PFL News & FeaturesJustin Wetzell Endured 20-Hour Weight Cut Ahead of PFL Semifinal Victory
Justin
Wetzell battled through quite the fight in Wichita, Kansas, and
that was before his semifinal bout took place.
The Denver-based bantamweight had to cut weight for 20 consecutive hours just to hit the scales, which he called the toughest battle of his life. Ultimately, Wetzell made weight for his PFL semifinal fight against Mando Gutierrez and then excelled on the ground to pick up a unanimous decision victory.
Starting the tournament as a short-notice replacement, Wetzell was
a major betting underdog when he defeated Kasum
Kasumov in the opening round. After beating the odds on both
the betting side and the physical side in his semifinal matchup,
Wetzell is not stopping until he achieves gold.
Following his win over Gutierrez, Wetzell spoke to the media, sharing his world tour plan to a tournament championship and what he learned about himself as he fought through a grueling weight cut.
“We went to Russia (figuratively) and defeated Kasumov, came back to the States, went down to Mexico to win this fight (vs. Gutierrez), and now we’re going to the equator to Brazil to finish this tour,” Wetzell said.
Discussing the battle he went through to make weight, Wetzell said the journey of a fighter is one of the highest highs and lowest lows, but that’s what makes a champion.
“This sport is the highest highs and lowest lows. The weight cut was the hardest thing I’ve done in my entire life. I cut weight for 20 hours straight from 2 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday — 20 hours straight,” he said. “This means everything to me, so that’s why I would do it again, but that being said, I’m not doing that again. We are going to keep the weight down. I have to make championship weight, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Wetzell acknowledged he was compromised heading into the semifinal matchup with Gutierrez.
“How bad do you want it? There’s so many moments during the weight cut and my career where it would be real easy to stop, but I want it more than anything and it showed,” Wetzell said. “I came in very compromised; my body did not recover. But, that’s how fighting is sometimes. Sometimes you come in, and you’re probably close to 0% than 100%, but you have to deal with it and that’s what I did.”
The sacrifices and battles he’s endured have now led Wetzell to a PFL Bantamweight Tournament Championship appearance. It’s a a fight that he sees as life-changing on many levels.
“This would change my life, people around me and their lives,” he said. “I’m going to be in the helicopter, throw the ladder right underneath me and have my teammates come right behind me. I just got to win that world title and then everything is going to change.”
The Denver-based bantamweight had to cut weight for 20 consecutive hours just to hit the scales, which he called the toughest battle of his life. Ultimately, Wetzell made weight for his PFL semifinal fight against Mando Gutierrez and then excelled on the ground to pick up a unanimous decision victory.
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Following his win over Gutierrez, Wetzell spoke to the media, sharing his world tour plan to a tournament championship and what he learned about himself as he fought through a grueling weight cut.
Fighters
only get one shot! Watch the Semifinals of the PFL World Tournament
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“We went to Russia (figuratively) and defeated Kasumov, came back to the States, went down to Mexico to win this fight (vs. Gutierrez), and now we’re going to the equator to Brazil to finish this tour,” Wetzell said.
Discussing the battle he went through to make weight, Wetzell said the journey of a fighter is one of the highest highs and lowest lows, but that’s what makes a champion.
“This sport is the highest highs and lowest lows. The weight cut was the hardest thing I’ve done in my entire life. I cut weight for 20 hours straight from 2 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday — 20 hours straight,” he said. “This means everything to me, so that’s why I would do it again, but that being said, I’m not doing that again. We are going to keep the weight down. I have to make championship weight, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Wetzell acknowledged he was compromised heading into the semifinal matchup with Gutierrez.
Wetzell Vows to Make Championship Weight for PFL Final
“How bad do you want it? There’s so many moments during the weight cut and my career where it would be real easy to stop, but I want it more than anything and it showed,” Wetzell said. “I came in very compromised; my body did not recover. But, that’s how fighting is sometimes. Sometimes you come in, and you’re probably close to 0% than 100%, but you have to deal with it and that’s what I did.”
The sacrifices and battles he’s endured have now led Wetzell to a PFL Bantamweight Tournament Championship appearance. It’s a a fight that he sees as life-changing on many levels.
“This would change my life, people around me and their lives,” he said. “I’m going to be in the helicopter, throw the ladder right underneath me and have my teammates come right behind me. I just got to win that world title and then everything is going to change.”
Justin Wetzell drives Mando Gutierrez to the ground!#PFLWorldTournament LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 21, 2025
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