PFL suffered main hits forward of the April 11 present in Orlando, the second card of the 2025 season being compelled to vary the principle occasion twice, and Juliana Velasquez was one of many athletes affected by last-minute switches.
The previous Bellator flyweight champion was set to headline the occasion in opposition to Taila Santos within the first spherical of the 2025 PFL match, and was in the end demoted to the prelims when Katerina Shakalova stepped in to interchange Santos.
“I knew [about the change] the second I hopped off the aircraft in Orlando,” Velasquez advised MMA Preventing. “My preliminary response was, ‘I’m prepared. The job was already finished in camp.’ I didn’t practice with anybody as tall as Taila, I mainly skilled with quick grapplers, so it received’t have an effect on me as a lot. When a fighter is prepared, she’s prepared for whoever comes.
“It’s a brief match and it’s a struggle after one other so you may’t do particular coaching for one fighter. There’s additionally anti-doping [tests] with USADA and doable accidents, so there’s all the time an alternate able to step in. You must be prepared for something. Something can occur, together with altering the opponent.”
Velasquez saved checking on Santos’ social media posts and regardless of the boxing footage being launched, she anticipated the previous UFC title contender to go for takedowns on Friday. And although she’s able to face whoever, Velasquez admits that having a victory over Santos on her report would imply greater than beating Shakalova.
“I believe that may give me extra credibility, however I can’t overlook every part I’ve finished,” Velasquez stated. “I’m a former champion. I don’t like combating Brazilians, I’ve all the time stated that. I by no means did however Taila is an efficient identify, a tricky athlete, and it might be good to struggle somebody like her proper off the bat within the [tournament]. However a struggle is a struggle, there’s no different method round it. I don’t underestimate any athlete as a result of any second of distraction might be deadly.”
Velasquez stated she’s able to go three rounds in opposition to Shakalova however is in search of a fast end. Barring last-minute modifications, the winner advances to the semifinal to tackle whoever emerges from Jena Bishop vs. Kana Watanabe. The opposite aspect of the bracket has Liz Carmouche vs. Ilara Joanne and Elora Dana vs. Diana Avsaragova as quarterfinal matches.
“I imagine [Carmouche] will win and advance within the match, however she’s combating a Brazilian and it’s arduous for me to say I’m rooting for her,” stated Velasquez, who goals to get revenge after shedding thrice in a row to Carmouche between 2022 and 2024.
“I don’t root for anybody, I root for myself, however I all the time favor to see Brazilians successful when there’s a Brazilian concerned. However I believe we’ll nonetheless meet once more sooner or later.”
