2024 PFL 1: San Antonio Official Weigh-Ins at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Cooper Neill / PFL)
Daniel James excited for “best possible scenario” ahead of PFL 2024 Season debut
Daniel James has been a professional fighter for 10 years and just as the anniversary of his career passes, he’s got the opportunity of a lifetime ahead of him. The former Bellator MMA heavyweight contender joined the 2024 PFL Heavyweight season this year and will begin his quest to the championship in San Antonio, Texas when he faces off against Marcelo Golm.
Originally, James was scheduled to face Tyrell Fortune in a rematch from their Bellator meeting back in 2022 which ended in a no-contest, he will now be facing Golm who was a short-notice replacement.While appearing as a guest for the ‘On The Mic‘ podcast, James discussed how the PFL season is the “best possible scenario” for him at this stage of his career, and how meaningful it would be to represent Chicago throughout this year.
“Coming into 2024 it is the best possible scenario because you know you’re fighting in the tournament that’s a big money tournament, a million dollars is on the line and much more. You can make so much money throughout this tournament. I think it’s a blessing just to everybody to even get a shot, a chance to do this.
I just thought about it last week, a few days ago my son’s birthday made my 10th year being pro, and I was just thinking about that cause I know guys fighting 20 years, and I did this in 10 years. To be at this point right now, and I didn’t know this [PFL] was going to happen, I’m really blessed and I’m excited to be announced to be fighting in this tournament.”
As the journey begins for Daniel James in the 2024 PFL Heavyweight tournament, he also has a chance to bring a title to the city of Chicago. In doing so, he would join former PFL champion Louis Taylor and UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad as proud representatives of Chicago and fighters who still train there. Representing a city that has seen many fighters go elsewhere to reach the next level of their career, “The American Predator” said it would mean a lot to represent his hometown city.
“It would mean a lot. To get through this tournament, be a finalist, bring it [PFL title] back to Chicago, that will be so unique. I’d be the first to do it besides Louis Taylor. For me to bring that back as a heavyweight and do that, it’s awesome, it’s phenomenal.”
Phenomenal is one way to describe the 2024 PFL Heavyweight season, as it brings a whole new set of fighters who have been brought over in the acquisition of Bellator MMA, like Daniel James, who was a mainstay contender in the previous promotion. Now, at 42-years old, the Chicago native has an opportunity to win $1 million and a PFL heavyweight championship, making 10-years of work feel complete in just the matter of one PFL season.
