PFL returns to European soil for its second event of 2026, this time landing in Northern Ireland for PFL Belfast this Thursday.
Although the original main event fighter and Irish MMA star Paul Hughes had to withdraw due to injury, his undefeated countryman Darragh Kelly has stepped up to headline against Jay Jay “The Maori Kid” Wilson. The card also features a lineup of seasoned veterans and promising Irish talents eager to impress their home crowd.
Irish Prospects at PFL Belfast
In the main event, lightweight contender Darragh Kelly aims to maintain his undefeated streak and extend his professional record to 10-0 against New Zealander Jay Jay Wilson. Wilson, who holds an 11-2 record, will be looking to get back in the win column in Ireland and upset the local fans. Kelly, with a significant portion of his professional bouts under Bellator and PFL, boasts a 78% finish rate, with both of his PFL appearances last year ending in submission victories. He will be hoping for a similar outcome to kick off his 2026 campaign and climb the new PFL rankings.
At the 170lb welterweight division, the imposing Eoin Sheridan, hailing from the renowned SBG Ireland gym, will enter the cage. Sheridan, who has sparred with Conor McGregor, represents his famed gym well at PFL Belfast. With a perfect 4-0 professional record, the 6’5″ Sheridan headlines the preliminary card against Chris Mixan, who is 7-1 and secured a first-round TKO win in his PFL return last August. Speaking to Brandon Talks Fighting about the upcoming bout at the SSE Arena, Sheridan stated, “Yeah he’s a great opponent, great boxing good striker he’s got a lot of knockouts. Would I consider him the best I fought, not necessarily I’ve fought some top level opposition. So yeah he’s just another good fighter and I’m looking to take him out like the rest of them.”
Another talent emerging from SBG Ireland is bantamweight Ciaran Clarke. Hailing from Drogheda, Ireland, Clarke has long been anticipated by Irish fans as a future star in the sport. PFL Belfast presents his opportunity to showcase his abilities on a global stage in his PFL debut. Clarke has been inactive since September 2024, marking his longest layoff since turning professional in 2019. He now faces a significant step up in competition against the well-known Englishman Dean Garnett, after spending his entire professional career with Bellator. Garnett, now 10-0, is looking to rebound from a controversial stoppage loss at PFL Lyon, which concluded his 2025 season after two earlier victories. His PFL debut saw him in one of the most exciting MMA fights back in 2024 against Lewis McGrillen, and he has since proven to be a valuable addition to the PFL’s 135lb roster.
The second bout of the night features an all-Irish matchup between two exciting prospects, both making only their second professional appearance. Eoghan Masoliver, a highly discussed bantamweight from Fight Academy Ireland, made his professional debut just one month ago at Cage Conflict. Masoliver boasts an impressive amateur record, having secured multiple titles across various organizations. Facing him will be Shane Mullen, another 1-0 Irishman making his PFL debut. Mullen’s sole victory came in June 2025 with a swift 28-second D’Arce choke win in Pisa on Tower Cage Fighting.
Who will make the biggest impact at PFL Belfast?