PFL have announced the 8 athletes set to compete in their 2024 European Lightweight tournament, with plenty returning faces and new competitors, alike.
After a successful inaugural year, the promotion will return to Europe once more as they visit Paris, Newcastle, Glasgow and an undisclosed location for their 2024 season. The Lightweight athletes are the first of the four tournament weight division stars to be announced.
PFL Europe 2023 champion Jakub Kaszuba will return to the tournament looking to defend his crown. ‘The Auditor’ shone throughout the PFL European season, with his constant pressure and extremely well-rounded game proving too much for his opponents. In the first round of the tournament, Kaszuba needed just over three minutes to tie up a rear naked choke on Maxim Radu. To book his place in the final, the Polishman had to overcome the ever-awkward Dylan Tuke. The Irishman took the first round comfortably, forcing Kaszuba to up his game in order to secure the final two. The official scorecards were all in favour of Kaszuba , 30-27, 29-28, 29-28.
This led to him heading to enemy territory when he faced Irishman John Mitchell in the final, at the 3 Arena, Dublin. Much like his semi-final, Kaszuba had to work his way back into the contest after dropping the first round but that he did, and in style, finishing Mitchell in the second round.
Kane Mousah enters the tournament as the most experienced athlete of the 8. ‘The Danger’ is set to make his promotional debut following a lengthy spell with, the recently PFL- acquired, Bellator. The 37-year-old is 3-3 in his last six and will prove to be a difficult challenge to anyone that is matched against him the tournament.
Ignacio Capella has his first shot on a major show as he comes into the tournament on a seven-fight win streak. The fast-starting Spaniard has four first round finishes within the six stoppages on his record and will be looking to make a name for himself on one of the biggest stages in Europe.
Alex Chizov is yet another returning face to the tournament. The Latvian will look to right the wrongs of his 2023 campaign when missing weight ahead of his semi final bout with John Mitchell cost him his spot in the tournament.
Although losing to Dlyan Tuke in the 2024 Lightweight qualifier, Yazid Chouchane still earns a place in the tournament this year and will no doubt be looking to make the most of his second chance to compete.
Connor Hughes will be hoping he can display more of his skill set this time round, as he too returns to the 2024 Lightweight Tournament. Prior to his unanimous decision loss against Dylan Tuke, Hughes had stopped six of his seven previous opponents but was dumped out of the 2023 tournament when he met ‘The Nuke’ in the opening round. He booked his place in this year’s tournament with a victory over Sebastian Guedes in a Lightweight qualifying bout at last year’s final.
Anatolij Baal enters the 2024 tournament on the back of an impressive TKO finish against Sebas Guedes in a showcase bout at PFL Europe 2. Of his ten wins, the ‘Siberian Tiger’ has eight stoppages with six of those coming by way of KO/TKO.
Daniele Scatizzi will eventually get the chance to pull on the PFL gloves, as the Italian also enters the tournament. The brother of PFL Europe finalists, Valentina Scatizzi, was set to make his PFL debut in qualifying bout on the PFL 2023 European Championship show against Andreeas Binder but due to Binder missing weight, the contest was pulled.
