FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Chris Wade never lived up to his potential in the UFC, but he’s flourished as part of the PFL roster.
Although Wade failed to reach the PFL finals on two occasions, 2021 has been his breakout year in which he finally got past his semifinals hurdle. Wade defeated Anthony Dizy, scored his first-career knockout against Arman Ospanov and upset Bubba Jenkins en route to a shot at $1 million.
Winning the title on Wednesday would mean everything to Wade (20-6), who sees PFL as the best possible place he could be outside of the UFC.
“This absolutely is the biggest moment of my career,” Wade told MMA Junkie at Monday’s media day. “That’s just because of the opportunity that’s at hand, and anytime you can tie a world title in a big organization like the PFL – I truly believe that the PFL is the No. 2 fight organization in the world right now. That’s no disrespect to us. I say us because I believe in the PFL. I always have, and it’s just the UFC has been around for longer.
“They have the name, the notoriety, they’re 25, 30 years running, so we’re working diligently to catch them, and I think that we will. But I think it’s time to move past some of that stuff. This is where I want to be, this is where I want to make my legacy in the PFL. I believe in their format. I believe in the opportunities they give fighters, so I’m just very happy to be in this moment.”
Two fighters who stood out for both their charisma and fighting style were Jenkins and Brendan Loughnane, but neither one of them made it to the finale. Instead, Wade will face Movlid Khaybulaev (18-0-1) in Wednesday’s PFL Championship, which takes place at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla.
Wade thinks he was underestimated in the competition simply because he moved down a weight class for this season.
“I don’t think I was forgotten about, but I think I was written off just because of – like, they spun the weight cut like it was going to be a negative on me,” Wade said. “Like I would be less of a fighter, and I’m a wrestler. I grew up my whole life doing this. I know how to cut weight and endure this and do it the right way.”
Chris Wade doesn’t downplay PFL title fight: ‘This absolutely is the biggest moment of my career’
