2025 in Professional Fighters League

2025 in Professional Fighters League
Information
PromotionProfessional Fighters League
First dateJanuary 25, 2025 (2025-01-25)

The year 2025 is the 7th year in the history of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States.

Background

On January 7, 2025, PFL chairman Donn Davis announced that elbows will be legal in the promotion, after the PFL had banned elbows for the regular season and playoffs. Elbows were typically allowed in non-season and non-playoff fights only.[1]

On January 9, 2025, it was announced that 2025 season PFL no longer will operate its regular season with points-based results to determine playoff qualification and seeding.[2]

On January 15, 2025, PFL revealed that hold eight tournaments in 2025, confirming the $500,000 pay for each winner. In total, it will distribute more than $20 million dollars to the fighters. The tournaments will take place at heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight, bantamweight and women's flyweight divisions.[3][4][5]

Events list

Main article: List of PFL events
# Event Date Venue Location Ref.
1 PFL Champions Series 1: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes January 25, 2025 Coca-Cola Arena Dubai, United Arab Emirates [6][7]
2 PFL 1: Jackson vs. Koreshkov April 3, 2025 Universal Studios Florida Orlando, Florida, U.S. [8][9]
3 PFL 2: Alves vs. Higo April 11, 2025
4 PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards April 18, 2025
5 PFL 4: Davis vs. Wilkinson May 1, 2025
6 PFL MENA 1: Mohammadseifi vs. El Sisy May 9, 2025 Onyx Arena Jeddah, Saudi Arabia [10]
7 PFL Europe 1: Hughes vs. Miranda May 10, 2025 SSE Arena Belfast, Northern Ireland [11]
8 PFL 5: Jackson vs Jean June 12, 2025 Nashville Municipal Auditorium Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. [12]
9 PFL 6: Rabadanov vs. Lee June 20, 2025 Intrust Bank Arena Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
10 PFL 7: Edwards vs. Silveira June 27, 2025 Wintrust Arena Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
11 PFL MENA 2: El Dafrawy vs. Miceli July 4, 2025 The Green Halls Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
12 PFL Europe 2: Habirora vs. Roberts July 5, 2025 ING Arena Brussels, Belgium
13 PFL Champions Series 2: Eblen vs. van Steenis July 19, 2025 GrandWest Arena Cape Town, South Africa [13]
14 PFL 8: Jean vs. Storley August 1, 2025 Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. [14]
15 PFL Africa 2: Ocheme vs. Camara August 9, 2025 Big Top Arena Johannesburg, South Africa
16 PFL 9 August 15, 2025 Bojangles Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. [14]
17 PFL 10 August 21, 2025 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
18 PFL MENA 3 September 19, 2025 TBA TBA
19 PFL Europe 3 September 26, 2025 Zénith Nantes Métropole Nantes, France
20 PFL MENA 4 November 28, 2025 TBA Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
21 PFL Europe 4 December 13, 2025 TBA Lyon, France

Title fights

Title fights in 2025
Weight class Method Round Time Event Notes
Lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov (c) def. Paul Hughes Decision (majority) (47–47, 48–46, 48–46) 5 5:00 PFL Champions Series 1 [a]
  1. ^ For the Bellator Lightweight World Championship. Nurmagomedov was deducted 1 point in round 3 due to repeated groin kicks.

2025 PFL World Tournament

2025 PFL Heavyweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Valentin Moldavsky UD
 
 
 
 Sergey Bilostenniy 3
 
 Valentin Moldavsky 1
 
 
 
 Alexander Romanov NC
 
 Alexander Romanov SUB
 
 
 
 Timothy Johnson 1
 
 Alexander Romanov
 
 
 
 Oleg Popov
 
 Abraham Bably 3
 
 
 
 Rodrigo Nascimento[a] SD
 
 Rodrigo Nascimento 3
 
 
 
 Oleg PopovUD
 
 Oleg Popov SD
 
 
 Karl Williams[b] 3
 
  1. ^ Pouya Rahmani withdrew from the tournament due to visa issues and was replaced by Rodrigo Nascimento.
  2. ^ Linton Vassell withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Karl Williams.

