Dan Hardy is assured lots of the PFL’s high stars would succeed within the UFC.
The PFL analyst particularly referred to Bellator light-weight champion Usman Nurmagomedov’s (19-0) profitable title protection in opposition to Paul Hughes (13-2) in the principle occasion of PFL Highway to Dubai Champions Sequence in January, which turned out to be one of many extra thrilling and aggressive fights of the yr thus far.
Hardy additionally likes undefeated Bellator champion Johnny Eblen’s (16-0) probabilities in opposition to any UFC middleweight.
“The UFC is such a powerful model and so they actually do dominate the game,” Hardy advised MMA Junkie Radio. “It’s simple for followers to look outdoors of the UFC and go, ‘These fighters aren’t ok, in any other case they’d be within the UFC.’ Everyone knows that’s the case. We’ve acquired the likes of Paul Hughes now signed up and had a incredible bout in opposition to Usman Nurmagomedov. Each of these fighters, for my cash, may compete within the UFC at an identical stage, and I’d say the identical for lots of the champions – each throughout PFL and Bellator.
“Johnny Eblen, for me, may actually trigger issues for any middleweight on the earth. It doesn’t matter what promotion they’re in. It’s good typically to have the ability to see these fighters like Kayla Harrison, who clearly dominated to some extent within the PFL, then go over and have the identical impression elsewhere. I believe we may have much more of that success if there was extra cross promotion. However, in fact, that’s why we don’t get the cross-promotion fights. It was a danger after they have been doing it with Pleasure, as properly, as a result of typically it didn’t work out properly for them.”
PFL welterweights and featherweights will kick off their season Thursday at Common Studios in Orlando, Fla. PFL 2025, Week 1 is headlined by a 170-pound bout between Jason Jackson (18-5) and Andrey Koreshkov. Additionally featured on the principle card is a matchup between Logan Storley (16-3) and Magomed Umalatov (17-1).
Hardy spoke of the depth of expertise within the event.
“The fact is, these fighters on this world event are world-class, aggressive with any(one) – particularly the lightweights and the welterweights,” Hardy mentioned. “They’re extremely deep brackets that we’ve acquired in these (tournaments), and I believe we’re going to see these stage of fights come April.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for PFL 2025, Week 1.
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