PFL Challenger Series Week 1
Welterweights
PFL Challenger Series Week 1 - Welterweights
Zach Juusola vs Jozef Whittner
Juusola is your classic journeyman fighter. He’s been around forever. He’s got some names on his record you would recognize, but he’s lost to all of them. He has decent boxing and decent wrestling and can beat a lower level scrub. He can also lose to a pretty low level fighter. Not much power, but technique is there. Rips to the body. Looks for takedowns when he gets in trouble and that seems to happen often. Once on the ground he’s not much of a threat. He’s lost his last 2 fights and he’s coming in on PFL challenger series. I’ll tell you this right now, the PFL is NOT trying to showcase Juusola in this matchup and Juusola knows this. He’s already got a fight scheduled for the following week in a different organization.
Whittner is a wrestler. He’s very strong and he is able to get on the legs and get you to the ground fast. He’s heavy on top, mainly pursuing ground and pound. He’s content with working from your guard. On the feet he is awkward. Has okay power, but not as much as he thinks he has. He’s very hitable. Fought a very low level of competition. I do not see a high ceiling for him in the PFL
This is a step down in competition for Juusola. Would not be shocked at all to see Juusola losing early, but come on late and make this a very close decision. Whittner is over -400 at this point. That is unplayable. I’m taking the fight goes to Dec prop when it comes out
Eric Alequin vs Thad Jean
Alequin is 32 years old. He’s 7-0 and he fights out of Kill Cliff FC. He thinks being in a gym full of well seasoned fighters is his biggest advantage here “There are no easy rounds. I’ve got Dilano Taylor one round. I’ve got Jason Jackson one round. I’ve got Logan Storley two rounds. There are no easy rounds.”. You definitely like to hear something like that in these lower level fights. Alequin is a black belt and he’s tricky off his back. Nice sweeps and reversals. He’ll grab for ankles and arms. Kids pretty slick. On the feet he is okay, but he is hitable.
Thad Jean is huge for a welterweight. He’s 6’2 with a 77 inch reach. Thad is a purple belt and seems to be really putting in the ground work. He’s only 4-0, but he had an extensive amateur career with some really tough fights. Alequin talks about training with Dilano Taylor, well Thad Jean has a win over him. Thad is a natural athlete, uses his reach well.
Alequin isn’t a slouch, but I like the athleticism and power of Thad. He should be able to find the chin of Alequin and if it hits the ground Thad isn’t a fish out of water.
Kendly ST. Luis vs Nick Alley
Kendly was at this event to corner Thad Jean. Mostafa pulled out of the fight and Kendly stepped up on less than 24 hour notice. Kendly is normally a light weight and will now be taking on Nick Alley a welterweight. Kendly is on a 4 fight winning streak and his last loss was a second round tko against Viacheslav Borshchev. He also has a loss to Eric Alequin back in 2018. He actually rocked slava and nearly submitted him in that fight, before getting finished in the second round. Kendly is very athletic, hits hard and has good bjj. He doesn’t take damage well. Don’t like his body language when he’s tired or getting hit, but he is tough and can battle through it
Nick Alley is well rounded and he said he’s going to come out being aggressive bell to bell. Alley is a little better than his record shows. He’s competent everywhere, has some power and he really goes out looking for a finish. Pushes a very hard pace and has decent cardio. He’s not a full time fighter. He’s actually a full time mechanic. He was being set up to lose and even with the late swap he is a big dog
Kendly may be more skilled and more athletic, but I can’t take him up a weight class on 24 hour notice. He’s not some proven guy. He can easily lose in this spot and under these circumstances a small shot on the dog is warranted. Taking Alley ITD rounds 2 or 3
Lucas Barbosa vs Itso Babulaidze
For what matters, this is Lucas Barbosa’s MMA debut. Yes, he is 2-1 in MMA. Those fights were back in 2012. Barbosa is a grappler and one of the best. He trains out of American Top Team and says he is ready no matter where the fight goes. He did admit the biggest transition into mma vs grappling was getting used to getting hit, but he stated “I trust my hands”. He’s very athletic and a promising prospect to the sport
Itso made a successful PFL debut by beating former Olympic wrestler Fawzy Sebie. Itso is a big athletic guy and he showed off his own grappling against Sebie. He was able to get back to his feet multiple times, reverse position and even get a takedown of his own. He has power in his hands, but he is hitable
This fight is so hard to take a side. Obviously Barbosa seems special, but he is so new to the sport. Itso has some potential as well. One thing is for certain, this fight isn’t going to the judges. Feel confident adding fight doesn’t go the distance to any parlay