PFL Europe 2 takes place on Saturday, July 8, at the Verti Music Hall in Berlin, live on DAZN. Berlin-based bantamweight Farbod Iran Nezhad will headline against Italy’s Francesco Nuzzi, who enters PFL Europe in incredible form, having won his last eight fights. Catching eyes on the card is the Lightweight bout, as Ireland’s Dylan Tuke matches up with Liverpool sensation, the undefeated Connor Hughes.
The co-main event will star German striking specialist Khurshed Kakhorov up against the hugely experienced Mokhtar Benkaci from France as both fighters look to book their place in the 2023 PFL Europe Playoffs.
Further action in the bantamweight division will see Frans “Black Mamba” Mlambo, who fights out of SBG Ireland under John Kavanagh, face off against former Cage Warriors champion Dominique “Black Panther” Wooding and the unbeaten Ali Taleb from Sweden takes on Swiss star Kenj Bortoluzzi.
While Latvian Alex “Pretty Boy” Chizov, who is unbeaten in nearly six years, faces Spain’s Acoidan Duque.
Rounding up the lightweight division will show Geisym Derouiche fighting out of Marseille, France, to face Cork’s own John Mitchel. Both with six wins, undefeated, and looking to carry on their streaks, whilst Italy’s Radu Maxim will take on Poland’s Jakub Kaszuba.
The fight card has been overseen by mixed martial arts royalty Dan Hardy, who joined the company as Director of Fighter Operations of PFL Europe last month.
Ahead of this exciting event Combat Sports UK caught up with the undefeated Connor Hughes to discuss PFL Europe 2.
Interview With Connor Hughes
Good day Connor. You have a huge fight coming up on July 8th against Dylan Tuke. How has camp been in preparation for this event?
Camp for this fight has been perfect. Everything is on point, the structure of the camp and weight are spot on thanks to my nutritionist Charlie Mitten, and I feel I’m peaking at the right time.
Do you see anything in the skillset of Tuke that can trouble you?
Tuke poses some threats, of course. He looks to have a tricky jiujitsu game. He favours the back and wants to finish from there. He has that long-limb body type and is always active wherever the fight goes, but I don’t think he’s got anything that I haven’t seen or dealt with before. I think he will have a harder time figuring me out in there.
Hughes Talks PFL Europe
You come into this event on the back of your 8th successive win and perhaps the biggest to date, impressively defeating Everton Cruz. How big was that for you and then to get the call for PFL Europe?
I already knew I was going to PFL before the Everton Cruz fight. I actually spoke to PFL after becoming 5-0, they wanted me to get to 7-0 before starting the league so that’s what I did. It was definitely more motivation for me, knowing I had eyes on me an had to prove I’m ready for the next step.
How and when did you find out you were on PFL Europe?
I kinda made it known to my manager from the get-go that PFL is where I wanted to go. My manager told me they were looking for lightweights for the Europe League, and I said sign me up. Then within a few weeks, it was signed and done. Obviously, a big moment for me in my career, a big step up in promotion, platform and competition. It’s perfect.
What can we expect from you July 8th?
You can always expect calculated violence when I’m in the cage, but this one, you can expect a whole new animal. Expect a poet in motion.
Can you give us your prediction for PFL Europe 2?
My prediction is if he gets out the first, he won’t get out the second.
Featured image credits to Connor Hughes Instagram
