A highly anticipated bantamweight clash is set for PFL Brussels on Saturday, May 23, 2026, as Brazil’s Marcirley Alves prepares to face Japan’s Naoki Inoue. This significant international matchup pits the reigning 2025 PFL World Tournament bantamweight champion against a former RIZIN titleholder, promising an electrifying encounter for European fans.
Marcirley Alves: The PFL Champion
Marcirley Alves arrives in Brussels as one of the PFL’s most compelling talents, fresh off his dominant run through the 2025 World Tournament. He clinched the bantamweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Justin Wetzell in the final, displaying his ability to control pivotal moments. Throughout that season, Alves demonstrated a knack for overcoming adversity, securing impressive wins against former Bellator contender Leandro Higo and Jake Hadley under the PFL banner. Since turning professional in 2017, Alves has built a reputation for impactful striking, boasting numerous knockout or TKO finishes. By early 2026, his rapid ascent within the PFL’s tournament format earned him a spot among the league’s top five bantamweights.
Naoki Inoue: The RIZIN Star
On the opposing side of the cage stands Naoki Inoue, a consistent standout in RIZIN’s lighter divisions for several years. The Japanese bantamweight claimed the vacant RIZIN title in September 2024 with a first-round TKO against Kim Soo-chul. He successfully defended his belt twice in 2025, first with a split decision over Yuki Motoya and then a unanimous decision against Ryuya Fukuda. Inoue’s championship reign concluded on New Year’s Eve 2025, where he narrowly lost a split decision to Danny Sabatello in a fiercely contested bout. Inoue’s fighting style is a testament to his well-rounded background in karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, allowing him to seamlessly transition between long-range striking and opportunistic grappling. With a professional record exceeding 20 wins, Inoue has consistently competed against elite opposition, including a previous stint in the UFC before re-establishing his career with RIZIN.
PFL Brussels on May 23 marks another step in the league’s expansion into the European market. The promotional narrative highlights the “Brazil meets Japan” storyline for this particular bout. This bantamweight showdown promises a captivating clash of styles: Alves’s powerful, forward-moving aggression against Inoue’s measured, technical precision. The fighter who successfully dictates the pace and range over three rounds in Brussels will undoubtedly secure a significant victory, profoundly impacting their standing in the global 135-pound division.