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Marc RaimondiESPN
The next step for the PFL lightweights and featherweights is set.
PFL 5 will be headlined by a lightweight bout between Chris Wade and Akhmed Aliev, the promotion will announce Friday. The card is scheduled for July 25 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In the co-headliner, PFL 2018 featherweight champion Lance Palmer takes on Luis Rafael Laurentino, who is coming off a highlight-reel knockout in his debut last month.
Wade (15-5) beat Nate Andrews by unanimous decision on May 23, earning three points. The 31-year-old Long Island native has won four out of six, including a victory in his last UFC fight in 2017. Aliev (18-4) defeated Carlao Silva via first-round TKO to notch six points. The 29-year-old Russian has won eight in a row.
Palmer (18-3) has three points coming out of his first fight, a unanimous decision victory over Alex Gilpin. Laurentino earned six points by knocking out Jeremy Kennedy in the first round.
Also on the lightweight side, UFC veteran Rashid Magomedov meets Andrews on the main card. Magomedov (23-3-1) has three points from beating Loik Radzhabov in his first fight of the season. Andrews (15-2) is looking for his first points of the season.
Defending PFL lightweight champion Natan Schulte faces UFC veteran Ramsey Nijem on the prelim card.
Damon Jackson, who was knocked out by Movlid Khaibulaev on May 23, is out of the PFL season due to a 90-day medical suspension. His replacement and a replacement for Alexandre Bezerra, who was hospitalized trying to make weight for his first fight, are to be determined. Gadzhi Rabadanov and Gilpin are still waiting on opponents for PFL 5.
Here’s the full card, with league points:
Main card (ESPN2):
Prelims (ESPN+):