Brazil’s Marcirley Alves is slated to face Japan’s Naoki Inoue in a pivotal bantamweight encounter at PFL Brussels on Saturday, May 23. This highly anticipated international matchup adds significant weight to the promotion’s 2026 European calendar. The fight pits the current 2025 PFL World Tournament bantamweight champion against Inoue, a former RIZIN titleholder.
PFL and RIZIN Icons Collide
Alves arrives in Brussels as one of PFL’s breakout stars, following his impressive performance in the 2025 World Tournament. He claimed the bantamweight championship by defeating Justin Wetzell via unanimous decision, with judges scoring the final bout 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47. This championship victory concluded a season where he notably overcame former Bellator contender Leandro Higo and secured a win against Jake Hadley within the PFL, demonstrating his ability to turn the tide in challenging contests.
The Brazilian fighter launched his professional career in 2017 and now competes in the PFL’s bantamweight division, following an earlier period with Bellator. By early 2026, he had swiftly climbed to be ranked among the top five bantamweights in the league, a testament to his rapid ascent within the tournament format. His fight record boasts a significant number of knockout or TKO wins.
Marcirley Alves Faces Naoki Inoue
Opposite Alves in Brussels will be Naoki Inoue, who has established himself as one of RIZIN’s most consistent lighter-weight competitors in recent years. The Japanese bantamweight secured the vacant RIZIN title in September 2024 with a first-round TKO victory over Kim Soo-chul in Saitama. He successfully defended his championship in 2025, first against Yuki Motoya by split decision, and later against Ryuya Fukuda with a unanimous decision. Inoue’s championship reign concluded on New Year’s Eve 2025, when he lost the title via a closely contested split decision to Danny Sabatello, also in Saitama.
Inoue possesses a comprehensive skill set, rooted in karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, allowing him to seamlessly transition between long-range striking and opportunistic grappling. His international fighting experience dates back to 2014, including a period in the UFC before he returned to Japan to revitalize his career with RIZIN. As of the PFL Brussels announcement, he boasts over 20 professional victories, with his recent fights primarily against championship-caliber opponents in Japan.
The PFL Brussels event on May 23 underscores the league’s ongoing expansion into the European market. Promotional efforts emphasize the “Brazil meets Japan in Brussels” narrative for the Alves vs. Inoue bout. The fight card is expected to showcase both seasoned fighters and promising European prospects. This particular bantamweight clash is anticipated to be a compelling stylistic challenge, contrasting Alves’s aggressive power with Inoue’s precise, technical strategy. The fighter who successfully dictates the pace and control the distance over three rounds in Brussels will likely secure a victory that significantly impacts their position in the global 135-pound division.
