Where there is change, there is opportunity.

That’s the mindset each Professional Fighters League fighter should have as the first round of the new PFL World Tournament kicks off this week.

After six years of operating under the old format — where fighters would compete to be among the top four in the divisional standings for a spot in the playoff — the promotion announced a new bracket format, which will debut with the welterweight and featherweight divisions Thursday (10 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+, with prelims at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+).

In addition to the new format, the tournament will provide new matchups, as many former Bellator fighters will be competing in the PFL tournament for the first time. And with so many new wrinkles added this year, the tournament could also produce new champions.

While MMA fans know most of the favorites in each division, such as former Bellator champion Jason Jackson, PFL 2023 champions Impa Kasanganay and Jesus Pinedo and former UFC title challenger Taila Santos, there are plenty of fighters flying under the radar.

Here’s a list featuring a wild card in each division that could make a championship run this year, starting with the stacked women’s flyweight division.

Women’s flyweight: Kana Watanabe

First 2025 fight: April 11 vs. Jena Bishop

Eight seconds were all that were in the way of Watanabe making it to the PFL semifinals last season. She was dominating Liz Carmouche and on her way to victory until, in the fight’s final seconds, Carmouche latched onto an armbar and got the come-from-behind victory. However, Watanabe is a seasoned vet with a suffocating judo/grappling game that can cause trouble for almost anyone in the division. If she can close the distance and get her fights to the mat, she can play spoiler in this division.

Bantamweight: Jake Hadley

First 2025 fight: April 11 vs. Matheus Mattos

A former UFC fighter and top prospect, Hadley will make his debut in the PFL World Tournament. Hadley is good no matter where the fight goes, and with his experience in fighting UFC-level competition, he is not one to be taken lightly.

Featherweight: Adam Borics

First 2025 fight: Thursday vs. Jesus Pinedo

If Borics can get past Pinedo in the tournament’s first round, he will be the guy to keep an eye on. Pinedo has a diverse skill set and has fought some of the best in the world. Borics also has a wide range of unpredictable strikes that can end a fight at any point, as we have seen in the past.

Lightweight: Alexander Shabliy

First 2025 fight: April 18 vs. Brent Primus

Until his loss to Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov, Shabliy ran through the competition in that promotion. In my opinion, he is the one fighter who can match last year’s champ, Gadzhi Rabadanov, in the wrestling department. Shabliy is well-rounded with good cardio and can be a nightmare for whoever draws him in this tournament.

Welterweight: Thad Jean

First 2025 fight: Thursday vs. Mukhamed Berkhamov

Undefeated and a homegrown PFL prospect, Jean can be a breakout star. He has shown killer instinct in all of his fights and continues to develop in all aspects of the game. Along with that, he has an outgoing personality when he gets on the mic, so while he can walk the walk, he also talks the talk, which the fans enjoy. If he can get past this week’s first round with a dominant win, he might be the surprise bright spot of the tournament.

Middleweight: Aaron Jeffery

First 2025 fight: April 18 vs. Murad Ramazanov

Jeffery is among the top middleweight contenders from Bellator who will be making their PFL debuts in the tournament. He can be the wild card that people are underestimating in this division. He is one of the best wrestlers at middleweight and puts on a menacing pace that is hard to deal with.

Light heavyweight: Antonio Carlos Jr.

First 2025 fight: May 1 vs. Karl Moore

Coming off a disappointing end to last season, Carlos is looking to bounce back and get his second PFL tournament championship. Carlos carries tremendous power on the feet, but where he is best — and I mean the best — is with his jiu-jitsu. No one in the division can stop him if he gets the fight to the ground and brings his opponent into his world.

Heavyweight: Oleg Popov

First 2025 fight: May 1 vs. Linton Vassell

Until he was submitted by Denis Goltsov in last season’s PFL finals, Popov had taken down and outwrestled all of his opponents in dominant fashion. In this year’s opening round, he takes on Vassell, who tends to gas out as the fight goes on. At heavyweight, that happens more often than not. Look for Popov to be the sleeper that outgrapples and outworks his way to the finals.