The PFL Europe card in Newcastle on June 8 is a certified banger, according to a press release. The card will headline boxing world champion Savannah Marshall, who will be making her professional MMA debut after signing her promotional deal last year. It has now been revealed that her opponent in Newcastle will be Brazil’s Mirela Vargas, who will also be making her PFL debut. Vargas (1-2) has never been in the second round in her career as the 26-year-old finished within 12 seconds in the first round and has two losses. That being said, both of her losses occurred to the same girl.
The event also kicks off the 2024 PFL Europe season, where participants will have a chance to win $100,000. Bantamweight and women’s flyweight tournaments begin in Newcastle.
If that’s not enough, there are also some showcase fights taking place in the north of England.
Women’s flyweight tournament
Chanel Dyer, one of the most promising fighters in British mixed martial arts, will take on the far more experienced Mariam Torchinava (9-2). Dyer is 4-0 with three finishes and also won the Polaris 24. This night’s opponent is on a five-fight winning streak, including four finishes, but has yet to step up to a proper level. Dyer is expected to win easily.
Viral sensation Sammy-Jo Ruxton has finally made his PFL debut, and now his match is finally decided. She is 2-0 with two goals within 20 seconds, but the Manchester first-team prospect has never played against a proper opponent. Lizzie Jevers will be standing opposite her at Newcastle with a record of 3 wins and 1 loss. No Flow’s only loss came via split decision to last year’s finalist Valentina Scatizzi.
Sammy Jo Ruxton! 🏴 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · #FCC37 pic.twitter.com/zEPuJ5M74Q
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) March 9, 2024
Scatizzi will return to face Marie Loiseau, a 43-year-old veteran of the French national team. In this all-European bout, Loiseau is considered the much more experienced woman, with a record of 6 wins and 4 losses, compared to Scatizzi’s 2 wins and 2 losses.
Rounding out the women’s flyweight tournament was Ireland’s Dee Begley, who boasts a record of 4 wins and 5 losses (including 1 win and 4 losses in her last five fights). The SBG Ireland prospect will face undefeated Polish 25-year-old Paulina Wisniewska. She is still 2-0, but has a long amateur record of 18-6.
Men’s Bantamweight Tournament
British mixed martial arts veteran Dean Garnett will look to extend his four-fight win streak on his PFL debut when he clashes with Belgium’s Ayton de Paepe.
Elsewhere, South Africa’s France Mlambo will look to bounce back from his PFL Europe 2023 defeat when he takes on England’s Luke Shanks in the final. Shanks has only recently lost to the best players in the country. UFC’s Jake Hadley and Caolan Laurent both have wins over Shanks, as does Sam Creasy (who beat him for the Cage Warriors flyweight title and lost in the rematch).
Last year’s champion, Khurshed Kahorov, will open the tournament against Bond Kikadze and will aim for his second win of the tournament on the bounce.
Other battles on the card
Fan favorites Kane Mooser and Dylan Tooke will clash in what promises to be an exciting showdown in the co-main event. The welterweight season begins with experienced British fighters Jack Grant and Charlie Leary meeting to kick off the 170-pound tournament in style.
Fan favorite Lewis McGrillen is looking to bounce back from the only loss of his career, but his opponent is yet to be named.
There are also:
Alexander Luster vs. Alperen Calabruto (135 lbs.)
Ben Woolis vs Maher Belkadir (145 lbs.)
Mark Ewen vs. Matthias Poiron (155 lbs.)
Ibragim Ibragimov vs. Josh Reed (145 lbs.)
