Jean and Musaev Meet for the Vacant Welterweight World Title

The PFL returns to the nation's capital on Saturday, July 25 with the division's last two world tournament champions meeting at CareFirst Arena for the vacant Welterweight Title. The Undefeated 2025 PFL Welterweight World Tournament Champion Thad "The Silverback" Jean meets the 2024 PFL Welterweight Champion Shamil "The Silent Assassin" Musaev with the belt on the line. Two champions. One belt. One night to settle who runs the division.

The PFL Welterweight World Championship sat on Ramazan Kuramagomedov's waist for less than a year before officially retiring, and vacating the title in the process. With the belt open, the division's last two world tournament champions step in to claim it. Jean earned the 2025 title with an undefeated run through three of the most credentialed welterweights in the PFL. Musaev took the 2024 title with a string of finishes that ended in a third-round TKO of Magomed Umalatov. 

MAIN EVENT: JEAN vs MUSAEV

Thad "The Silverback" Jean fights for the championship his 2025 tournament run set him up for. The South Florida fighter arrives to D.C. undefeated and ranked #3 in the welterweight division. He opened the 2025 tournament with a first-round knockout of Mukhamed Berkhamov, took a split decision over former Bellator Welterweight Champion Jason Jackson in the semifinal, and closed his tournament run with a five-round unanimous decision over former interim Bellator Welterweight Champion Logan Storley to win the 2025 World Tournament. Jean fights with a fast-twitch striking game built on volume, range control, and finishing instincts. He brings all the momentum into D.C. and looks to show that he is the best in the division.

Watch: Silverback Takes On The Storm! → | Thad Jean v Logan Storley | Full Fight

Shamil "The Silent Assassin" Musaev arrives to D.C. as the #1 ranked welterweight in the PFL. Musaev carries the 2024 PFL Welterweight World Tournament Championship and a resume built on finishes. He stopped Logan Storley early on his run, beat Murad Ramazanov twice, and closed the 2024 title fight with a third-round TKO of Magomed Umalatov. His only career loss came on the scorecards against Ramazan Kuramagomedov at PFL Dubai in 2026. Musaev now fights for the same belt in D.C. and he brings KO power, championship pedigree, and a chip on his shoulder to prove he is the best the Welterweight division has to offer.

Watch: The Silent Assassin Strikes! → Shamil Musaev v Magomed Umalatov | Full Fight

The matchup runs on the question of who controls range. Jean wants a fast-twitch striking pace, mixing kicks and combinations. Musaev wants distance to land the right hand that has ended most of his fights, with the wrestling pedigree to keep the fight where he chooses if Jean tries to drag him into a grind. Jean has to make him uncomfortable in exchanges Musaev usually owns. Musaev has to land before Jean turns the fight into a five-round contest.

Jean has beat everyone in the division that has been put in front of him to get here. Musaev has beat everyone except former champion Ramazan Kuramagomedov. Only one walks out of D.C. being the most dangerous man in the division and as the PFL Welterweight Champion.

PFL Washington D.C. lands at CareFirst Arena on Saturday, July 25. The main card airs live on ESPN in the United States at 10p ET. Tickets are available now at pfl.info/dc.