2025 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Phil Davis TKO
 
 
 
 Rob Wilkinson 2
 
 Phil Davis 3
 
 
 
 Sullivan Cauley UD
 
 Alex Polizzi[a] 1
 
 
 
 Sullivan Cauley TKO
 
 Sullivan Cauley
 
 
 
 Antônio Carlos Júnior
 
 Karl Moore 3
 
 
 
 Antônio Carlos Júnior SD
 
 Antônio Carlos Júnior UD
 
 
 
 Simeon Powell 3
 
 Karl Albrektsson 2
 
 
 Simeon Powell TKO
 
  1. ^ Marcelo Nunes withdrew from the tournament before event started and was replaced by Alex Polizzi.

2025 PFL Middleweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Impa Kasanganay 1
 
 
 
 Fabian Edwards TKO
 
 Fabian Edwards UD
 
 
 
 Josh Silveira 3
 
 Mike Shipman 3
 
 
 
 Josh Silveira UD
 
 Fabian Edwards
 
 
 
 Dalton Rosta
 
 Dalton Rosta SUB
 
 
 
 Sadibou Sy 2
 
 Dalton RostaSD
 
 
 
 Aaron Jeffery 3
 
 Aaron Jeffery SD
 
 
 Murad Ramazanov 3
 

2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Jason Jackson SUB
 
 
 
 Andrey Koreshkov 2
 
 Jason Jackson 3
 
 
 
 Thad Jean SD
 
 Mukhamed Berkhamov 1
 
 
 
 Thad Jean[a] KO
 
 Thad Jean
 
 
 
 Logan Storley
 
 Joseph Luciano[b] 3
 
 
 
 Logan Storley UD
 
 Logan Storley UD
 
 
 
 Masayuki Kikuiri 3
 
 Giannis Bachar 2
 
 
 Masayuki Kikuiri TKO
 
  1. ^ Florim Zendeli withdrew from the tournament for unknown reasons and was replaced by Thad Jean.
  2. ^ Magomed Umalatov missed weight (173.6 lb) and he was removed from the tournament. Alternate fighter Joseph Luciano stepped in instead.

2025 PFL Lightweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci[a] 3
 
 
 
 Brent Primus SUB
 
 Brent Primus 3
 
 
 
 Alfie Davis UD
 
 Clay Collard 3
 
 
 
 Alfie Davis UD
 
 Alfie Davis
 
 
 
 Gadzhi Rabadanov
 
 Gadzhi Rabadanov KO
 
 
 
 Marc Diakiese 1
 
 Gadzhi Rabadanov TKO
 
 
 
 Kevin Lee[b] 1
 
 Jay-Jay Wilson TKO
 
 
 Mads Burnell 3
 
  1. ^ Alexandr Shabliy withdrew from the tournament due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci.
  2. ^ Jay-Jay Wilson withdrew from the tournament due to a jaw injury and was replaced by Kevin Lee.

2025 PFL Featherweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Jesus Pinedo TKO
 
 
 
 Ádám Borics 1
 
 Jesus Pinedo TKO
 
 
 
 Gabriel Braga 1
 
 Gabriel Braga SUB
 
 
 
 Frederik Dupras[a] 1
 
 Jesus Pinedo
 
 
 
 Movlid Khaybulaev
 
 Jeremy Kennedy 3
 
 
 
 Movlid Khaybulaev SD
 
 Movlid Khaybulaev UD
 
 
 
 Kim Tae-kyun 3
 
 Nathan Kelly 1
 
 
 Kim Tae-kyun SUB
 
  1. ^ Yves Landu withdrew from the tournament due to injury and was replaced by Frederik Dupras.

2025 PFL Bantamweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Leandro Higo 3
 
 
 
 Marcirley Alves[a] SD
 
 Marcirley Alves UD
 
 
 
 Jake Hadley 3
 
 Jake Hadley SUB
 
 
 
 Matheus Mattos[b] 3
 
 Marcirley Alves
 
 
 
 Justin Wetzell
 
 Kasum Kasumov 3
 
 
 
 Justin Wetzell[c] UD
 
 Justin Wetzell UD
 
 
 
 Mando Gutierrez 3
 
 Francesco Nuzzi 1
 
 
 Mando Gutierrez[d] SUB
 
  1. ^ Magomed Magomedov withdrew from the tournament due to injury and was replaced by Josh Rettinghouse. In turn, Rettinghouse was not medically cleared and replaced by Marcirley Alves
  2. ^ Sarvarjon Khamidov withdrew from the tournament due to visa issues and was replaced by Matheus Mattos.
  3. ^ Ciaran Clarke withdrew from the tournament due to injury and was replaced by Justin Wetzell.
  4. ^ Ali Taleb and Zebenzui Ruiz withdrew from the tournament due to visa issues and were replaced by Francesco Nuzzi and Mando Gutierrez.

