After Thursday’s weigh-ins, PFL have been forced to make two late changes to their big $1million championship event.
There are 16 fights on the card, with a series of showcase bouts before the PFL MENA Championships and finally the Global Season finale. Three fighters were unable to make weight, although all of the $1million title fights are good to go.
MENA title bouts will earn winners at welterweight, lightweight, featherweight, and bantamweight a $100,000 purse. Meanwhile, the big attraction is the seven-figure world title bouts at heavyweight, light-heavyweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight and flyweight.
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Three fighters miss weight as two PFL Championship undercard bouts are changed
At weigh-ins on Thursday morning, all of the Global Season finalists made weight for their big world title bouts. However, not everybody was as fortunate, with three fighters unable to make weight, and two bouts being completely changed.
Former Bellator title contender Jeremy Kennedy had been due to face 2023 champion Jesus Pinedo. But the Peruvian once again missed the featherweight limit, and was replaced on short notice by the man he defeated in the final last year; Gabriel Braga.
This is the second time that Pinedo has come in heavy for a featherweight bout under the PFL banner, missing for his fight with Bubba Jenkins in last year’s tournament. He also pulled out on late notice back in February from fighting Patricio Pitbull in a champions vs champions bout.
Former UFC star Kennedy reacted in a post on social media after learning of the opponent change, writing: “New opponent, I’m here to prove I’m the best in the world. I don’t care who’s standing across from me. Just another tally.”
PFL MENA Tournament sees featherweight title bout completely restructured
And in the PFL MENA title tournament, the featherweight final was completely restructured when Abelrahman Alyhasat suffered a medical issue that forced him out. He was replaced on short notice by Marouane Bellagouit.
That featherweight final appears to be cursed, with both finalists pulling out at different points before fight night. After beating Abdullah Al-Qahtani in a semi-final upset, Alyhasat had been due to take on Islam Reda, but he was also forced out with an injury allowing Al-Qahtani back into the frame.
There was another weight miss on the MENA portion of the card, as Lilia Osmani missed weight by 2.4 lbs for her atomweight clash with Saudi Arabian superstar Hattan Alsaif. That bout will now be competed at a catchweight of 109 lbs.
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