Preview: PFL 5 ‘Cappelozza vs. Scheffel’

Featherweights

Chris Wade (21-7, 9-4 PFL) vs. Kyle Bochniak (11-6, 0-1 PFL)

Wade is a veteran of the PFL tournament format who is looking for a breakthrough in 2022. Thus far he has reached the postseason each of the past three years but has yet to collect a championship payout. His Week 1 performance against two-time champ Lance Palmer was vintage Wade, as he kept the former Ohio State wrestler on his heels behind forward pressure, a solid jab and a versatile arsenal of strikes in a unanimous decision triumph. Wade is not a dynamic finisher — 15 of his 21 pro victories have gone the distance — but he is a well-rounded talent who excels in the transitional aspects of MMA and will make most any opponent work to achieve victory against him.

Bochniak looked largely outclassed through two rounds against Bubba Jenkins, but he rallied to make their PFL 2 fight a brawl in Round 3 despite being dropped repeatedly in the bout’s first 10 minutes. That toughness has been an admirable trait throughout Bochniak’s career, notably in a loss to Zabit Magomedsharipov at UFC 223 in which he kept moving forward despite being clearly outgunned in all aspects. Bochniak is a classic wrestle-boxer who relies on decent power in his hands, chopping low kicks and occasional takedowns. He tends to fatigue as a fight progresses, and his skillset doesn’t translate well against superior athletes.

Expect Wade to pressure Bochniak throughout the fight, relying on punches, various kicks and knees to keep his foe off balance. Wade’s scrambling and submission threats have helped him against more dangerous wrestlers than Bochniak, so it’s unlikely that he will be overwhelmed in that area of the fight. Bochniak will be game as usual, but he’ll likely fall further and further behind on the scorecards as the bout progresses. Wade wins a decision here.

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Cappelozza vs. Scheffel
Pettis vs. Ray
Wade vs. Bochniak
Ferreira vs. Abreu