Kayla Harrison’s Next Opponent Set for Dec. 31st PFL

Busy MMA August Fights Left: PFL, Bellator, & UFC

August 16th - PFL brings another installment of it's pre-season/season MMA format with player vying to reach the playoffs. Much like a bracketed tournament, I'll bite for the added flair of how guys win fights can figure into them making it past the alotted fights.

Next Thursday we've got Kayla Harrison's 2nd MMA fight on tap, Jake Shields, Joao Zeferino, John Howard and Yuri Villefort all on a cable TV channel. Having actually rolled with Jake and Zeferino in the blue basement at Renzo's, it's always awesome seeing them fight. True professionals, man. They come in early for Danaher's class and put in grappling work aside from fight specific stuff they're doing in camp et cetera. Tonon is the same. Neiman Gracie. Professionals.

August 17th - Next Friday night we get a Bellator card with Caldwell defending his newly crowned title, and James Gallagher in another builder fight to bring him along, look impressive, and build the hype train. I'll bite. I love seeing the grooming process come along for a prospect.

Not a bad weekend to hold us over until a new spate of UFC cards come along, the first of which brings us Gaethje vs Vick on Saturday, August 25th, and the remainder of the card featuring the likes of Fili vs Michael Johnson, Antonio Braga Neto, Eryk Anders, Yahya, Alcantara, Moraga, et al.

August will wrap up nicely for a month of combat sports as it featured the unthinkable upset of Mighty Mouse and the Dillashaw/Garbrandt rematch. 

PFL (used to be WSOF) Announces Format & Dates

Finally some specifics about their big plan for the coming season. I guess it's another run at the IFL. Old school sports know it alls have the league idea ingrained in their minds. I don't know that I agree or disagree regardless, but Bellator has largely done away with it's tournament format minus the occasional bracket to determine a new champ, ala the HW tourney they're doing.

Some highlights included a touted $10 million prize pool, but we'll see how that's broken down and actually paid out to the 72 athletes mentioned. They're staking claim to Thursday nights for their live events, running from June to August, with a playoff season, and a final championship. They've hired a CEO with a ton of experience, but we'll see if it goes the way of the IFL. Fingers crossed.