Grande Prairie's Alexander Martinez preparing for his PFL fight in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Photo Credit: Alexander Martinez (IG: @mmartinez_alex)

By Shane Clausing

ALEXANDER MARTINEZ

Grande Prairie’s Martinez to fight Schulte Thursday after Pettis removed from PFL card

Jun 9, 2021 | 1:55 PM

Thursday’s Professional Fighting League (PFL) bout between Grande Prairie’s Alexander Martinez and former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis will not go ahead.

The two were scheduled to fight in the co-main event Thursday evening. However, Pettis was pulled from the card after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed illness.

Despite Pettis not being able to fight, Martinez will still get to step into the octagon Thursday.

Martinez is now scheduled to fight Brazil’s Natan Schulte in the main event of the PFL prelims card. Tomorrow’s prelims card begins at 5:00 p.m. mountain time and can be seen on TSN.

While he won’t have to face Pettis on Thursday, Martinez is slated for a string test against Schulte.

While he lost his first fight earlier this season, Schulte is the defending PFL champion and went 5-0 last year. A loss for Shulte could also eliminate him from PFL playoff contention.

A Martinez win could potentially secure him a spot in the PFL playoffs.