Single-Elimination World Tournament Starts April 2025
Features Eight Weight Classes With Eight of the Top MMA Fighters in Each
Weight Class
Over $20 Million Dollars in Total Prize Money
PFL World Tournament Broadcast and Streamed in 190 Countries, Airs Live in
the U.S. on ESPN Platforms
NEW YORK (January 15, 2025) - The Professional Fighters League announced the launch of its new 2025 World Tournament featuring eight weight classes, each with eight world-class fighters competing to claim the title of PFL Tournament Champion. The PFL 2025 World Tournament starts in April, with semi-finals in June, and finals in August. All fights will be available live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S. and broadcast and streamed live to 190 countries with 20 premium media partners.
One Shot. The annual single-elimination tournament will feature brackets at Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Women’s Flyweight. The PFL World Tournament spans an action packed five months. 64 of the best fighters from around the world will compete to win MMA’s toughest test - win three straight times in five months to become PFL Tournament Champion.
The First Round fights and the Semi-Final fights will be three, five-minute rounds while the Finals are five, five-minute rounds. All events and all fights now allow the use of elbows. The PFL World Tournament will payout over $20 million in total prize money, including a $500,000 bonus for every winner.
The eight brackets and corresponding matchups will be released in February.
“The PFL World Tournament is continued innovation by PFL, and we are thrilled to present to global MMA fans an even more exciting product,” Peter Murray, PFL CEO said. “One shot, single elimination, nothing more exciting in all of sports.”
The complete five-month World Tournament dates are as follows:
First Round
- April 3, 2025
- April 11, 2025
- April 18, 2025
- TBD
Semifinals
- June 12, 2025
- June 20, 2025
- June 27, 2025
Championships
- August 1, 2025
- August 15, 2025
- August 21, 2025
A full World Tournament roster reveal of all 64 competitors will also be announced in February.
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league world-wide. PFL is the only MMA organization with the “win and advance” format. PFL is broadcast and streamed to 190 countries with 20 leading media partners. PFL is backed by major blue-chip investors including SURJ, Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, 885 Capital, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners. MMA is the growth sport business of this decade, with 650 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demographic, and true global revenue streams.
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About ESPN
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About ESPN+
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