Preview: PFL 2025 World Tournament First Round 2

Women’s Flyweight Quarterfinal

Juliana Velasquez (13-3, 1-1 PFL) vs Ekaterina Shakalova (8-2, 0-0 PFL)

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, April 11 at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2..

Velasquez was prepared to face one of the toughest challenges of her career in former UFC title challenger Talia Santos as of Monday. However, with news of Santos missing the tournament, Velasquez turns her sights to a different opponent. No sweat. Velasquez, a former Bellator world champion, wouldn’t be able to accomplish the feats she has in her career without being flexible. Despite spending her camp focused on Santos, the mission stays the same: win and advance. Velasquez may have three losses on her resume, but they are all to the same person. Liz Carmouche proved to be her kryptonite in three straight fights, but Velasquez showed that not just any fighter can replicate that blueprint when she finally got back into the win column with a TKO against Lisa Mauldin. Shakalova is a Ukrainian prospect who was initially slated to compete in an alternate bout on the prelims, but she gets her shot to shine in the tournament after Santos was forced to pull out. Shakalova prides herself on her grappling and submission game. Throughout her 10-fight career, she has secured four submissions and has proven to have diverse grappling skills. She has pulled off armbars, rear-naked chokes and triangle chokes in competition, so there’s no telling what she will be looking to pull off here.

Matchup changes are a part of the game and to be expected throughout the PFL tournament. Velasquez must understand that she’s in there with a completely different opponent, and while Shakalova isn’t as decorated as Santos, she can be just as dangerous when underestimated. Velasquez has five inches of height on her foe and can use her superior striking to keep her on the end of her strikes. In her last fight, Shakalova’s gas tank failed her in a decision loss to Apsen Ladd. Velasquez is a considerable step up in competition, and the former champion should prove that in dominating fashion.

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Higo vs. Rettinghouse
Velasquez vs. Shakalova
Nuzzi vs. Gutierrez
Kasumov vs. Wetzell
The Prelims