The PFL’s return next month, and debut at Bellator’s former East Coast home base, has seen a pair of changes at heavyweight.
Daniel James (15-7-1) is out of his fight against Tyrell Fortune (13-2) on the main card. Fortune now will take on Marcelo Golm (10-5). And Marcelo Nunes (11-2) is out of his bout against Oleg Popov (17-1). Popov now will take on replacement Davion Franklin (6-2).
A Bellator official informed MMA Junkie of the new matchups Monday. The start of the PFL’s second half of the regular season takes place June 13 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (ESPN/ESPN+), and features heavyweights and women’s flyweights who will attempt to qualify for the four-person postseason.
Fortune was supposed to fight Golm this past November at UFC 301 in Chicago, but Fortune became sick on fight day after the event started and the bout was scrapped. Fortune also was supposed to fight James to open the regular season, but had to withdraw. Consequently, he has no points in the standings, which are led by Valentin Moldavsky with 6 points. Golm lost his opening bout of the regular season.
Popov has 5 points after a second-round stoppage in his first fight of the season. Franklin will be fighting for the first time in the regular season.
With the changes, the PFL Week 4 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET)
- Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell
- Dakota Ditcheva vs. Chelsea Hackett
- Tyrell Fortune vs. Marcelo Golm
- Liz Carmouche vs. Kana Watanabe
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)
- Sergey Bilostennyi vs. Denis Goltsov
- Jena Bishop vs. Taila Santos
- Davion Franklin vs. Oleg Popov
- Ilara Joanne vs. Shanna Young
- Danilo Marques vs. Gokhan Saricam
- Lisa Mauldin vs. Juliana Velasquez
- Sumiko Inaba vs. Saray Orozco
- Melissa Balic vs. Kristina Katsikis
