PFL Week 2 predictions: Which bantamweights, women's flyweights will move on in Orlando?
2025 PFL 2 (ESPN2, ESPN+) takes place Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.
Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.
Kasum Kasumov vs. Justin Wetzell
Records: Kasumov (16-1), Wetzell (10-2)
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 04.11.25): Kasumov -800, Wetzell +550
Junkie pick results: Kasumov 11, Wetzell 0
Mando Gutierrez vs. Francesco Nuzzi
Records: Gutierrez (10-3), Nuzzi (10-1)
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 04.11.25): Gutierrez +240 Nuzzi -300
Junkie pick results: Nuzzi 6, Gutierrez 5
Liz Carmouche vs. Ilara Joanne
Records: Carmouche (22-8), Joanne (12-9)
Division: Women's flyweight
Rankings: Carmouche No. 7, honorable mention pound-for-pound
Odds (as of 04.11.25): Carmouche -1000, Joanne +650
Junkie pick results: Carmouche 11, Joanne 0
Leandro Higo vs. Marcirley Alves da Silva
Records: Higo (23-6), Alves da Silva (12-4)
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 04.11.25): Higo -140, Alves da Silva +120
Junkie pick results: Higo 11, Alves da Silva 0
Preliminary card picks
Although they don't count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
Katerina Shakalova vs. Juliana Velasquez: Velasquez 11, Shakalova 0
Velasquez 11, Shakalova 0 Jake Hadley vs. Matheus Mattos: Hadley 11, Mattos 0
Hadley 11, Mattos 0 Jena Bishop vs. Kana Watanabe: Watanabe 7, Bishop 4
Watanabe 7, Bishop 4 Diana Avsaragova vs. Elora Dana: Avsaragova 6, Dana 5
Check out all the main card picks below.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
Higo
vs.
Alves da Silva Carmouche
vs.
Joanne Gutierrez
vs.
Nuzzi Kasumov
vs.
Wetzekk MMA Junkie readers'
consensus picks
42-26
Higo
(91%)
Carmouche
(92%)
Nuzzi
(76%)
Kasumov
(91%) Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
45-23
2024 Champion
Higo
Carmouche
Gutierrez
Kasumov Nolan King
@mma_kings
43-25
2023 Champion
Higo
Carmouche
Gutierrez
Kasumov Ken Hathaway
@1khathaway
43-25
2017, 2022, 2024 Champion
Higo
Carmouche
Nuzzi
Kasumov Brian Garcia
@thegoze
43-25
2017 Champion
Higo
Carmouche
Nuzzi
Kasumov Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
42-26
2014 Champion
Higo
Carmouche
Nuzzi
Kasumov Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
41-27
Higo
Carmouche
Gutierrez
Kasumov George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
41-27
Higo
Carmouche
Nuzzi
Kasumov Matt Erickson
@MattE
40-28
Higo
Carmouche
Gutierrez
Kasumov Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
39-29
Higo
Carmouche
Nuzzi
Kasumov Simon Samano
@SJSamano
38-30
Higo
Carmouche
Gutierrez
Kasumov Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
34-34
Higo
Carmouche
Nuzzi
Kasumov
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
31 minutes ago
- USA Today
UFC signs top Canadian prospect for Vancouver showdown
Melissa Croden's UFC debut will be a homecoming of sorts. The Canadian LFA standout has signed with the UFC and will debut Oct. 18 at UFC Fight Night 262 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver against Tainara Lisboa. Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking Wednesday, but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Croden (6-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has emerged as one of the country's top female fighters. She's 4-1 in her most recent five fights, with all wins being finishes. Her only loss in the stretch came to Jacqueline Cavalcanti, who is now in the UFC. Lisboa (7-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) had a five-fight winning streak snapped in May when she was submitted by Luana Santos. Her UFC victories to date include Jessica-Rock Clark and Ravena Oliveira. With the addition, the UFC Fight Night 262 lineup includes:
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Noche UFC co-main event announced for San Antonio
Noche UFC has its co-main event. Raul Rosas Jr. will step up into the echelon of ranked competition when he fights Rob Font at UFC Fight Night 259 on Sept. 13 in San Antonio. Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie, and the promotion officially announced the matchup Wednesday. Rosas (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) is on a four-fight winning streak since his defeat against Christian Rodriguez in April 2023. He's defeated Terrence Mitchell, Ricky Turcios, Qileng Aori, and Vince Morales. Since losing four of five, Font (22-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) has won back-to-back fights against Kyler Phillips and Jean Matsumoto. The full UFC Fight Night 259 lineup includes:
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Alexandr Romanov: 'It's bullsh*t' UFC cuts ranked heavyweights
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Alexandr Romanov hasn't always, but right now he feels appreciated. Two fights into his PFL tenure, Romanov (19-3) said he's mentally and physically in the best shape he's ever been. He attributes that, at least partially, toward what he feels is a clear promotional direction. "You know form my perspective, there's more opportunities here in PFL, I feel," Romanov told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Tuesday. "UFC never gave me enough fights. They don't keep (us) busy at heavyweight and I don't understand why. Usually, when I just started fighting professional MMA, I was very active. I was fighting four or five times a year. As soon as I signed the contract with the UFC, I started just fighting twice a year. It's a little bit holding you back. Because for a professional athlete, it's the most important moment to be active. You have to know and see the goal in front of you – what you're training for." PFL has breathed new life into Romanov's career after a somewhat unexpected UFC departure. Romanov competed 10 times in the UFC from 2020 to 2024 and went 7-3. When his second UFC contract ended, however, the promotion declined to re-sign him. This, despite Romanov winning his final UFC bout. "I didn't know what's going on now with these guys, what's in their heads. I think heavyweight is really what you can call a king division. If you cut guys who are on a winning streak, maybe something is wrong with them. I can't comment in this moment. But I think these guys who were cut after a win is a big mistake." "... I don't know if the respect the heavyweights or not. It's better to give this question to them, personally. I think to cut the guys on a win streak... sorry, it's bullsh*t." Romanov, 34, fights Oleg Popov (21-2) on Thursday at 2025 PFL World Tournament 10 in the promotion's heavyweight tournament final. Should he win, Romanov will move to 2-0 with one no contest in three appearances. "My hand will be raised up," Romanov said.
