Marcirley Alves: From alternate to 2025 PFL World Tournament Bantamweight Champion

Marcirley Alves has proven to be an absolutely dangerous striker, with 10 of his 14 professional MMA wins coming by KO/TKO. After going 1-1 in Bellator, Alves joined the PFL and scored a pair of upsets, finishing Leandro Higo in April and dominating Jake Hadley in June. Now, Alves finds himself one fight away from claiming a PFL World Tournament Title.

Justin Wetzell isn’t going to be an easy task to get through, however. A wrestling specialist who has trained with Cory Sandhagen and Tywan Claxton, Wetzell has won 11 of his last 12 fights. Wetzell defeated Kasum Kasumov in April and Mando Gutierrez in June, and he now is on the doorstep of the PFL World Tournament Title.

Which of these two, who were both originally alternate participants, will be the victor of this year’s Bantamweight World Tournament?

Round 1

The two measure each other in the center of the SmartCage. Right hand by Alves. Alves connects on a couple of inside left punches. A left and a right by Wetzell. A couple of right hands, followed by a left hand by Alves. Alves with a pair of right hands. Alves with a combination before Wetzell presses in, though Alves backs away and throws a left. Calf kick by Wetzell. Jab by Wetzell. Wetzell with a body lock to stop an inside attack. Right hand by Wetzell.

Low kick by Wetzell, but Alves stumbles him back with an overhand left. Another left hand by Alves. Alves connects with a right on an exchange. Another right hand over the top. Right hands from both men. Alves misses a wild left hand. Wetzell level changes. A strong left hand catches Wetzell coming in. Left uppercut by Alves. Low kick by Wetzell, but Alves with a left hand answers. Left hand from Alves is blocked. Wetzell flashing jabs. Alves with a flurry. Alves with another left hand. Strong combination by Alves ends with a solid left hand. Wetzell throws a knee, but Alves lands a couple of more punches before the horn.

Round 1 betwen Marcirley Alves & Justin Wetzell starts with a few nasty trades 😱

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025

Round 2

Jabs from the two. Alves misses a low kick. Wetzell with a brief body lock. Alves catches Wetzell feinting and lands a strong left hand. Wetzell chops at Alves’ lead leg with low kicks. Right hand and a left by Alves. Alves targeting the body. Left to the body by Alves. Big left hand by Alves. Low kick by Alves. Low kick by Wetzell. Wetzell goes for a takedown, but Alves easily shoves it off.

One-two to the body by Alves. Low kick by Wetzell and a left hand by Alves. Solid one-two by Alves. Front kick by Alves. Right hand by Alves. The two exchange with 90 seconds left in the round. Left hand and a right to the body by Alves to get Wetzell to back up. Alves with another sprawl to stop a takedown. Right hand by Alves. Low kick by Wetzell. Alves shoves off a body lock from Wetzell. Alves misses an overhand left. Wetzell misses with an elbow. The two land jabs. Another low kick from Wetzell. Alves lands a left hand but Wetzell presses him into the fence.

Round 3

Jabs from both men to start the round, Alves’ landing more. Wetzell with a body lock, but he’s unable to make it a takedown. One-two by Wetzell. Alves stops another grab. Left hand by Alves. Both men throw jabs. Right hand to the body by Alves. Left hand by Wetzell. Alves with a combination, and he makes Wetzell eat a right hand. Both men land, with Alves aiming for the body. Low kick from Wetzell, but he eats a one-two. Left hand by Alves. One-two by Alves.

Alves lands a couple of small combinations. Low kick and a jab by Alves. Right hand and a left by Alves. And again. Low kick by Alves. A small flurry from Alves sends Wetzell into retreat. Alves with a low kick. Low kick by Wetzell after a combination. Alves lands a left hand. Right hands from both men. Low kick by Alves. Wetzell with a body lock, but it’s easily shoved off. Alves with a right hand. Wetzell attempts a knee, but Alves gets behind Wetzell and he easily takes him down before the horn!

Round 4

Jabs by Wetzell. Low kick by Alves before he blitzes forward off a jab. Jabs from both men. Low kick by Wetzell. A couple of straights from Wetzell. Wetzell with a level change, and this time he gets the takedown! Alves tries to get under one of Wetzell’s legs, and he gets the roll over and gets up. Wetzell presses Alves against the fence, but Alves works his way off. Both men land a left hand. Right hand by Wetzell. Body shot with the left hand.

Alves now presses Wetzel against the SmartCage. Knee by Wetzell. Wetzell tries to get a headlock, but Alves defends his neck. Wetzell lifts Alves up and gets the takedown! Alves quickly gets up and avoids another guillotine! Body shot by Wetzell as the two exchange. Body kick by Wetzell. Alves drags Wetzell to the mat, but Wetzell gets an arm around the neck! Wetzell lets go; he didn’t have it in full. Alves now gets Wetzell against the fence again. Wetzell reverses the position and lands a knee as the two jockey for position. Left hand by Wetzell. Jabs from both men. Low kicks for both men.

Big takedown for Wetzell!

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025

Round 5

Both throwing jabs to start. Alves stops a takedown attempt. Left hand by Alves. Right hand by Alves. A brief body lock before separation. Another body lock, and Alves prevents Wetzell from pressuring him to the fence. Jab by Wetzell. Alves sprawls to stop a Wetzell takedown attempt. Jab by Alves. Wetzell clinches and tries to get Alves to the fence. Low knees by Wetzell. Wetzell tries to get a takedown, but Alves resists and reverses the position. Wetzell with a short elbow on the separation.

Alves with a jab to the body, followed by a right hook. Another body lock. Alves tries to trip Wetzell, but he can’t do it. Strong switch knee lands for Wetzell! Alves is down! Wetzell goes for a D’Arce! It looks close! Alves escapes and is back on his feet! Jabs from both men, but Alves level changes and presses Wetzell to the fence. Wetzell now presses Alves to a different part of the SmartCage. Wetzell with a combination. The two exchange. Wetzell tries the knee again but can’t get it. Wetzell tries to get on the neck as he presses Alves to the fence again. They separate with about 30 seconds to go. Wetzell with a left hand. Wetzell starts a flurry, but he can’t get the knee again. Alves answers back. Alves backs up a bit, believing he’s done enough.

BIG knee from Justin Wetzell and he nearly gets the finish!

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025

OFFICIAL RESULT

Marcirley Alves defeats Justin Wetzell by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47x2) to win the 2025 PFL World Tournament Bantamweight Title.