Movlid Khaybulaev comes away with semifinal spot after split-decision victory

With over a decade of MMA experience, Jeremy Kennedy has built a name for himself around the world. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former Bellator title challenger, Kennedy is 19-5 in his career, with nine finishes and wins over the likes of Aaron Pico, Pedro Carvalho, and Emmanuel Sanchez. Kennedy is coming off a pair of losses, unsuccessfully challenging Patricio Pitbull for the Bellator featherweight title in March 2024 before dropping a decision to Gabriel Braga in November.

Movlid Khaybulaev has made his impact in the PFL already, from sporting the second-quickest knockout in PFL history to winning the PFL Featherweight World Championship in 2021. The unbeaten Khaybulaev is a wrestling specialist who has trained with the likes of Khabib, Umar, and Usman Nurmagomedov, as well as Islam Makhachev and Gadzhi Rabadanov. The Dagestani fighter competes tonight for the first time since June 2023, when he submitted Tyler Diamond.

Which of these two noteworthy names will move on in the featherweight tournament?

Round 1

Kennedy shows an inside leg kick before throwing a jab. Kennedy misses another leg kick. Kennedy flashing the jab as he comes forward. Low kick from Khaybulaev. Right hand lands for Kennedy and Khaybulaev is wobbled! The two throw before Kennedy clinches up Khaybulaev near the fence. Khaybulaev looks for a throw, but Kennedy stops it and presses Khaybulaev against the fence again. Right hand lands for Kennedy. Kennedy keeps Khaybulaev pressed, doing some work inside. Right hand from Kenney wobbles Khaybulaev again! Kennedy throws a flurry! Knee by Kennedy! Blood is flowing from Khaybulaev.

Jeremy Kennedy wobbles Movlid!#PFLWorldTournament
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Khaybulaev with a body lock attempt while being pressed. Kennedy fights out of it. Kennedy lands an elbow. Khaybulaev swings away! Khaybulaev misses a knee, and Kennedy pummels. Another strong elbow from Kennedy. And again. Left hand inside for Kennedy. Khaybulaev fights his way off the fence. Khaybulaev still looks wobbly. Kennedy with a couple of left hands. Khaybulaev may be dealing with a broken nose. Khaybulaev misses a spinning backfist. Kennedy lifts Khaybulaev and sits him down! Knee lands for Khaybulaev as he gets to his feet in the closing seconds.

Jeremy Kennedy is throwing BOMBS 💣🔥#PFLWorldTournament
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Round 2

Right hand misses for Khaybulaev. Both throw a jab. Khaybulaev misses a wild left. Khaybulaev misses a left again. Kennedy misses a left jab. Another wild miss for Khaybulaev. Khaybulaev tries to come forward with a combination, but Kennedy lands a check hook. Left hand from Khaybulaev. Left hand lands to the body for Khaybulaev. Low kick from Kennedy. Left hand lands for Khaybulaev. Left hand and a low kick by Kennedy.

“The Killer” wobbles Kennedy with a BOMB of his own! This one’s a WAR 💥💥#PFLWorldTournament
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Khaybulaev misses a left, but he lands a strong right hand! Leaping knee lands for Khaybulaev! Kennedy crumbles, and Khaybulaev is landing some ground-and-pound here! Kennedy gets to his feet but eats a knee and an elbow. Kennedy lands a right hand as Khaybulaev tries to work him over. Kennedy clinches up with his back to the fence. Khaybulaev dumps Kennedy to the ground. Kennedy is now bleeding from the head. The two exchange inside punches on the ground, with Khaybulaev in Kennedy’s seated guard. Khaybulaev tries to pressure Kennedy and prevent any elevation. Kennedy stands but gets hit with a left hand. Elbow from Khaybulaev. Khaybulaev ends the round pressuring Kennedy into the fence.

Round 3

Low kick from Khaybulaev and Kennedy flashes a jab to start. Kennedy clinches Khaybulaev and lands a knee. He continues to work over Khaybulaev’s midsection with knees while Khaybulaev pushes him back to the fence. Kennedy reverses the position. Khaybulaev gets a change of position again. Knee from Kennedy. Body shot from Khaybulaev. Kennedy with another knee. The two trading knees. Khaybulaev with a level change and he gets to Kennedy’s back. Khaybulaev landing knees to the legs of Kennedy before scoring a takedown. Kennedy quickly gets back up but Khaybulaev is back to work. Kennedy reverses the position again.

Khaybulaev trades places with him again, but Kennedy makes him eat several elbows. Another elbow from Kennedy and Khaybulaev gets to his back again. The two separate. Khaybulaev with a jab. The two swinging, with both men landing right hands. Kennedy does not connect on a takedown attempt, and Khaybulaev brings him back to the fence with control of Kennedy’s back again. Kennedy counters and presses Khaybulaev into the fence now. Kennedy working Khaybulaev inside. Khaybulaev reverses the position and looks for a takedown of Kennedy with less than 30 seconds left. Khaybulaev gets to the back once more before the bell.

OFFICIAL RESULT

Movlid Khaybulaev def. Jeremy Kennedy by Split Decision (29-28 x2, 28-29) in a featherweight first round fight.

Khaybulaev improves his record to 22-0-1.

He moves to the semifinals where he will face Taekyun Kim.