The Professional Fighters League unveiled its first set of competitors for the upcoming season on Tuesday. The mixed marital arts promotion, which last week announced every card will be broadcast on either ESPN 2 or ESPN+, begins its second year on May 9.
Returning to the PFL will be featherweight champion Lance Palmer, lightweight champion Natan Schulte, welterweight champion Magomed Magomedkerimov and heavyweight champion Philipe Lins. Louis Taylor, who was PFL’s middleweight champion last season, plans to move down to welterweight in 2019.
Joining those titleholders are featherweight Steven Siler, lightweight Rashid Magomedov, welterweight Ray Cooper III and light heavyweight Vinny Magalhaes. All were runners-up last season.
The promotion plans to name those competing in the women’s lightweight tournament, led by former Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, on Friday.
The PFL is different from other organizations such as the UFC, Bellator and ONE Championship in that it is a full season instead of individual fights. Competitors gain points for wins and bonus points for early finishes, providing an incentive to knock out or submit opponents rather than let it go to a decision. Those with the most points at the end of the regular season move on to the playoffs.
The winner of each division earns $1 million.