PFL 2025: Juliana Velasquez addresses Taila Santos’ last-minute exit

In a dramatic shake-up just days before the April 11 PFL event in Orlando, Juliana Velasquez found herself unexpectedly bumped from the main event slot to the prelims. The former Bellator flyweight champion had been gearing up for a high-profile clash with fellow Brazilian and ex-UFC title challenger Taila Santos. But after Santos withdrew from the bout, Katerina Shakalova stepped in on short notice. Velasquez, however, is taking the change in stride and staying laser-focused on her mission to make a deep run in the 2025 PFL tournament.

The news of her opponent's switch greeted Juliana Velasquez as soon as she touched down in Orlando.
“I knew [about the change] the moment I hopped off the plane in Orlando,” Velasquez told MMA Fighting. “My initial reaction was, ‘I’m ready. The job was already done in camp.’ I didn’t train with anyone as tall as Taila, I basically trained with short grapplers, so it won’t affect me as much. When a fighter is ready, she’s ready for whoever comes."
She emphasized the unpredictable nature of the PFL’s season format, where quick turnarounds and sudden changes are part of the game.

“It’s a short tournament and it’s a fight after another so you can’t do specific training for one fighter. There’s also anti-doping [tests] with USADA and possible injuries, so there’s always an alternate ready to step in. You have to be ready for anything. Anything can happen, including changing the opponent.”
While Velasquez is mentally locked in for whoever stands across from her, she admits the matchup with Santos would’ve added weight to her resume.
“I think that would give me more credibility, but I can’t forget everything I’ve done,” she said. “I’m a former champion... Taila is a good name, a tough athlete, and it would be nice to fight someone like her right off the bat in the [tournament]. But a fight is a fight, there’s no other way around it.”
Also Read: Alex Pereira prepares for UFC comeback through tribal rituals and spiritual healing
Set to face Katerina Shakalova instead, Velasquez is aiming for a quick finish to secure a semifinal spot against the winner of Jena Bishop vs. Kana Watanabe. And with a potential fourth clash looming against rival Liz Carmouche, Velasquez isn’t just looking to advance — she’s hunting redemption.