Legendary Brazilian heavyweight Fabricio Werdum will make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira, PFL president Ray Sefo told ESPN.
A former UFC champion, Werdum (24-9-1) will headline a PFL event May 6 in Atlantic City. The card will also feature 2019 PFL champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison against Mariana Morais. The event, which marks the third event of PFL’s 2021 regular season, will air on ESPN2.
Werdum fought out his UFC contract in 2020 and signed a new deal with the PFL. He fought exclusively in the UFC from 2012 to 2020. He has also fought in Strikeforce and Pride Fighting Championships.
The 43-year-old has been fighting professionally since 2002 and has faced nearly every elite heavyweight of his era, including Stipe Miocic, Fedor Emelianenko, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mark Hunt.
Ferreira (6-2) trains out of Team Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro. May 6 will also mark his promotional debut.
Harrison (8-0) is a heavy favorite to repeat as PFL’s 155-pound female champion.