Natan Schulte will make his long-awaited return to the PFL cage on March 28 in Pittsburgh. The two-time PFL season winner comes back after more than 1,000 days away from MMA.
Return after a long break
Schulte signed a new contract with PFL in late 2024 and is booked to face unbeaten lightweight Jakub Kaszuba on March 28 in Pittsburgh. Schulte used his time away to heal and train full time at American Top Team. He said he spent over two years training without worrying about fights or dieting.
Schulte is a two-time PFL season winner and has rebuilt his body and skill set while out of competition. He told UFCcoverage that he wanted a quick, clean return and is aiming for a finish, either by submission or knockout.
The Manfio fight and fallout
Schulte’s last fight in the cage was a decision win over teammate Raush Manfio. That bout drew heavy criticism. Manfio is a close friend and the godfather of Schulte’s daughter, but the two were matched for a spot in the 2024 lightweight playoffs.
After the fight, PFL suspended both fighters for not using their “best efforts” and removed Schulte from the tournament. Schulte says the match felt like a setup and did not play out as fans wanted. He told UFCcoverage, “I probably wouldn’t have fought because it ended up feeling kind of like a set-up fight or something like that.”
PFL kept Schulte under contract for several months before releasing him about five months later. During that time he looked for other chances. He said his manager even asked if he could make weight on short notice for a UFC fight, but the opponent did not accept and the bout did not happen.
Next fight and goals
Schulte will face Jakub Kaszuba, an unbeaten lightweight who won two PFL Europe seasons at 155 pounds. Schulte says he does not feel the need to “put on a war” because of the past controversy. He wants a clean result and to leave the cage healthy.
He also noted the PFL has a new format with a ranking system. “You win and move up and position yourself as a top contender for the belt,” he said. Schulte aims to move up the rankings quickly with a strong performance in Pittsburgh.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Natan Schulte | Decision win over Raush Manfio; four straight PFL wins (Held, Stephens, Ray, Manfio) before suspension |
| Jakub Kaszuba | Unbeaten; two-season winner in PFL Europe at lightweight |
The fight is set for the PFL event in Pittsburgh on March 28. Schulte hopes to show he still belongs at the top of the lightweight division and to start a new run in the promotion.
