Lewis McGrillen chose not to enter this year`s PFL world tournament, opting instead for showcase fights. However, this doesn`t mean he isn`t closely monitoring the competition bracket.
The bantamweight standout won last year`s PFL Europe tournament in Lyon, securing a $100,000 prize and his first championship with a major promotion. McGrillen hadn`t initially planned to participate in the tournament but ended up taking a short-notice fight against Dean Garnett, which became a `Fight of the Year` candidate.
From there, he advanced to the final where he knocked out Germany`s Alexander Luster to become champion. He is now set to face veteran Alan Philpott in the co-main event supporting Paul Hughes` significant homecoming event in Belfast.
Lewis McGrillen Monitors PFL World Tournament Ahead of PFL Belfast Co-Headliner
Instead of immediately pursuing world honors after his European triumph, Lewis McGrillen decided on a year of non-tournament showcase bouts. While he believes this was the correct choice, he remains open to stepping into the tournament on short notice this year.
“I`ve watched it repeatedly; I`m always studying these fighters,” McGrillen stated in an exclusive interview. “Ultimately, they are potential opponents, so I need to be aware of what they`re doing.”
“I feel some of the top bantamweights have withdrawn,” he commented. “That`s common in tournaments with quick turnarounds; fighters get injured or struggle with weight cuts. You might not make weight, your body could rebound.”
“These small factors make a difference. I`m looking at the Global tournament; I`ve considered entering it. However, I`m currently receiving excellent offers and good money for showcase fights.”
“It was an easy decision to accept this contract now instead of joining the Global tournament, where the prize money wasn`t as high. So I`ve taken this path. But if someone drops out?”
“I`m ready to step in and fight. I see these bantamweights are world-class, but I believe I can knock out most of them. I`ve studied their movements, and I`m sure they feel the same way about me.”
Lewis McGrillen Predicts Another Brutal Knockout in His Biggest Fight Yet
McGrillen is known for his thrilling, high-paced fights, including his two impressive victories in last year`s tournament. He aims to deliver a similar performance this Saturday night when he co-headlines the event at the SSE Arena in Belfast, which is expected to be a sell-out crowd.
“I live and die by my fighting style,” he continued. “You know what you`re signing up for. I`ve heard things about Philpott, specifically that he used to train with Garnett back in the day and apparently had tough training sessions.”
“So if that`s how his training went, honestly, you should wonder what I`m capable of. It`s going to feel like I hit him with a club.”
Gareth Pendleton