PFL News & FeaturesJustin Wetzell Embraces Underdog Role
Justin
Wetzell authored the biggest upset in
Professional Fighters League bantamweight quarterfinals, as he
earned a unanimous decision over -1100 betting favorite Kasum
Kasumov and made a resounding statement. However, the result
was no surprise to him.
“I knew I was fighting a guy out of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s gym with a great record,” Wetzell told Sherdog.com. “I came in on two weeks’ notice. Watching him fight, I knew it was a fight I could win and dominate. It just came down to how my body would hold up with the weight cut. After the first round, I knew he was a good fighter, but it was my fight to win. Numbers mean nothing when the cage door shuts.”
Wetzell admits he was both terrified and thrilled when he received
the call from PFL officials asking him to step in on short
notice.
“Here we go. That was my mindset,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a hard battle on the scale and in the cage, but this is something legendary stories are made of. I’m going to be world champion. This is something I’ll tell my family about—what I had to do to get here. This is what legends are made of. This is going to be my story.”
“I want to be remembered as a guy who was overlooked, who came out of nowhere, rose to the occasion, dominated and showed the world he’s one of the best,” he said. “I truly believe I’m one of the best in the world, and I can bring that here to the PFL.”
Wetzell pointed to the promotion’s vote of confidence in him as further motivation.
“I love it here,” he said. “They know I’m one of the new guys, but the PFL is investing in me. They’re trying to build new talent.”
The 33-year-old Wetzell now shifts his attention to Mando Gutierrez, the man who awaits him a PFL 2025 World Tournament 6 bantamweight semifinal on Friday at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
Fighters only get one shot! Watch the Semifinals of the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, June 20 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+
“My opponent has fought in the UFC and other organizations, but I’m kind of homegrown here,” he said. “This is my first major-league appearance, and I think they’re smart to invest in new blood, to create new stars, and that’s what I’m going to be.”
Wetzell also wants his story to inspire others who may be struggling.
“No matter where you’re at in life—even if you’re at rock bottom—you can’t give up,” he said. “I was there last year. Now I plan to be riding the highs in August. There are a lot of people out there who feel alone. A lot of men feel empty. Never give up. Whether it’s in a cage or in life, things will turn around.”
Wetzell concedes that winning the PFL world championship—and the accompanying $500,000 prize—would be a life-changing event.
“It would show I’m one of the best fighters in the world,” he said. “On a personal level, it’s a chance to change my life forever. For me, it’s about winning the world title. The money is secondary. I’m going to win the tournament, come back next year and win it again. I’m just going to keep rolling.”
“I knew I was fighting a guy out of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s gym with a great record,” Wetzell told Sherdog.com. “I came in on two weeks’ notice. Watching him fight, I knew it was a fight I could win and dominate. It just came down to how my body would hold up with the weight cut. After the first round, I knew he was a good fighter, but it was my fight to win. Numbers mean nothing when the cage door shuts.”
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“Here we go. That was my mindset,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a hard battle on the scale and in the cage, but this is something legendary stories are made of. I’m going to be world champion. This is something I’ll tell my family about—what I had to do to get here. This is what legends are made of. This is going to be my story.”
Wetzell hopes to prove that he belongs not only among the best in
the bantamweight division but as a true star on the PFL roster.
“I want to be remembered as a guy who was overlooked, who came out of nowhere, rose to the occasion, dominated and showed the world he’s one of the best,” he said. “I truly believe I’m one of the best in the world, and I can bring that here to the PFL.”
Wetzell pointed to the promotion’s vote of confidence in him as further motivation.
“I love it here,” he said. “They know I’m one of the new guys, but the PFL is investing in me. They’re trying to build new talent.”
The 33-year-old Wetzell now shifts his attention to Mando Gutierrez, the man who awaits him a PFL 2025 World Tournament 6 bantamweight semifinal on Friday at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
Fighters only get one shot! Watch the Semifinals of the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, June 20 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+
“My opponent has fought in the UFC and other organizations, but I’m kind of homegrown here,” he said. “This is my first major-league appearance, and I think they’re smart to invest in new blood, to create new stars, and that’s what I’m going to be.”
Wetzell also wants his story to inspire others who may be struggling.
“No matter where you’re at in life—even if you’re at rock bottom—you can’t give up,” he said. “I was there last year. Now I plan to be riding the highs in August. There are a lot of people out there who feel alone. A lot of men feel empty. Never give up. Whether it’s in a cage or in life, things will turn around.”
Wetzell concedes that winning the PFL world championship—and the accompanying $500,000 prize—would be a life-changing event.
“It would show I’m one of the best fighters in the world,” he said. “On a personal level, it’s a chance to change my life forever. For me, it’s about winning the world title. The money is secondary. I’m going to win the tournament, come back next year and win it again. I’m just going to keep rolling.”
Mando Gutierrez & Justin Wetzell are ready for war. Who will come out on top?#PFLWorldTournament pic.twitter.com/UxOuPYymTW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 19, 2025
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