2025 PFL Women's Flyweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Juliana Velasquez 1
 
 
 
 Ekaterina Shakalova[a] SUB
 
 Ekaterina Shakalova 2
 
 
 
 Jena Bishop SUB
 
 Kana Watanabe 3
 
 
 
 Jena Bishop UD
 
 Jena Bishop
 
 
 
 Liz Carmouche
 
 Liz Carmouche TKO
 
 
 
 Ilara Joanne 1
 
 Liz Carmouche UD
 
 
 
 Elora Dana 3
 
 Elora Dana SUB
 
 
 Diana Avsaragova 1
 
  1. ^ Taila Santos withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Ekaterina Shakalova.

2025 PFL Africa Tournament

2025 PFL Africa Heavyweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Justin Clarke
 
 
 
 Jashell Ticha Awa
 
 
 
 
 
 Joffie Houlton
 
 
 
 Abdoullah Kane
 
 
 
 
 
 Maxwell Djantou Nana
 
 
 
 Mickaël Groguhe
 
 
 
 
 
 Badr Medkouri
 
 
 Abraham Bably
 

2025 PFL Africa Welterweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Shido Boris Esperanca
 
 
 
 Ibrahima Mané
 
 
 
 
 
 British Boloyoang
 
 
 
 Ayinda Octave
 
 
 
 
 
 Sanon Sadeck
 
 
 
 Yabna N'Tchalá
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2025 PFL Africa Featherweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Patrick Ocheme
 
 
 
 Mohamed Camara
 
 
 
 
 
 Elbert Lukas Steyn
 
 
 
 Abderrahman Errachidy
 
 
 
 
 
 Wasi Adeshina
 
 
 
 Jean-Jacques Lubaya
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Nkosi Ndebele
 
 
 
 Mahmoud Atef
 
 
 
 
 
 Frans Mlambo[a]
 
 
 
 Simbarashe Hokonya
 
 
 
 
 
 Shannon van Tonder
 
 
 
 Boule Godogo
 
 
 
 
 
 Antero dos Santos
 
 
 Karim Henniene
 
  1. ^ Abderrahman Errachidy withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Alain Majorique. In turn, Majorique pulled out and was replaced by Frans Mlambo.

2025 PFL Europe Tournament

2025 PFL Europe Lightweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Decky McAleenan 3
 
 
 
 Gino van Steenis UD
 
 Gino van Steenis
 
 
 
 Claudio Pacella
 
 Gavin Hughes 3
 
 
 
 Claudio Pacella UD
 
 
 
 
 
 Connor Hughes KO
 
 
 
 Sebastien Di Franco 1
 
 Connor Hughes
 
 
 
 Aleksandr Chizov
 
 Mark Ewen 1
 
 
 Aleksandr Chizov TKO
 

2025 PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Mahio Campanella UD
 
 
 
 Matiss Zaharovs 3
 
 Mahio Campanella
 
 
 
 Gustavo Oliveira
 
 Anas Azizoun 1
 
 
 
 Gustavo Oliveira KO
 
 
 
 
 
 Dean Garnett UD
 
 
 
 Tuomas Grönvall[a] 3
 
 Dean Garnett
 
 
 
 Jan Ciepłowski
 
 Jan Ciepłowski TKO
 
 
 Julien Lopez 1
 
  1. ^ Alexander Luster withdrew from the tournament due to an injury and was replaced by Tuomas Grönvall.

