Marcirley Alves wasn’t meant to be within the PFL bantamweight grand prix in 2025, however now he’s competing for a $500,000 test Friday night time in Charlotte.
Alves went 1-1 within the now-defunct Bellator earlier than the corporate was absorbed by PFL, and he was chosen because the alternate for the 135-pound match. “Durin” was scheduled to face Vilson Ndregjoni on the April 11 card, however went from early prelims to predominant occasion after Josh Rettinghouse, the primary alternative for Magomed Magomedov, got here in chubby.
He’s now preventing Justin Wetzell for the bantamweight grand prix title at PFL 9.
“All people was so hungry to be on the match that I believed, ‘I don’t assume any battle will get cancelled,’” Alves advised MMA Preventing. “Out of nowhere, in the course of the weigh-ins, they stated I used to be going to do the primary occasion. It was insane. However since I used to be well-trained and assured, it labored.”
Alves beat -205 favourite Leandro Higo by way of cut up determination, and adopted it up with one other determination win two months later, this time over Jake Hadley, to make it to the finals.
“I got here right here because the underdog, nobody was speaking about me, and [Higo] was the favourite to win the grand prix,” Alves stated. “He was the hardest one I’ve fought to this point — much more than the one I’m about to battle. And if I beat him and the opposite one I fought within the semifinal, I imagine I’ll convey this belt residence.”
A former Jungle Battle bantamweight champion, Alves went 11-3 in Brazil earlier than becoming a member of Bellator. Battle purses are so low within the regional circuit that the PFL GP prize alone would get him 1,000 instances greater than fighters often make in small reveals within the nation.
Not solely that, “Durin” hopes to turn into a much bigger title within the MMA sphere.
“It’s life-changing, proper?” Alves stated of the championship cash. “I’d in all probability be the youngest millionaire from Bauru [laughs]. I’m 25 now, and would turn into the primary Brazilian to win the PFL belt. I feel that can open many doorways for me as an individual, and when it comes to sponsors, which I don’t have but. I imagine many sponsors would come after that.”
Alves plans on paying off his condo and automobile if victorious Friday night time, plus make good investments considering of the long run. He stated there’s no additional strain competing for gold, promising his greatest efficiency but since becoming a member of PFL.
“[Wetzell] just isn’t a finisher, he likes to put and pray,” Alves stated. “Most of his fights are by determination and that’s what I’m engaged on. I’ve labored on my cardio quite a bit as a result of that sport is exhausting. I can’t get drained taking part in his sport — however I don’t imagine he’ll be capable to try this in opposition to me. He must get close to me to do this, and if I put my arms on him, he’s happening. I don’t know if he can deal with the strain I’m placing on him for 5 rounds.”
