Lewis McGrillen chose to bypass this year`s PFL world tournament in favor of taking showcase fights, but he remains focused on the competitors in the bracket.
The bantamweight standout secured victory in last year`s PFL Europe tournament held in Lyon, earning a $100,000 prize and his first championship title with a major promotion. McGrillen had not initially planned to enter the tournament but ended up participating on short notice, delivering a contender for fight of the year against Dean Garnett.
Following that, he advanced to the final where he defeated German fighter Alexander Luster by knockout to become champion. He is now scheduled to face veteran Alan Philpott in the co-main event supporting Paul Hughes` significant return to Belfast.
Lewis McGrillen Monitors PFL World Tournament Developments Ahead of PFL Belfast Co-Main Event
Instead of transitioning directly from the European tournament to vying for world honors, Lewis McGrillen opted for a year focused on spotlight bouts. While he believes this was the right decision, he is open to accepting another late-notice opportunity this year.
“I watch it constantly; I`m always observing these fighters,” McGrillen stated in a recent interview. “They are potential opponents down the line, so I need to keep an eye on them.”
“I feel some of the top bantamweights have withdrawn, which is common in tournaments,” he added. “When you`re competing frequently within a short period, injuries are likely. Maintaining weight can also be a challenge, as your body might rebound.”
“These minor factors play a role. I`m looking at the Global tournament; I`ve considered it and thought, `you know what, I`ll give that a shot.` At the same time, I`m receiving excellent offers currently with good financial terms for showcase fights.”
“It was a straightforward decision to accept this contract now rather than jumping into the Global tournament where the financial terms weren`t as favorable, so I took this path. But if anyone pulls out? I`ll step in and fight.”
“I see these bantamweights who are all world-class, but I believe I can knock out the majority of them. I`ve observed their movements, studied them, and I`d assume they think the same about me.”
Lewis McGrillen Anticipates Another Devastating Knockout in His Biggest Fight to Date
McGrillen has become known for his action-packed fights, including two significant wins in last year`s tournament. He predicts a similar outcome on Saturday night when he co-headlines the event at the SSE Arena in Belfast, which is expected to be a sold-out crowd on fight night.
“I fight aggressively; you know what you`re getting into,” he commented. “But I`ve heard about Philpott, and I hear he used to train with Garnett back then, and I heard he used to get dominated.”
“So if he was getting dominated like that, then honestly, you should be concerned about what I`m going to do. It`s going to be like I`m swinging a club at his head.”
