and all the new top talent we’ve added. April 29 is going to be a fun night of fights.”

The Professional Fighters League’s 2021 season kicks off in April, starting on April 23 on ESPN+ and ESPN2. The remaining regular season events go down April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17, and June 25.