Karl Williams Replaces Linton Vassell, Meets Oleg Popov at PFL Tournament 4

𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Your Updated PFL World Tournament 4 Fight Card 👊

• Linton Vassell is out
• 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗽: Oleg Popov vs. Karl Williams

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Professional Fighters League’s heavyweight bracket has undergone a shakeup on the week of its next event.

The promotion announced on Monday that Karl Williams will replace Linton Vassell and face Oleg Popov in a heavyweight tournament matchup. A reason for Vassell’s exit was not announced. PFL World Tournament 4 takes place on Thursday at Universal Studios in Orlando and features first-round pairings at heavyweight and light heavyweight. The main card airs on ESPN2 and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while prelims begin on ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Thursday, May 1 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Williams, 35, will make his PFL debut on the heels of a 3-1 stint in the UFC. The Dana White's Contender Series alum posted successive victories over Lukasz Brzeski, Chase Sherman and Justin Tafa before falling to Jhonata Diniz in his most recent outing at UFC on ESPN 61.

Popov won 17 consecutive fights from 2018 to 2024 before falling to Denis Goltsov via first-round submission in the PFL Championship this past November. His record includes victories over the likes of Vassell, Steve Mowry, Gokhan Saricam and Antonio Silva, to name a few.

A former Bellator title challenger at light heavyweight, Vassell hasn’t fought since the aforementioned loss to Popov in August 2024. The 41-year-old Brit is 1-2 under the PFL banner.