16 Top Fighters Set for High-Stakes, Single-Elimination Tournament Beginning on April 3
2025 PFL World Tournament Available Live Across ESPN Platforms in the U.S. and DAZN
Internationally
NEW YORK (February 12, 2025) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has officially revealed the 16 world-class fighters set to compete in the Welterweight and Featherweight divisions of the 2025 PFL World Tournament.
The PFL 2025 World Tournament kicks off from the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1, with fighters needing to win three consecutive bouts to win the Championship.
The 2025 PFL World Tournament will air live on ESPN platforms in the U.S. Internationally, fans can catch the action live on DAZN. In total, the tournament will be streamed in 190 countries through 20 premium media partners.
“The PFL World Tournament is the toughest test in MMA, where fighters have one shot to win and advance,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Our Welterweight and Featherweight divisions are stacked with world-class talent, each athlete facing a high-stakes, single-elimination path to greatness. Fans across the globe can experience the action live through our premier distribution partners, including ESPN in the U.S., internationally on DAZN, and other premium media partners. The First Round starts this April.”
One shot at greatness. 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.
Additional weight classes will be revealed shortly, the completed brackets will be unveiled on March 11 through a special bracket reveal show, powered by VALR Energy.
Here is the full list of Welterweight and Featherweight competitors.
WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170 lbs) – PFL 2025 WORLD TOURNAMENT ATHLETES
- Jason Jackson (18-5) - Jamaica
- Magomed Umalatov (17-1) - Russia
- Andrey Koreshkov (28-5) - Russia
- Logan Storley (16-3) - U.S.A.
- Mukhamed Berkhamov (17-2, 1 NC) - Russia
- Florim Zendeli (10-1) - Albania
- Giannis Bachar (9-2) - Greece
- Masayuki Kikuiri (10-2-1) - Japan
- Alternate - Thad Jean (8-0) - USA
- Alternate - Joseph Luciano (10-2) - Australia
At Welterweight, three former Bellator MMA Champions—Jason Jackson, Andrey Koreshkov, and former Interim Champion Logan Storley—enter the PFL 2025 World Tournament, bringing elite experience and championship pedigree to the bracket. Meanwhile, Albania’s Florim Zendeli makes the leap to the global stage after capturing the 2024 PFL Europe Welterweight Title. Magomed Umalatov, a dominant force at 17-1, looks to bounce back from his first-ever defeat in the 2024 PFL Welterweight Championship, while submission specialist Mukhamed Berkhamov aims to build on his impressive victory over former 2x PFL Champion Ray Cooper III in his promotional debut. Rounding out the field, exciting Greek striker Giannis Bachar and former Pancrase Interim Champion and Bellator veteran Masayuki Kikuiri enter as dark horses poised to make a statement. With a mix of former champions, rising stars, and proven contenders, the 170-pound bracket promises some of the most thrilling matchups in the 2025 PFL World Tournament.
FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION (145 lbs) – PFL 2025 WORLD TOURNAMENT ATHLETES
- Jesus Pinedo (23-6-1) - Peru
- Gabriel Braga (15-2) - Brazil
- Adam Borics (19-2) - Hungary
- Movlid Khaybulaev (21-0-1, 1 NC) - Russia
- Jeremy Kennedy (19-5) - Canada
- Yves Landu (21-9) - France
- Nathan Kelly (11-3) - Ireland
- Tae Kyun Kim (10-1) - South Korea
- Alternate - Frederick Dupras (8-1) - Canada
- Alternate - Nathan Ghareeb (10-3) - U.S.A.
Reigning 2023 PFL Champion Jesus Pinedo returns after a year away, looking to reclaim his Featherweight title. Also competing is Pinedo’s 2023 Championship opponent, Gabriel Braga, who carries on his father’s fighting legacy. Former Bellator No. 1 contender Adam Borics, a dynamic striker who was sidelined last season due to injury, is back and ready to make a statement. Meanwhile, undefeated 2021 PFL Champion Movlid Khaybulaev looks to add another belt to the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov school of champions. Canada’s Jeremy Kennedy, a former Bellator title challenger, brings a wealth of experience, while France’s Yves Landu is one of the division’s most unpredictable fighters, known for his flashy striking and post-fight dance moves. Rising Irish prospect Nathan Kelly, fighting out of SBG Ireland, will compete after an impressive run in Bellator.
Upcoming 2025 PFL World Tournament Schedule:
- April 3, 2025, Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19 - Main Card airs live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 pm ET
- April 11, 2025, Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19 - Main Card airs live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 11:30 pm ET
- April 18, 2025, Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19 - Main Card airs live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 7 pm ET
- May 1, 2025, Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19 - Main Card airs live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 pm ET
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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