PFL 3: Werdum vs Ferreira main card preview & betting picks

Former UFC Heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum will make his Professional Fighters League debut this Thursday night when he takes on Renan Ferreira in the main event of PFL 3. This card features fights from the heavyweight division and the women’s lightweight division.

Heavyweight: Fabricio Werdum (-260) vs Renan Ferreira (+200)

Fabricio Werdum (24-9-1) won his last fight in the UFC against Alexander Gustafsson with an armbar submission in the first round. Werdum decided not to re-sign with the UFC after the fight and instead penned a multi-fight contract with the PFL. That deal begins with this fight.

Renan Ferreira (6-2-0) stands at 6’8” tall and has earned five of his six career wins by way of knockout. The 31-year-old is a relative unknown that could certainly catch his 43-year-old opponent off guard, but Werdum’s experience and resume make him tough to go against in this spot.

Women’s Lightweight: Kayla Harrison (-2500) vs Mariana Morais (+1200)

Kayla Harrison (8-0-0) has never lost in her professional career and was the winner of the 2019 PFL Lightweight Tournament. Mariana Morais has won her last three fights with Shooto Brasil, but was 1-6 in her previous seven professional fights against tougher competition. This matchup is as lopsided as the sports betting odds suggest.

Heavyweight: Mohammed Usman (-400) vs Brandon Sayles (+300)

Mohammed Usman (7-1-0) – the younger brother of current UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman – has won each of his last four fights with Titan FC and will be making his PFL debut this Thursday. Brandon Sayles (5-1-0) will also be making his PFL debut, and he enters the promotion on a three-fight win streak. Usman is younger, stronger, and more proven; he is the pick in this one.

Women’s Lightweight: Larissa Pacheco (-600) vs Julija Pajic (+400)

Larissa Pacheco (13-4-0) is 2-2 in the PFL with her only two losses in the promotion coming against the undefeated Kayla Harrison. Juliana Pajic (2-0-0) will be making her PFL debut after earning two submission wins in the SBC in 2019. Pacheco is the real deal and deserves to be a clear favorite, but -600 is a bit steep; Pajic might be worth a flyer at this price as an unknown with some submission skills.

PFL 3 prelim card odds & matchups

• Heavyweight: Denis Goltsov (-200) vs Justin Willis (+160)
• Women’s Lightweight: Genah Fabian (-160) vs Laura Sanchez (+130)
• Heavyweight: Ante Delija (-500) vs Bruno Cappelozza (+375)
• Women’s Lightweight: Kaitlin Young (-145) vs Cindy Dandois (+115)