Juliana Velasquez Predicts Fourth Bout with Liz Carmouche in PFL Tourney Final

Juliana Velasquez is unfazed by a last-minute change in opponent in the Professional Fighters League flyweight tournament.

The former Bellator champion was originally supposed to face Taila Santos in a first-round matchup on Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. However, on Monday the promotion announced Santos had pulled out of the bout and would be replaced by Ekaterina Shakalova.

“When you participate in a grand prix, you know that these kind of short-notice opponent changes are part of the game,” Velasquez told Sherdog.com “In my daily routine at Team Nogueira, I train mostly with men — big ones, small ones, strikers, grapplers. That's what MMA is all about. Of course against Ekaterina I´ll change my strategy a little bit. But I'm ready for any girl in my division.”  

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, April 11 at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2..

The Brazilian is coming off a TKO win over American Lisa Maudin, but before that positive result, Juliana was coming from a sequence of three defeats to Liz Carmouche — twice in Bellator and once in the PFL. Velasquez is eager to have another chance against the 41-year-old-veteran.

“For the experience she has, I believe Carmouche will be my opponent in the final,” Velasquez said. “But this time the result will be different. I´m training harder than ever and I'm really focused on my goal. I know exactly where I want to be and how hard I´m able to train to reach the PFL 2025 [tournament] title.”