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PFL Europe 2 (2023) Predictions, Fight Card, and Odds (Jul 8)

  • Annie Adkins
  • Jul 6, 2023 at 6:39 AM EDT

Pick rationale

Analysis & key factors

  • PFL Europe 2 is on the program on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Berlin.
  • Francesco Nuzzi’s PFL Europe 2 odds suggest he’s gonna triumph in the main event.
  • Priced at +140, Griet Eeckhout looks like an ideal bet for those who like backing underdogs.

Top prospects from Europe will get a chance to showcase their MMA talent on Saturday, July 8, at the 2023 PFL Europe 2 event, taking place at Verti Music Hall in Berlin, Germany.

The event will see quarterfinal bouts in the men’s Lightweight and Bantamweight divisions, as well as a couple of women’s fights. The PFL Europe 2 odds are out for some of those fights, which are the ones we’ll preview in this post.


Schedule and How to Watch

  • Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • When: Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 12 p.m ET
  • How to Watch: ESPN/ESPN+

2023 PFL Europe Week 2 Predictions

Francesco Nuzzi vs. Farbod Nezhad

FighterOdds
Francesco Nuzzi–275
Farbod Nezhad+215

The 2023 PFL Europe 2 is headlined by a bantamweight fight between Francesco Nuzzi vs. Farbod Iran Nezhad. Bookies favor Nuzzi, which is no surprise considering that he’s one of the biggest MMA prospects spawning from Europe.

The 26-year-old Italian with the nickname “Berserker” is 9-1 in his professional career, with his only loss happening in his second-ever MMA bout. It happened when he was only 19.

Prediction:

  • Nuzzi via KO/TKO

Moktar Benkaci vs. Khurshed Kakhorov

FighterOdds
Moktar Benkaci–140
Khurshed Kakhorov+110

Moktar Benkaci is 20-7-1 overall, with all seven of his losses happening by decision. Plus, the last time he lost was in 2017. Since then, he’s had six wins, as well as one no contest. It happened on his PFL debut, in which he fought Francesco Nuzzi.

He was winning that fight, landing a huge volume of strikes before accidentally poking his opponent in the eye, for which the doctor decided to stop the fight.

If he did well against such an elite prospect as Nuzzi, he surely could do even better against Khurshed Kakhorov. Sure, the Tajikistani-German fighter has a decent portfolio (a 9-1 record) with experience in big promotions as Bellator. Still, most of the opponents he’s faced so far are guys with limited MMA experience. In fact, his toughest rival was Brett Johns, who smoked him in a Bellator fight, winning by KO.

Prediction:

  • Kakhorov via decision

Lorena Cubero vs. Griet Eeckhout

FighterOdds
Lorena Cubero–200
Griet Eeckhout+160

Lorena Cubero is an 18-year-old who’s got a professional MMA record of 3-0, with each win happening by decision. The opponents she fought were 0-1, 0-3, and 1-2 before facing her, suggesting that she had an easy job each time.

READ ALSO: UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez Predictions, Fight Card, and Odds (Jul 8)

So, why is she seen as a -160 favorite against Griet Eeckhout, a Belgian fighter who’s been fighting professionally since 2015 with an overall record of 6-4-1? Because Eeckhout hasn’t fought since 2021.

But she’s been training during that time. In fact, she was supposed to fight twice already this year, but both of her bouts ended up being canceled. That said, we really doubt she’s got any ring rust. She’s in top form and she’s gonna upset the odds on Saturday!

Prediction:

  • Eeckhout win

Christina Breuer vs. Ruby Mesu

FighterOdds
Christina Breuer–240
Ruby Mesu+190

Christina Breuer is fighting only her second professional MMA bout this Saturday, while Ruby Mesu is making her mixed martial arts debut. PFL Europe 2 odds suggest Breuer is gonna steamroll Ruby Mesu, but we’re not so sure about that.

Breuer is a fantastic kickboxer who was ranked among the top 10 best kickboxers on the planet by various publications just a few years ago. Since switching to MMA, she’s 1-0 with the win happening by a submission against Annabell Honert.

She was supposed to fight this opponent once again this weekend, but Honert pulled out due to an injury. Instead, she’s going to face Ruby Mesu, who’s a different sort of fighter.

Mesu is a former Dutch boxing champ with plenty of kickboxing experience, meaning that she could cause serious problems for the favorite. Priced at +200, “The Lady Tyson” does look like a decent betting option.

Prediction:

  • Breuer via KO/TKO

Alisher Abdulloev vs. Osvald Fedorovic

FighterOdds
Alisher Abdulloev–400
Osvald Fedorovic+300

If you’re wondering why Alisher Abdulloev’s PFL Europe 2 odds are so short, it’s because he’s one of the top featherweight prospects from Germany. Born in Tajikistan, he’s fighting out of Berlin, which means the crown at Saturday’s event will be on his side.

READ ALSO: UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez Props, Breakdown, Odds, and Picks (Jul 8)

But even if that wasn’t the case, he’d still be the favorite to beat Osvald Fedorovic. Abdulloev is 8-3 overall, with 63% of wins happening by a submission. He’s a great wrestler/grappler who’s got a decent set of boxing skills. He should have no problems finishing his 4-5 opponent who last fought in 2021.

Prediction:

  • Abdulloev via TKO

Ali Taleb vs. Kenji Bortoluzzi

FighterOdds
Ali Taleb–725
Kenji Bortoluzzi+500

With the 2023 PFL Europe 2 odds of -725, Ali Taleb is the biggest favorite on the fight card. It’s no surprise really as he’s 8-0 with seven of those being finishes (4 by KO/TKO and 3 by submission).

He was supposed to fight Kenju Bortoluzzi (11-4-1) last year at PFL 9, but the Swiss withdrew. Taleb got himself a new opponent – Darius Mafi – who was undefeated at the time. That didn’t scare him. Instead, he beat his opponent by submission in round 1.

Prediction:

  • Taleb via KO

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