PFL 4 Preview: Clay Collard Headlines as PFL Regular Season Resumes

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) gets the ball rolling on the second half of their 2022 Regular Season with PFL 4, which shifts to the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, June 17th.

Headlining the stacked fight card will be none other than fan-favorite lightweight ‘Cassius’ Clay Collard taking on Alexander Martinez.

Figuring in his second-consecutive main event bout this season, Collard started the year off on the right foot, defeating former UFC star Jeremy ‘Lil’ Heathen’ Stephens by unanimous decision in the headlining bout of PFL 1 back in April to pick up three points in the lightweight standings. Now, the American will try to secure a return-trip to the PFL postseason by scoring another big win.

READ MORE- PFL Intends To Capture Wider Audience After Deal With Mola TV

Collard emerged as one of last season’s biggest stories, as he stunned the world with an upset win over former UFC champion Anthony Pettis to begin the 2021 season. He followed that up with an impressive win over Joilton Lutterbach to clinch a spot in the semifinals. He would ultimately fall to eventual champion Raush Manfio in the playoffs.

Martinez, meanwhile, was also successful in his 2022 season debut, defeating Stevie Ray by unanimous decision to also earn three points in the lightweight standings. Like Collard, the Paraguay native will look to return to the playoffs by picking up a second-straight regular-season win. Last year, Martinez fell to Loik Radzhabov in the semifinals.

Other fighters on the card

Also on the card, 2021 Light Heavyweight Champion Antonio ‘Shoe Face’ Carlos Jr. continues his quest for back-to-back title reigns when he faces fellow Brazilian and PFL Challenger Series contract winner Bruce Souto.

Carlos Jr. needed just 29 seconds to submit Delan Monte at PFL 1 back in April, earning him six points in the light heavyweight rankings. Last season, Carlos Jr. was highly impressive on his way to the PFL Light Heavyweight Championship. He scored wins over Tom Lawlor, former champion Emiliano Sordi, and Marthin Hamlet to win the 205-pound tournament and win the million-dollar prize in his maiden PFL season.

Souto, meanwhile, earned his place on the 2022 PFL Regular Season following a stunning knockout win over Travis Davis on Week 1 of the PFL Challenger Series. In his 2022 Regular Season debut, however, Souto fell to Rob Wilkinson by second-round TKO. Now, he will look to bounce back and salvage a spot in the semifinals.

READ MORE- Jordan’s Jarrah Al-Silawi Shining on PFL’s Global Stage

Also on the card, 2021 PFL Lightweight Champion Raush ‘Warhorse’ Manfio faces Olivier Aubin-Mercier, and Jeremy Stephens takes on Myles Price.

Plus, former champions Natan Schulte and Emiliano Sordi are also set to see action.

Complete PFL 4 Fight Card

ESPN Card

Lightweight bout:
Clay Collard vs. Alexander Martinez

Light Heavyweight bout:
Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Bruce Souto

Lightweight bout:
Raush Manfio vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier

Lightweight bout:
Jeremy Stephens vs. Myles Price

ESPN+ Card

Light Heavyweight bout:
Omari Akhmedov vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis

Lightweight bout:
Natan Schulte vs. Marcin Held

Light Heavyweight bout:
Emiliano Sordi vs. Delan Monte

Light Heavyweight bout:
Rob Wilkinson vs. Viktor Pesta

Light Heavyweight bout:
Marthin Hamlet vs. Josh Silveira

PFL 4 takes place on Friday, July 17th at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The action begins at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+ and continues at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN.