PFL 2024 Season: Featherweight Spotlight
The PFL is set to kick off the season for another pair of weight classes this Friday as Featherweights and Welterweights take center stage. This event will be held on April 19th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, beginning at 6:30 PM EST.
Today, we'll go over the Featherweights (145 Ibs) competing in the PFLs 2024 regular season, highlighting their resumes, skillsets, and matchups this weekend.
Enrique Barzola
Record: 20-7-2 (4-2 Bellator)
Height: 5ft 7in
Reach: 70in
Nationality: Peruvian
Fighting out of: Lima, Peru
Opponent: Adam Borics
Barzola first turned pro in 2012 before earning a spot on The Ultimate Fighter Latin America Season 2, which helped him earn a place in the UFC, where he eventually compiled a 6-3-1 record.
Since joining Bellator, he has had mixed success, although he enters this matchup having won each of his last two fights against Jaylon Bates and Erik Perez.
Adam Borics
Record: 18-2-0 (9-2 Bellator)
Height: 5ft 11in
Reach: 70.5in
Nationality: Hungarian
Fighting out of: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Opponent: Enrique Barzola
Borics turned pro in 2014 and began his career on a 14-0 run before facing Darion Caldwell, who remains one of just two losses on Borics' record.
He enters this season off a failed attempt to claim the Bellator title from Patricio Pitbull, where Borics would lose a unanimous decision.
Gabriel Braga
Record: 12-1 (4-1 PFL)
Height: 5ft 9in
Reach: 72in
Nationality: Brazilian
Fighting out of: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Opponent: Justin Gonzales
Braga debuted in 2018 and made his way to the PFL through the challenger series with a win over Ago Huskic.
After making a run to the championship last year, Braga was handed his first career loss in a rematch with Jesus Pinedo, who won by stoppage despite some argument about the ending being premature.
Pedro Carvalho
Record: 13-8 (6-5 Bellator)
Height: 5ft 11in
Reach: 70.5in
Nationality: Portuguese
Fighting out of: Dublin, Ireland
Opponent: Brendan Loughnane
Carvalho debuted on the regional scene in Portugal, where he began to develop his skills as a talented submission artist.
Carvalho enters this season having lost three of his last four, with the most recent being a first-round finish by Aaron Pico.
Justin Gonzales
Record: 14-3 (3-3 Bellator)
Height: 5ft 9in
Reach: 72in
Nationality: American
Fighting out of: Greely, Colorado
Opponent: Gabriel Braga
Gonzales turned pro in 2016 after a solid amateur career.
He enters this season, losing each of his last two via decision to Timur Khizriev and Mads Burnell.
Bubba Jenkins
Record: 21-7 (7-3 PFL)
Height: 5ft 8in
Reach: 72in
Nationality: American
Fighting out of: California
Opponent: Kai Kamaka
Jenkins has been a well-known name in the MMA world for some time. His debut came back in 2011, and he has competed in both Bellator and PFL for lengthy periods. He has used his wrestling style to dominate many opponents and his fun personality to gain many fans.
After earning the top seed last season, Jenkins was upset by eventually champion Jesus Pinedo in the playoffs as Pinedo survived early to secure a late second-round knockout.
Brett Johns
Record: 20-3 (1-0 PFL)
Height: 5ft 7in
Reach: 69in
Nationality: Welsh
Fighting out of: Swansea, Wales
Opponent: Timur Khizriev
After a solid start to his career, mostly in Cage Warriors, Johns joined the UFC, where he put together a respectable 5-2 run. His only losses were to future champion Aljamain Sterling and established veteran Pedro Munhoz.
Johns is coming off a win on PFL Europe over David Tonatiuh Crol, which extended his victory streak to three entering this season.
Kai Kamaka
Record: 12-5-1 (6-1 Bellator)
Height: 5ft 7in
Reach: 68in
Nationality: American
Fighting out of: Pearl City, Hawaii
Opponent: Bubba Jenkins
Kamaka, who has a background in kickboxing, made his pro debut in 2011. He then made his way to the UFC, where he left the organization with a 1-2-1 record before joining Bellator.
He enters this season having won three straight, most recently with a decision over Henry Corrales at Bellator 300.
Timur Khizriev
Record: 14-0 (3-0 Bellator)
Height: 5ft 9in
Reach: 68.5in
Nationality: Russian
Fighting out of: Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia
Opponent: Brett Johns
Khizriev debuted in 2014, but shortly after his debut, he took two years away before returning in late 2016.
Khizriev enters this season off his win over Justin Gonzales, bringing his Bellator run to 3-0.
Brendan Loughnane
Record: 27-5 (9-2 PFL)
Height: 5ft 9in
Reach: 71in
Nationality: English
Fighting out of: Manchester, England
Opponent: Pedro Carvalho
Loughnane has become a very recognizable face in the PFL, and his background in the organization is interesting. Despite winning over Bill Algeo on Dana White's Contender Series, he was not offered a contract, which led him to sign with the PFL.
Despite winning the championship in 2022, Loughnane's season was cut short last year after he was upset by Jesus Pindeo in the regular season.
Who are you most looking forward to out of these fighters? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.
