Chris Wade relishes chance to knock off another Division I wrestler in Lance Palmer in 2022 PFL season opener

Chris Wade is looking to take out another Division I wrestler.

Wade (20-7) meets two-time featherweight champion Lance Palmer (22-5) on Thursday at 2022 PFL 2, which takes place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

A finalist last year, Division III wrestler Wade eliminated Division I wrestler Bubba Jenkins in the semifinals. Competitively speaking, he’s looking forward to the challenge of taking out another more credentialed wrestler in Palmer.

“Lance, to me, is another guy that I’ll always have respect for,” Wade told MMA Junkie Radio. “He came through the same sport that I did, and I really respect what he’s accomplished, but this is a fight for me where I get to kind of prove myself more with a name, and it was like that with Bubba, as well.

“I get the opportunity to knock off somebody who has more of a wrestling pedigree than I do because they went D-I and for longer. So these are the type of fights that I eye up, and I really want to test myself against these types of opponents. They come from my neck of the woods, and I like to show everyone that I’m the real deal coming from wrestling especially.”

In three PFL campaigns, Wade has fallen short in the semifinals twice then the finals last year against Movlid Khaybulaev. The 34-year-old admits that his loss to Khaybulaev was the toughest pill to swallow, which took him months to get over.

Getting so close to his ultimate goal has left Wade more motivated than ever, and he vows to be hungrier than Palmer, who has already won the $1 million prize twice.

“I’m really, really poised to make my best run at this yet,” Wade said. “I know, like you said, I’m the equivalent of the sports team that’s been in the NFC championship game and been knocking at the door in the Super Bowl last year. Like in my mind, yeah Lance won this thing a couple of times, but so did Natan (Schulte). They also have that Conor McGregor aspect going where they can’t help it. They’ve already succeeded, and he’s won a few times.

“He’s comfortable, and I’m not. That’s the bottom line, is that I’m not. I don’t have that belt. I don’t have that money that he’s already accumulated, and I’m out there with more to prove. I’m hungrier, and I’m really, really planning this year to show everybody just how serious I am about taking this division. I know Movlid is not there right now and for me, it’s like I’m the highest returning guy that there is, and I plan to continue on what I was doing.”