MMA
PFL 4: Anthony Pettis out due to illness, Natan Schulte jumps in to fight Alexander Martinez
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One of the marquee fights at Thursday's PFL 4 is no more.
DAZN News confirmed that Anthony Pettis has been pulled from the event because he suffered an illness. Stepping on short notice is two-time PFL lightweight champion Natan Schulte will face off with Pettis' opponent Alexander Martinez. Pettis will still compete in the season as he'll battle Raush Manfio on Thursday, June 25. Ag.Fight was first to report the postponement and the new fight announcements.
Pettis (24-11), a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion, made his PFL debut in April at PFL 1 but came up short in the opening round of the playoffs, losing to Clay Collard via unanimous decision.
Schulte and Manfio were set to lock horns on Thursday after Schulte's original opponent Mikhail Odintsov had to bow out of the card. For now, Schulte and Manfio avoid squaring off for now with one another because the former is the godfather to the latter's daughter, and they are training partners at American Top Team. They will only meet if they win their respective bouts and meet later in the playoffs.
Schulte (20-4-1) desperately needs a win to advance in the playoffs after losing to Marcin Held via unanimous decision. If he comes up short against Martinez, Schulte will not advance, and a new lightweight champion will be crowned.
Martinez (8-0, one no contest) competed on the same show as Pettis and Schulte, defeating Loik Radzhabov via split decision to earn three points.
PFL 4 takes place from Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The event is headlined with the MMA debut of former three-division and two-time undisputed women's champion Claressa Shields taking on Brittany Elkin.
