PFL featherweight Bubba Jenkins is entering the 2022 PFL season with a different focus.
At 2022 PFL 2, Jenkins (16-5) competes against seven-fight UFC veteran Kyle Bochniak (11-5) in his first fight of the season at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Jenkins entered his first PFL season last year, but did not achieve his goal of winning the $1 million prize and becoming the featherweight champion. In part, family issues including a battle with his ex for their children during the season turned his attention away from the fight game.
“Even though there was a million dollars at stake and a tournament title, world title at stake, my children – I’m more a father than I am a fighter, so it came first for me,” Jenkins told reporters during Tuesday’s media day. “My biggest focus and biggest worries while having to be in quarantine and having to go through all these different things that were at play, so the focus was much more lasered in on than the million in the tournament.”
Despite the family distractions, Jenkins won his first two fights in the 2021 season, defeating two-time PFL champion Lance Palmer and Bobby Moffett both via unanimous decision. However, he would drop his third outing to Chris Wade, a result that he wants to get back at some point this year.
“Of course I do,” Jenkins said when asked if he wanted to avenge the loss to Wade. “I got a bad taste in my mouth. You know, that’s somebody that I definitely didn’t like the way it went. I lost that fight before I even stepped in the cage. There were many interviews that I gave out before that fight that I just knew that I had a lot more to focus on before I could do that. So, I would say I talked a bigger game than I actually was prepared for last year, and this year is different.”
Check out the full media day interview with Jenkins in the video above.
https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/04/2022-pfl-2-news-bubba-jenkins-says-divorce-talking-a-bigger-game-led-to-loss-of-focus-in-2021-pfl-season