PFL Europe 2: Bantamweights and lightweights set for action in Berlin

The second PFL Europe event will see the SmartCage head to Berlin, Germany, with the promotion’s European bantamweight and lightweight rosters set to feature.

Headlining the event at the Verti Music Hall is a bantamweight battle between 9-1 Italian Francesco Nuzzi and 11-2-1 German Farbod Iran Nezhad.

Nuzzi will be making his second appearance under the PFL banner after competing on the undercard of the PFL Playoffs event in Cardiff, Wales in August 2022. However, that fight, against fellow PFL Europe contender Moktar Benkaci, didn’t go according to plan, as an accidental eye poke brought the bout to a premature close, with the matchup declared a no contest.

Now Nuzzi will look to make the second time a charm when he faces off against Nezhad, who arrives in the PFL riding a three-fight win streak. The 32-year-old has built a reputation for grinding out decision victories, with seven of his 11 career wins coming via the judges’ scorecards.

The co-main event sees seasoned French contender Moktar Benkaci take on German Bellator veteran Khurshed Kakhorov. Benkaci has a significant experience advantage, with his 20-7 record going up against Kakhorov’s 9-1 resume.

Other than Benkaci’s no-contest with Nuzzi at the PFL Playoffs, this will represent the Frenchman’s biggest opportunity to date. But, despite having 17 more bouts to his name, his opponent actually carries more big-league experience, having fought twice for Bellator. But when it comes to form, Benkaci has the clear edge. The Frenchman heads into the bout riding a six-fight win streak, while Kakhorov is aiming to claim back-to-back victories since his TKO loss to Brett Johns at Bellator 275 in February 2022.

A standout bantamweight clash will see Ireland’s Frans Mlambo take on England’s Dominique Wooding in a fascinating clash, with the former Bellator bantamweight facing off against the former Cage Warriors 135-pound champion.

Also set for action on the night is bantamweight Lewis McGrillen, who has just signed a multi-fight contract with the PFL after impressing on his promotional debut at PFL Europe 1.

The lightweight division is also set for action, with 10-1 Austrian contender Alex Chizov facing off against Acoidan Duque in the featured lightweight matchup.

England’s undefeated Connor Hughes lines up against Ireland’s Dylan Tuke, while Italy’s Maxim Radu takes on unbeaten Pole Jakub Kaszuba. Also set for action are Ireland’s John Mitchell and France’s Geysim Derouiche.