Pañales confident against Emirati in PFL debut

Ruel Pañales

officially becomes the first Filipino to compete in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) when he sees action on Saturday at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

And while that alone is already a feat on its own, the 28-year-old mixed martial artist from Las Piñas knows it would be an utter disappointment not to adorn such a historic milestone with a triumph.

“I feel good and ready,” Pañales told the Inquirer on the eve of the 12-fight showpiece that kicks off at 11:30 p.m. Manila time. “I take confidence from the grace of God and not from myself and I feel good because I trust in His will.

“I want to win for my team and for the country,” he added. “But now that I also have a wife, I want to win even more for the future of the family that I hope to build.”

The Filipino’s bid will go through hometown bet Hadi Omar al Hussaini in the Road to Dubai Champions Series of the PFL, which will pit standouts from Dagestan and Ireland.

Different styles

Pañales (5-2) and Omar al Hussaini (5-1) are both coming from a loss. Both fighters, however, have contrasting styles, with the Filipino ending his fights through knockouts and his opponent via submissions.

But having been a champion, though in a promotion of lesser light, and having also fought in well-funded outfits like Brave CF and the UFC, Pañales is aware that looking at a fight from just a single lens would be costly. He knows that he also has flaws.

“My disadvantage [would be my] body clock, since I’m from the Philippines, there’s a time difference. I’ll need to adjust,” he said.

As he broke down his deficiencies, Pañales also pointed to a couple of things that make him feel a notch above his Emirati foe.

“I’m taller and stronger. And I see that I am more well-rounded than him,” he said, before calling upon fellow Filipinos to keep tabs on him.