Women’s Lightweight Lineup Revealed for PFL Challenger Series on March 4

Eight female lightweights will vie for a Professional Fighters League contract on the third edition of the PFL Challenger Series on March 4.

The promotion on Tuesday revealed the lineup for the card, which takes place at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., at 9 p.m. ET and airs on Fubo Sports Network. Perhaps the most interest note from the release states that “the third installment of the Challenger Series will feature women’s lightweight fighters angling for a chance to take a shot at one of MMA's baddest combat sports athletes, Kayla Harrison.”

Harrison, of course, completed her most recent PFL deal by winning the organization’s 2021 championship. She was recently seen in attendance at UFC 269 and both Harrison and Dana White admitted that both sides had been in talks. However, this would seem to indicate that the two-time Olympic gold medalist has re-signed with PFL.

Some of the most notable women’s lightweights who will compete on the Challenger Series are as follows: French Olympic wrestler Cynthia Vescan; Pan American champion wrestler Jackie Cataline; German judoka Julia Dorny; and City Kickboxing representative and former Harrison and Amanda Nunes sparring partner Michelle Montague.

The rest of the lineup for the card includes Czech Republic’s Martina Jindrova; Portugal’s Jacqueline Cavalcanti and Americans Jeslen Mishelle and Olivia Parker.

One of those eight fighters will either earn a PFL deal to compete in the 2022 season or a developmental contract with the organization.

“On March 4 the women take center stage in the PFL Challenger Series and we couldn’t be more excited,” said PFL president of fighter operations Ray Sefo. “We have seen the women in MMA take the leap into the main event. The PFL is a meritocracy and we cannot wait to further show the world what our women can do in the SmartCage.”