The PFL`s April 11 event in Orlando encountered significant issues, with the second card of the 2025 season requiring the main event to be changed twice. Juliana Velasquez was among the fighters affected by these last-minute alterations.
Originally scheduled to headline the show against Taila Santos in the opening round of the 2025 PFL tournament, the former Bellator flyweight champion`s fight was ultimately moved to the preliminary card after Katerina Shakalova stepped in as a replacement for Santos.
“I found out [about the change] the moment I got off the plane in Orlando,” Velasquez commented. “My first thought was, `I`m ready. The work in camp is done.` I didn`t train with anyone specifically as tall as Taila; I mainly worked with shorter grapplers, so it doesn`t impact me significantly. When a fighter is truly prepared, they are ready for whoever they face.”
“It`s a quick tournament, and fights happen back-to-back, so you can`t focus training entirely on one specific opponent,” she explained. “With USADA anti-doping tests and the possibility of injuries, there is always an alternate fighter on standby. You have to be prepared for anything that might occur, including an opponent change.”
Velasquez had been keeping track of Santos`s social media posts, and despite recent boxing footage being released, she anticipated the former UFC title contender would primarily aim for takedowns in their planned bout. Although she is prepared to face Shakalova, Velasquez admitted that a victory over Santos on her record would have carried more weight than a win against her current opponent.
“I think that would have added more credibility to my record, but I won`t forget everything I`ve achieved,” Velasquez stated. “I am a former champion. I`ve always said I don`t like fighting fellow Brazilians, and I never have, but Taila is a well-known name, a tough athlete, and it would have been beneficial to face someone like her right at the start of the tournament. However, a fight is a fight, there`s no other way around it. I don`t underestimate any athlete, because a single moment of losing focus can be fatal.”
Velasquez mentioned her readiness to compete for three rounds against Shakalova but expressed her desire to secure a quick finish. Assuming no further late changes, the winner will advance to the semifinal to take on whoever prevails in the Jena Bishop vs. Kana Watanabe match. On the other side of the bracket, the quarterfinal bouts are Liz Carmouche vs. Ilara Joanne and Elora Dana vs. Diana Avsaragova.
“I believe [Carmouche] will win and move forward in the tournament, but since she`s fighting a Brazilian, it`s hard for me to say I`m supporting her,” Velasquez commented, who is looking for payback after losing three times consecutively to Carmouche between 2022 and 2024.
“I don`t root for anyone else, I root for myself, but I generally prefer to see Brazilians win when a Brazilian fighter is involved,” she added. “However, I do think we will likely meet in the cage again one day.”