2025 PFL MENA Tournament

2025 PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Omar Hussein 3
 
 
 
 Mohammad Alaqraa UD
 
 Mohammad Alaqraa
 
 
 
 Mohamed Zarey
 
 Mohamed Zarey UD
 
 
 
 Ayman Galal 3
 
 
 
 
 
 Badreddine Diani UD
 
 
 
 Ahmad Abdelbast Darwish 3
 
 Badreddine Diani
 
 
 
 Amir Fazli
 
 Rostem Akman 2
 
 
 Amir Fazli KO
 

2025 PFL MENA Lightweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Mohsen Mohammadseifi UD
 
 
 
 Ahmed El Sisy 3
 
 Mohsen Mohammadseifi
 
 
 
 Mohammad Fahmi
 
 Georges Eid 1
 
 
 
 Mohammad Fahmi SUB
 
 
 
 
 
 Salah Eddine Hamli SUB
 
 
 
 Abbas Khan 3
 
 Salah Eddine Hamli
 
 
 
 Souhil Taïri
 
 Abdullah Saleem TKO
 
 
 Souhil Taïri 2
 

2025 PFL MENA Featherweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Akram Nasri[a] 3
 
 
 
 Islam Reda SUB
 
 Islam Reda
 
 
 
 Taha Bendaoud
 
 Drissi Boualem[b] 1
 
 
 
 Taha Bendaoud SUB
 
 
 
 
 
 Izzeddine Al-Derbani –
 
 
 
 Yanis Ghemmouri BYE[c]
 
 Yanis Ghemmouri
 
 
 
 Assem Ghanem
 
 Hussein Salem 3
 
 
 Assem Ghanem UD
 
  1. ^ Abdullah Al-Qahtani withdrew from the tournament due to injury and was replaced by Akram Nasri.
  2. ^ Abdelrahman Alhyasat withdrew from the tournament due to weight cut issues and was replaced by Drissi Boualem.
  3. ^ Al Derbani pulled out of the bout due to medical issues and Ghemmouri therefore got a bye to the semi-finals.

2025 PFL MENA Bantamweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Xavier Alaoui UD
 
 
 
 Ziad Ayman Mokhtar 3
 
 Xavier Alaoui
 
 
 
 Islam Youssef
 
 Benyamin Ghahraman[a] 2
 
 
 
 Islam Youssef[b] KO
 
 
 
 
 
 Moktar Benkaci TKO
 
 
 
 Marcel Adur 1
 
 Moktar Benkaci
 
 
 
 Nawras Abzakh
 
 Nawras Abzakh KO
 
 
 Ali Yazbeck 2
 
  1. ^ Elias Boudegzdame withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Benyamin Ghahraman.
  2. ^ Tariq Ismail withdrew from the tournament due to injury and was replaced by Mehdi Saadi. In turn, Saadi withdrew from the event due to significantly missing weight and was replaced by alternate Islam Youssef.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Donn Davis announces that elbows now legal in all PFL bouts". MMA Junkie. 2025-01-07. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  2. ^ "PFL ditches $1 million winner, season points format for 2025". MMA Junkie. 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  3. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2025-01-15). "PFL reveals dates, details for new tournament format in 2025". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  4. ^ "PFL announces 2025 tournaments over eight weight classes with fighters TBD". MMA Junkie. 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  5. ^ Holland, Jesse (2025-01-15). "New-look PFL announces 2025 World Tournament, start date and weight brackets". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  6. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2024-11-20). "Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes set for Jan. 25 PFL event in Dubai". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  7. ^ Guillen, Adam (2024-11-20). "Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes title fight headlines 'Road to Dubai' Champions Series event on Jan. 25". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  8. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2025-02-11). "PFL announces location for start of 2025 World Tournament". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
  9. ^ Anderson, Jay (2025-02-11). "PFL Announces Four Orlando Dates for 2025 World Tournament". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
  10. ^ Sherdog.com. "PFL MENA Season 2 to Begin on May 9 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia". Sherdog. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  11. ^ Guillen, Adam (2025-03-10). "He's Back! Paul Hughes booked to headline PFL's return to Belfast on May 10". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  12. ^ Gonzalez, Gabriel (2025-03-11). "PFL Announces Semifinal Dates in Nashville, Wichita, and Chicago". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
  13. ^ Holland, Jesse (2025-05-07). "PFL Africa debut announced for July 26 in Cape Town, featuring return of Dakota Ditcheva". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  14. ^ a b "PFL Announces Dates and Locations For 2025 World Tournament Finals". Professional Fighters League. 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
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