The PFL will begin its season with separate weight classes this Friday, with featherweights and welterweights set to be the focus. The event will be held on April 19th at 6:30pm EST at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
Today we’ll be taking a look at the featherweights (145 pounds) competing in the PFL 2024 regular season, focusing on their resumes, skill sets, and this weekend’s matchups.
Record: 20 wins, 7 losses, 2 draws (Bellator 4 wins, 2 losses)
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Reach: 70 inches
Nationality: Peruvian
Opponent: Lima, Peru
Opponent: Adam Borix
Barzola first turned pro in 2012 and went on to earn a spot on The Ultimate Fighter Latin America Season 2, helping him earn a spot in the UFC, ultimately amassing a 6-3-1 record. built up.
Enrique Barzola in the UFC.Credit: MMA Junkie
He has had mixed success since joining Bellator, coming into this fight having won his past two fights against Jaylon Bates and Eric Perez, respectively.
Record: 18 wins, 2 losses, 0 draws (Bellator 9 wins, 2 losses)
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Reach: 70.5 inches
Nationality: Hungarian
Battle location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Opponent: Enrique Barsola
Borix turned pro in 2014 and started his career 14-0 before facing Darrion Caldwell, who has only one of two losses on Borix’s record. .
Adam Borix leaves. Credit: Bellator MMA
He started this season with an unsuccessful attempt to capture the Bellator title from Patricio Pitbull, with Borics losing by unanimous decision.
Record: 12 wins, 1 loss (PFL 4 wins, 1 loss)
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Reach: 72 inches
Nationality: Brazilian
Opponent: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Opponent: Justin Gonzalez
Bulaga made his debut in 2018 and advanced to the PFL with a win over Ago Haskic in the Challenger Series.
Gabriel Braga before the 2023 PFL World Championship. Credit: Cooper Neal/PFL
After advancing to the championship last year, Braga was handed the first loss of his career in a rematch with Jesus Pinedo, with Pinedo winning by stoppage despite arguments that it ended prematurely.
Record: 13 wins, 8 losses (Bellator 6 wins, 5 losses)
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Reach: 70.5 inches
Nationality: Portuguese
Opponent: Ireland, Dublin
Opponent: Brendan Loughnane
Carvalho debuted on the regional Portuguese scene, where he began honing his skills as a talented submission artist.
Pedro Carvalho joins Bellator MMA.Credit: MMA Junkie
Carvalho enters this season having lost three of his past four fights, his most recent loss being a first-round finish to Aaron Pico.
Record: 14 wins, 3 losses (Bellator 3 wins, 3 losses)
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Reach: 72 inches
Nationality: American
Where to fight: Greeley, Colorado
Opponent: Gabriel Braga
Gonzalez turned pro in 2016 after a solid amateur career.
Justin Gonzalez weighs in before his match on the Contender Series.Credit: MMA Junkie
His last two fights entering this season have both resulted in decision losses to Timur Khizriyev and Mats Burnell.
Record: 21 wins, 7 losses (PFL 7 wins, 3 losses)
Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Reach: 72 inches
Nationality: American
Country of war: California
Opponent: Kai Kamaka
Jenkins has long been a well-known name in the MMA world. His debut was in his 2011 year, and he has competed for long periods in both Bellator and the PFL. He has used his wrestling style to overwhelm many opponents and has won many fans with his fun personality.
Bubba Jenkins smiles for a photo at PFL Media Day. Credit: Matt Ferris / PFL
Jenkins, who earned the top seed last season, was upset by eventual champion Jesus Pinedo in a playoff, with Pinedo surviving in the early rounds and securing a late second-round knockout.
Record: 20 wins, 3 losses (PFL 1 win, 0 losses)
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Reach: 69 inches
Nationality: Welsh
Participating countries: Swansea, Wales
Opponent: Timur Khizryev
After a successful start to his career, primarily with Cage Warriors, Johns joined the UFC, where he compiled a respectable record of 5 wins and 2 losses. His only losses were against future champion Aljamain Sterling and veteran Pedro Munhoz.
Brett Johns before a UFC fight. Credit: Zuffa LLC, Getty Images
Johns extended his winning streak to three this season with a win over David Tonatiu Kroll in PFL Europe.
Record: 12 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw (Bellator 6 wins, 1 loss)
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Reach: 68 inches
Nationality: American
Battle location: Pearl City, Hawaii
Opponent: Bubba Jenkins
Kamaka has a background in kickboxing and made his professional debut in 2011. He then competed in the UFC, leaving with a record of 1-2-1 and joining Bellator.
Kai Kamaka weighs in with Bellator.Credit: MMA Junkie
He entered this season on a three-fight winning streak, most recently scoring a decision win over Henry Corrales at Bellator 300.
Record: 14-0 (Bellator 3-0)
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Reach: 68.5 inches
Nationality: Russian
Combat area: Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia
Opponent: Brett Johns
Khizriyev made his debut in 2014, but immediately after his debut he took a two-year break and returned at the end of 2016.
Timur Khizriyev at the weigh-in during his Bellator days. Credit: Lucas Noonan/Bellator MMA
Khizriyev enters this season with a win over Justin Gonzalez, improving his record in Bellator to 3-0.
Record: 27 wins, 5 losses (PFL 9 wins, 2 losses)
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Reach: 71 inches
Nationality: British
Opponent: England, Manchester
Opponent: Pedro Carvalho
Loughnane has become a very well-known face within the PFL and his history within the organization is an interesting one. Despite his win over Bill Algeo on Dana White’s Contender Series, he was not offered a contract and ended up signing with PFL.
Brendan Locknane during his championship win over Bubba Jenkins in 2022. Credit: Cooper Neill / PFL
Despite winning the championship in 2022, Loughnane had his season cut short last year after being upset by Jesus Pindeo in the regular season.
Which of these fighters are you most looking forward to? As a member of the Verdict community, let us know in the comments below.
