The PFL’s Challenger Series will return Jan. 27 with eight consecutive weeks of fights across eight divisions.
The Challenger Series debuted earlier this year with PFL developmental contracts or spots in upcoming seasons awarded by a judging panel. This year, Dilano Taylor won a spot in the regular season and went on to reach the $1 million final.
Wednesday, the promotion announced the fighters for its first Challenger Series event for 2023, which will feature welterweights.
Get a quick glimpse of the eight hopefuls below.
Eric Alequin
Age: 32
Country: United States
Record: 7-0
Notes: Alequin won CFFC’s vacant welterweight title in March with a unanimous decision over Hugh Pulley … trains at Kill Cliff FC in Florida … standout grappler has competed in regular grappling events, including a matchup with Jake Shields in 2021 … Five of seven wins by decision.
Nick Alley
Age: 32
Country: United States
Record: 7-5
Notes: Experience under the Bellator, CES and CFFC banners … headlined CES 61 against John Gotti III and won a unanimous decision … six of seven wins by stoppage, including five submissions.
Itso Babulaidze
Age: 29
Country: Georgia
Record: 2-0
Notes: Fought for CFFC for five amateur fights … turned pro earlier this year with a decision win over Jorge Molina at CFFC 106 … got his PFL shot in August in a showcase fight and put Mahmoud Fawzy Sebie away with a first-round TKO.
Lucas Barbosa
Age: 30
Country: Brazil
Record: 2-1
Notes: Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Andre Fabiano … five-time IBJJF world champion … hasn’t fought MMA in more than 10 years … was booked for a return to MMA in February at a PFL Challenger Series event, but had two fights canceled … was booked for a showcase fight in August during the PFL playoffs, but opponent Elmar Umarov wasn’t cleared to fight.
Thad Jean
Age: 24
Country: United States
Record: 4-0
Notes: The Florida-based Jean has fought for four different prominent promotions since he turned pro: CES, CFFC, LFA and Combate Global … his first three fights were stoppage wins, including two in the first round … as an amateur, he had a third-round TKO win over 2022 PFL welterweight finalist and runner-up Dilano Taylor.
Mostafa Rashed Neda
Country: Saudi Arabia
Record: 7-3
Notes: Judo specialist who has three straight wins, including a pair of knockouts … has not fought in nearly three years … experience includes wins for Brave FC and UAE Warriors … has five of his seven wins by stoppage, including four knockouts.
Quemuel Ottoni
Age: 30
Country: Brazil
Record: 12-3
Notes: Only fighter to beat current UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira in MMA when he submitted him in 2015 under the Jungle Fight banner in Brazil … Won Jungle Fight’s vacant welterweight title in May with a third-round submission of Jose Diaz … has five straight wins … has 11 of his 12 career wins by stoppage, including eight knockouts.
Jozef Wittner
Age: 29
Country: Slovakia
Record: 16-2
Notes: Has four straight wins, including a 22-second knockout in October … has 11 of his 16 wins by stoppage, including eight submissions.
2023 PFL Challenger Series welterweight lineup (Jan. 27)
- Lucas Barbosa vs. Itso Babulaidze
- Eric Alequin vs. Thad Jean
- Quemuel Ottoni vs. Jozef Wittner
- Nick Alley vs. Mostafa Rashed Neda
