PFL World Tournament 2: Bantamweight Shake-Up Adds Exciting New Matchups

The Professional Fighters League has announced significant changes to the fight card for its upcoming World Tournament 2 event, scheduled for Friday, April 11, at Universal Studios Florida. With Ali Taleb, Zebenzui Ruiz, and Ciaran Clarke withdrawing from their respective bantamweight bouts, the PFL has quickly reshuffled the lineup to ensure fans get their fill of high-stakes action. The updated card introduces two exciting new matchups that promise fireworks in the bantamweight division.

𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Your updated PFL World Tournament 2 Fight Card 🔐

•Ali Taleb is out
•Zebenzui Ruiz is out
– 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗽: Francesco Nuzzi vs Mando Gutierrez

•Ciaran Clarke is out
-𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗽: Kasum… pic.twitter.com/emY3Vmsjrd

— PFL (@PFLMMA) March 26, 2025

New Matchups: Rising Stars Step Up

Francesco Nuzzi vs. Mando Gutierrez

Replacing Ali Taleb and Zebenzui Ruiz is an intriguing clash between Italy’s Francesco Nuzzi and America’s Mando Gutierrez. Nuzzi, known as “The Berserker,” boasts an impressive record of 10-1 with a balanced skill set that includes four knockouts and three submissions. He’s been steadily climbing the ranks in PFL Europe, most recently scoring a first-round KO victory over Farbod Iran Nezhad in July 2023. Nuzzi’s aggressive style and finishing ability make him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division.

On the other side, Mando Gutierrez, nicknamed “El Toro,” brings a grappling-heavy approach to the cage. With six submission wins out of his nine career victories, Gutierrez is a relentless ground specialist who thrives in scrambles. Although he suffered a loss to Raul Rosas Jr. on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, Gutierrez rebounded with back-to-back wins in regional promotions. This matchup pits Nuzzi’s striking against Gutierrez’s grappling, setting the stage for a classic striker-versus-grappler showdown.

Kasum Kasumov vs. Justin Wetzell

The withdrawal of Ciaran Clarke has paved the way for Russia’s Kasum Kasumov to face Justin Wetzell in another compelling bantamweight bout. Kasumov, representing American Kickboxing Academy, holds an impressive 16-1 record with eight submission wins. His ability to finish fights via a variety of choke techniques has made him one of the most feared grapplers in the division. Kasumov is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Matheus Mattos at Bellator Champions Series Dublin in June 2024.

Justin Wetzell, meanwhile, is an up-and-coming fighter with notable striking skills and a reputation for pushing the pace. While less experienced than Kasumov, Wetzell has shown resilience and adaptability in his fights. This matchup will test whether Wetzell can handle Kasumov’s relentless pressure or if Kasumov can neutralize Wetzell’s striking with his grappling expertise.

These changes inject fresh energy into the PFL World Tournament 2 card while maintaining its high level of competition. Both new matchups feature fighters eager to make their mark on MMA’s most grueling single-elimination tournament. For Nuzzi and Gutierrez, this fight represents an opportunity to showcase their talents on a global stage and potentially move closer to title contention. Similarly, Kasumov and Wetzell will look to solidify their reputations as rising stars in one of MMA’s deepest divisions.

The bantamweight bracket remains stacked with talent despite these withdrawals. Fighters like Magomed Magomedov, Leandro Higo, Savarjon Khamidov, and Jake Hadley are still slated to compete on April 11. With seasoned veterans and promising prospects alike vying for glory, fans can expect thrilling battles throughout the night.

The PFL World Tournament 2 will air live on ESPN2 and ESPN+ in the United States and DAZN internationally. The early card begins at 8 PM EST, followed by the main card at 11 PM EST. With fighters from around the globe competing across multiple weight classes, this event promises to deliver world-class MMA action.

As April 11 approaches, all eyes will be on Universal Studios Florida as these new matchups unfold. Whether it’s Nuzzi versus Gutierrez or Kasumov versus Wetzell, fans are guaranteed electrifying performances that could shape the future of PFL’s bantamweight division.