PFL Europe 2: 2024 Regular Season

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

This show will have the opening round of the PFL Europe Bantamweight and Women's Flyweight tournaments. Kikadze Bondo, Weslley Maia and Shanelle Dyer all won qualifying matches last year (although PFL haven't always followed through on the winners of qualifying matches being put into the tournaments).

https://www.badlefthook.com/2024/4/2/24119093/savannah-marshall-set-june-8-mma-debut-newcastle-boxing-news-2024

Savannah Marshall making her MMA debut here. Not sure how she'll look switching from Boxing to MMA??? She pretty big, has power but, how her takedown defense or ground game (if there is any) will hold up I doubt know???

Obviously the fight the PFL want is Claressa Shields vs Marshall in MMA. They sold out the O2 last year but don't think the same interest is there for an MMA fight?

Find out soon enough I guess!!

5 bantamweights and 5 flyweights announced for this show in first round tournament matches.

Lizzy Gevers, Valentina Scatizzi, Frans Mlambo and Khurshed Kakhorov returning from last year. Shanelle Dyer who won a qualifying match. Mariam Torchinava, Sammy Jo Luxton, Alexander Luster, Ayton de Paepe and Dean Garnett new additions.

Women's Flyweight tournament full roster now out:

Shanelle Dyer
Sammy-Jo Luxton
Lizzy Gevers
Mariam Torchinava
Valentina Scatizzi
Dee Beglev
Paulina Wisniewska
Marie Loiseau


Not a particularly impressive collection of names. Seems set up to be a showcase of Shanelle Dyer, with Torchinava probably the biggest test.

Bantamweight roster announced:

Khurshed Kakhorov
Dean Garnett
Alexander Luster
Frans Mlambo
Ayton De Paepe
Alperen Karabulut
Bondo Kikadze
Luke Shanks

Since one of the tournament matches on the PFL Paris show fell through at weigh-ins, there's also a Welterweight first round match on this show. Jack Grant vs. Charlie Leary.

Kane Mousah vs Dylan Tuke (non-tournament) added

@Robareid 

So I guess these two are replacing Marian Dmitrov and Erhan Kartal.  Not sure why they didn't just find a new opponent for Dmitrov

@razzles6 

visa issue perhaps, as both the replacements are British? Or maybe they were just mad that he wasn't flexible in Paris to take it at catchweight, as apparently that was offered and rejected.

Damn I really like Ibragim Ibragimov, kind of sad that he’s going to the PFL

Marshall vs. Vargas
Savannah Marshall, TKO, R1
I get they have to give Marshall a can for her debut, but it s hard to get excited about this crossover after the Clarissa shields experiment. Marshall does have good ko power so hopefully that translates to mma. Not expecting a lot out of this fight


Mousah vs. Tuke
Kane Mousah, DEC
Mousah is at the end of his career but I think tuke is just really bad. Give me the experienced guy

Grant vs. Leary
Jack Grant, SUB, R3
Leary is not good but he is better than his record shows. He was robbed pretty badly against bak, and has wins against guys like crosbie and brungard who are good for this level. He also had a crazy one rounder with Ottman aziatar way back in brave. Despite this experience, he is a 41 year old with double digit losses. Jack grant is actually very skilled. His striking is solid but his grappling jd actually very good. I thought he should’ve beaten lazy king but he threw that fight away by willingly grappling with him when he didn’t need to. His bjj is great but that’s not the first time he’s lost fights being an idiot with his grappling. He should easily win this one but it might b take longer than it should for him to win

Garnett vs. De Paepe
Dean Garnett, DEC
Garnett is one of the better guys in the bw tourney. He is older but could be a dark horse

Dyer vs. Torchinava
Mariam Torchinava, DEC
Dyer is a very good prospect but she is still pretty green, pfl is really giving her a tough fight here. She smokes this girl on the feet but if miriam can get it to the ground she may be able to control dyer

Ibragimov vs. Reed
Ibragim Ibragimov, SUB, R3
Another one that could be close or potentially have an upset. I rate ibragimov highly but he is still very green. For one, he’s only 20 so there’s lots of room to grow. His most recent fight he did not look that great until the stoppage. Reed is the definition of a journeyman; he has fought everyone and occasionally pulls off the upset. I highly recommend watching his fight vs Nate wood, all time classic 1 round battle. I think ibragimov will win but reed is not a bad dog

Mlambo vs. Shanks
Frans Mlambo, DEC
This is a tricky one. I’ve always found shanks to be talented, but he has never been able to put it together. He got badly dominated by Loughran last fight as well. He has taken a lot of time off & is still pretty young so hopefully he shows some improvements. Mlambo is honestly not as good as I remembered, he is chinny and does fight to the level of his opponents a lot. I will pick him because of activity and that huge reach advantage

Gevers vs. Jo Luxton
Lizzy Gevers, DEC
Pfl is trying to promote Luxton because she’s hot and has a large social media following. I know she has some Muay Thai background but I couldn’t find a lot on it. She has decimated her pro opponents, but she’s also fought soccer moms. Gevers isn’t that impressive but i don’t think luxton is really that talented

Ewen vs. Poiron
Mark Ewen, TKO, R3
Despite losing his last fight, poiron is still a solid fighter. However, Ewen is a problem. I’ve been watching him for a while and have been super impressed. He is very well rounded but prefers to strike; I love his counter striking. Idk why he’s not in the tourney but I think Ewen is a great talent

Kakhorov vs. Bondo
Khurshed Kakhorov, TKO, R1
They are setting Kakhorov up for a win here. I didn’t think much of him when he got destroyed by Brett Johns, but he really impressed in the pfl tourney last year. Idk where pfl found this random Georgian, but watching him beat wooding with a simple head & arm throw was hilarious. Khakorov can’t wrestle very well but I doubt he falls for the same trick wooding did, khakorov should smoke him

Scatizzi vs. Loiseau
Valentina Scatizzi, TKO, R2
Scatizzi is bad so this is somewhat fair matchmaking but I can’t believe pfl really signed a 43 year old. Not only is she ancient, but she has been ko’ed in every loss, that’s such a bad look

Luster vs. Karabulut
Alexander Luster, SUB, R1
Karabulut has an insanely padded record. His best win is a 5-8 guy and he even has some bad performances against these cans. Luster should sub him easily

* Edited at 04.23.2024, 5:44 PM ET *