The PFL have announced the names of the 8 Women who will enter the promotion's 2024 PFL Europe Flyweight tournament.
The second show of the PFL European Regular season will take place at the Utilita Arena Newcastle on June 8, with the Women’s Flyweights and Men’s Bantamweights kicking off their journey to the 2024 championship and $1m prize.
The first athlete announced for the tournament was the surging prospect, Shanelle Dyer. The 22-year-old currently holds a 4-0 record and is one of the best up and coming talents coming out of the UK right now.
'Nightmare' turned to the professional ranks in 2023, after securing EMMAA's Four Nations Gold in her last bout as an amateur.
Since joining the professional ranks, Dyer has proven her skillset has developed further, every time she has competed. After two first round stoppages in two fights less than 6 weeks apart from one another, Dyer made her first walk to the Smart Cage in front of a sold out Zenith Paris La Villette. It was the first time in her professional career the Great Britain Top Team start had went the distance, when she secured a unanimous decision win. She rounded out her first year as a professional with a third round stoppage against Liliya Kazak.
Fellow Brit, Sammy-Jo Luxton will also feature in the tournament. Although only 2-0 as a professional, Luxton is a well established athlete competing in both Muay Thai and K1. She will certainly face a step up in competition to what she has previously met in the cage but 'The Ghetto Cinderella' will no doubt be looking to prove to MMA fans that she has what it takes to claim the Flyweight Championship.
Returning to the PFL Europe scene, Lizzy Gevers will be hoping to advance further than she did the last time, as she sets her sight on PFL gold. Gevers bowed out of the tournament in the opening round in 2023, when she lost a razor close split decision to finalist Valentina Scatizzi, in Newcastle.
Mariam Torchinava will no doubt be looking to add her name to the ever growing list of Georgian athletes rising to the top of the sport. In her 11 bouts, Torchinava has build an 9-2 record and currently finds herself on a 5 fight win streak, with four of those wins coming by way of stoppage.
Dee Begley will be looking to turn the tide on her recent form when she makes the walk to the smart cage for the first time on June 8. The SBG athlete
2023 European Championship finalist Valentina Scatizzi will return to the Smart Cage. Entering last season as a relatively unknown quantity, the Italian instantly showed her toughness when she faced Lizzy Gevers in the opening round and got the nod after a tough 15 minute war. She then received a by in the semi-finals, as Griet Eechout withdrew from the contest and last minute replacement Manuela Marconetto dramatically missed weight. This led to a final showdown against Dakota Ditcheva. After eating several big strikes when tied up in a Thai clinch, the doctor assessed Scatizz’s severely swollen eye, called an end to the bout.
The vastly experienced amateur Paulina Wisniewaska will have a the chance to continue her unbeaten run since turning over to the professional ranks last year. Having competed at several IMMAF tournaments and amassing a 18-7 amateur record, the Polish fighter made her professional debut in September of 2023, before making the walk again in February 2024. In both bouts she picked up unanimous decision wins.
Marie Loiseua will want to add her name to the cohort of French athletes currently performing excellently under the PFL banner. The 43-year-old has won three of her last four contests and three of her six victories coming by way of submission!
