MMA Knockout

PFL Media Junket: Daniel James, Kai Kamaka III, Bubba Jenkins Preview Regular-Season Bouts

MMA Knockout's Zain Bando was on the scene for a recent PFL media junket.

Zain Bando

An over-the=top view of the PFL SmartCage.
An over-the=top view of the PFL SmartCage. / (via PFL MMA)

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Local Chicagoland media gathered at the Midwest Training Center last Friday morning ahead of the first event of the PFL regular-season, which kicks off Thursday from San Antonio, Tex.

Heavyweight Daniel James (who competes Thursday in a rematch against three-days notice replacement in Marcelo Golm) and featherweights Kai Kamaka and Bubba Jenkins III (who compete against each other on April 19 in Chicago) were present at the hour-long media scrum.

All three agreed that competing in the regular-season format would benefit them. Jenkins said the PFL’s marketing ploy as the “toughest tournament in sports” is no gimmick, and ex-Bellator fighters must adapt.

Bubba Jenkins III sends message to Bellator veterans

PFL media day session.
PFL media day session. / (via Zain Bando/MMA Knockout)

“As long as I’m here [in the PFL], it is [going to take time],” Jenkins III told MMA Knockout and other reporters. “Anybody fighting me is going to take a little time because I don’t see it going the way they want it. So, I’m excited about them having to figure out what I’ve been doing for the last couple of years, and it is different.”

Kai Kamaka breaks down Bubba Jenkins

Kamaka said Jenkins is a difficult opponent to figure out but nothing he hasn’t seen before.

Kai Kamaka answers questions during a PFL media day session.
Kai Kamaka answers questions during a PFL media day session. / (via Zain Bando/MMA Knockout)

“His biggest strength is his wrestling," Kamaka, a Hawaiian native, said. “So, I feel like the biggest problem will be just him trying to hold me down and kill the clock. So, in order for me to deal with that, I gotta be prepared for someone who’s trying to hold me down.”

Kamaka said he feels prepared no matter where the fight goes and is excited about the challenge.

Daniel James expects to start regular-season with a win

Despite not fighting in Chicago for the third time in four outings, James said his return to action was inevitable, even if it meant a PFL backdrop. James returned to MMA in November 2022 at Bellator 288, a decade after competing on the European MMA circuit.

Fortune was James’ first fight in the States, as James pulled off one of MMA’s biggest upsets of 2022 (it was eventually overtuned to a no-contest). A win against Marcelo Golm less than a year later soon followed, and now, James will attempt to begin his PFL career on the right foot by beating Golm again.

Daniel James appears at a PFL media scrum.
Daniel James appears at a PFL media scrum. / (via Zain Bando/MMA Knockout)

“I feel good cutting back from things and getting my mind right,” James said. “[I’m] mentally ready. I always have to be in a great mental space before I get in the ring. I don’t get in the ring mad. I don’t have any grudges against anything or anybody. So, for me, going into next Thursday, I’m really excited. I’m really excited for my team, and just really excited for the people of Chicago who are watching me make the transition to PFL and fighting on ESPN2/ESPN, you know what I’m saying? So, that’s a big deal.”

The first PFL regular-season event begins with the Early Card at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+, followed by the Main Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, which will see James and Golm featured in the main card opener.

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Zain Bando

ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of Fan Nation and the Sports Illustrated/The Arena Group umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA.  He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.  A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99.