Top Reasons to Catch PFL Europe 3

Dean Garnett would like nothing more than to turn a late-career resurgence into a hefty six-figure payday in the Professional Fighters League.

The 36-year-old Team McHale export will put his four-fight winning streak on the line when he meets the once-beaten Lewis McGrillen-Evans in one of two PFL Europe 3 bantamweight semifinals this Saturday at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. Garnett has not lost a bout in almost seven years. He last saw action on Dec. 15, when he took a three-round unanimous decision from Izzeddine Al Derbani under the Brave Combat Federation banner to improve to 12-2-1. Meanwhile, McGrillen-Evans has established himself as one of the more intriguing young talents on the European scene. The Manchester Top Team product last suited up at PFL Europe 2, where he rebounded from his only pro defeat—Weslley Maia outpointed him in December—with a three-round unanimous decision over Matiss Zaharovs on June 8. McGrillen-Evans serves as a short-notice replacement for Federico Fasciano.

Alexander Luster and Julien Lopez are set to lock horns in the other bantamweight semifinal. Luster has posted three consecutive victories, all of them finishes, while Lopez has put up back-to-back wins since his ill-fated encounter with Bernardo Sopai resulted in a 20-second knockout loss in February 2023.

In addition to the semifinal showdowns in the bantamweight division, here are three other reasons to catch PFL Europe 3:

Hunger Pangs

The Professional Fighters League appears to have quite the find in defending PFL Europe champion Jakub Kaszuba. He puts his perfect 12-0 record on the line when he faces Daniele Scatizzi in one of two lightweight semifinals. Kaszuba linked arms with the PFL in 2023, then proceeded to rattle off consecutive victories over Radu Maxim, Dylan Tuke and John Mitchell, the latter resulting in a $100,000 payday for the Jacksonville, Florida-based Gracie Barra rep. He last fought at PFL Europe 1, where he swept scorecards from Kane Mousah six months ago. On the other side of the ledger, Scatizzi has won five of his past eight bouts. The SBG Ireland export made his PFL debut on March 7, when he dispatched Aleksandrs Chizovs with a first-round heel hook to advance in the 155-pound draw. Connor Hughes and Ignacio Capella are scheduled to collide in the second lightweight semifinal.

No Trivial Pursuits

Jack Grant joined the PFL with prestige and the accompanying paycheck in mind. The 32-year-old Fight Ministry product takes the next step in his journey when he does battle with Florim Zendelli in one of two welterweight semifinals. Grant, 32, boast 19 finishes among his 20 career victories—10 by knockout or technical knockout and nine by submission. He last appeared on June 8, when he needed just 41 seconds to swipe aside Charlie Leary with a slam and follow-up punches at PFL Europe 2. Meanwhile, Zendelli steps back into view on the strength of a four-fight unbeaten streak. The Planet Eater rep moved forward in the 170-pound field at PFL Europe 1, where he put Tomasz Langowski to sleep with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their March 7 confrontation. Zendelli was a National Fighting Championship titleholder prior to his arrive in the PFL. Ibrahima Mane squares off with Daniele Miceli in the other welterweight semifinal.

Burden of Proof

Talent evaluators across the sport view Shanelle Dyer as a blue-chip prospect with the potential for superstardom. The undefeated Great Britain Top Team standout presses forward with her development when she toes the line against Valentina Scatizzi in one of two women’s flyweight semifinals. Dyer has finished four of her first five opponents, three of them inside one round. The Brad Pickett protégé last fought at PFL Europe 2, where she felled Mariam Torchinava with a head kick and continued to fuel the considerable hype behind her at 125 pounds. On the other side of the equation, Scatizzi figures to climb into the cage as a sizeable underdog. The SBG Ireland-trained Italian last competed on June 8, when she was awarded a unanimous verdict over Marie Loiseau. Paulina Wisniewska and Karolina Wojcik confront one another in the other women’s flyweight semifinal.