BFL84: Co-Main Event Preview

July 26, 2025

When you look at the landscape of Canadian athletes that have made the jump to the UFC, BFL has led the way with some of the top prospects in the country. Now 15 years later, we have another wave of athletes that are eager to punch their ticket to a UFC contract. Co-headlining BFL 84 will be a matchup between the elite of the 135 lbs division in Canada. Former 2x BFL World Bantamweight Champion Ali Wasuk steps back into the main event to face arguably his toughest test in grappling specialist, Aso Palani.

A former Canadian National wrestling champion, Palani has continued his dominant rise since moving to the MMA world in 2023. Having faced World renowned grapplers such as Henry Cejudo in his wrestling career, Palani brings a wealth of international experience and confidence into the local MMA scene. With an undefeated career both as an Amateur and a Pro, Palani utilized his superior grappling to dictate where the fight takes place, earning him a top spot in the organization. His fight of the night performance against 2019 Wushu World champion Erfan Ahangarian was a testament that he is ready to prove he belongs at the top of the Bantamweights and his follow up performance against Luis Carlos Banuelos left the door open for a bout against a top ranked opponent in Ali “Bomaye” Wasuk. 

Wasuk has been an enduring figure in the MMA scene in Canada for well over a decade. A former Amateur and Pro champion, Wasuk has fought a who’s who in the Canadian MMA scene. Previous opponents include current UFC roster member Serhiy Sidey, capturing the World Title with a win over Ty Wilson, a number #1 contender bout with Josh Kwiatkowski and a huge win against Ecuador’s Cristhian Rivas in a successful title defense. Only four of his 10 wins have gone to a decision, where he’s been able to utilize his crafty-submission skills in his 6 finishes. Although losing his title against current champion Christian Strong, Wasuk bounced back with another emphatic submission win against American, Rick Zelada. A fighter that consistently asked for the toughest opponents, Wasuk continued to put himself into the fire against another undefeated prospect on his road back to the top.

This is an intriguing chess match which poses a number of ideas; what will be more prevalent in this matchup: wrestling or jiu jitsu? Can Wasuk neutralize the wrestling dominance of Palani and pull off another unique submission? Can Palani maintain control and continue his dominance against the cunning submissions of Wasuk? Will there be a decision or a finish on September 4th? Waiting for a clear winner is the undisputed Bantamweight champion Christian Strong.

Tickets are available at: https://www.showpass.com/bfl-84/