Eric Alequin may have high expectations for himself heading into his next fight, but there’s a reason.
As far as Alequin is concerned, the teammates around him at Kill Cliff FC in South Florida are some of the best in the world, and the depth of talent in the gym every day is making Alequin better all the time, he thinks.
“The pool is just insane,” Alequin recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “There are no easy rounds. I’ve got Dilano Taylor one round. I’ve got Jason Jackson one round. I’ve got Logan Storley two rounds. There are no easy rounds.”
Alequin (7-0) returns to action Friday at the PFL’s first Challenger Series event of 2023, which features welterweights. He takes on Thad Jean (4-0), and the winner will be hoping to impress the members of the PFL brass enough to get an invite into the regular season.
That happened for Alequin’s teammate Taylor in 2022. He fought in the Challenger Series, then reached the $1 million welterweight final, though he dropped a decision to Sadibou Sy.
The 32-year-old Alequin’s opponent, Jean, is eight years his junior and trains in South Florida, as well. He’s got about half the amount of experience, though, and fights someone in Alequin who won the CFFC welterweight title 10 months ago.
Alequin thinks the fight could have some fireworks.
“He’s young and he believes in himself and he’s tough … likes to come forward,” he said. “… I don’t think (it goes to the judges). We’re definitely coming in here to fight each other. We’re both coming forward.”
2023 PFL Challenger Series 1 takes place Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. The card airs on fuboTV.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Challenger Series 1.
