2025 in Professional Fighters League

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.

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

Background

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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

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# 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 August 1, 2025 Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. [14]
15 PFL 9 August 15, 2025 Bojangles Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
16 PFL 10 August 21, 2025 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
17 PFL MENA 3 September 19, 2025 TBA TBA
18 PFL MENA 4 November 28, 2025 TBA Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Title fights

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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

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2025 PFL Heavyweight Tournament

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Valentin Moldavsky UD
 
 
 
  Sergey Bilostenniy 3
 
  Valentin Moldavsky
 
 
 
  Alexander Romanov
 
  Alexander Romanov SUB
 
 
 
  Timothy Johnson 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Abraham Bably 3
 
 
 
  Rodrigo Nascimento[a] SD
 
  Rodrigo Nascimento
 
 
 
  Oleg Popov
 
  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

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Phil Davis TKO
 
 
 
  Rob Wilkinson 2
 
  Phil Davis
 
 
 
  Sullivan Cauley
 
  Alex Polizzi[a] 1
 
 
 
  Sullivan Cauley TKO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Karl Moore 3
 
 
 
  Antônio Carlos Júnior SD
 
  Antônio Carlos Júnior
 
 
 
  Simeon Powell
 
  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

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

2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament

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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

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci[a] 3
 
 
 
  Brent Primus SUB
 
  Brent Primus
 
 
 
  Alfie Davis
 
  Clay Collard 3
 
 
 
  Alfie Davis UD
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Gadzhi Rabadanov KO
 
 
 
  Marc Diakiese 1
 
  Gadzhi Rabadanov
 
 
 
  Kevin Lee[b]
 
  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

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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

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Leandro Higo 3
 
 
 
  Marcirley Alves[a] SD
 
  Marcirley Alves
 
 
 
  Jake Hadley
 
  Jake Hadley SUB
 
 
 
  Matheus Mattos[b] 3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Kasum Kasumov 3
 
 
 
  Justin Wetzell[c] UD
 
  Justin Wetzell
 
 
 
  Mando Gutierrez
 
  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

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

2025 PFL Africa Tournament

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2025 PFL Africa Heavyweight Tournament

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

2025 PFL Africa Welterweight Tournament

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Shido Boris Esperanca
 
 
 
  Ibrahima Mané
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2025 PFL Africa Featherweight Tournament

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Patrick Ocheme
 
 
 
  Mohamed Camara
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Tournament

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Nkosi Ndebele
 
 
 
  Mahmoud Atef
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Alain Majorique[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.

2025 PFL Europe Tournament

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2025 PFL Europe Lightweight Tournament

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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

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Mahio Campanella
 
 
 
  Matiss Zaharovs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Anas Azizoun
 
 
 
  Gustavo Oliveira
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dean Garnett
 
 
 
  Alexander Luster
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Jan Ciepłowski
 
 
  Julien Lopez
 

2025 PFL MENA Tournament

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2025 PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Omar Hussein
 
 
 
  Mohammad Alaqraa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Mohamed Zarey
 
 
 
  Ayman Galal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Badreddine Diani
 
 
 
  Ahmed Abdel Baset
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Rostem Akman
 
 
  Amir Fazli
 

2025 PFL MENA Lightweight Tournament

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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

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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

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Xavier Alaoui
 
 
 
  Ziad Ayman Mokhtar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Moktar Benkaci
 
 
 
  Marcel Adur
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Elias Boudegzdame
 
 
 
  Mehdi Saadi [a]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Nawras Abzakh
 
 
  Ali Yazbeck
 
  1. ^ Tariq Ismail withdrew from the tournament due to injury and was replaced by Saadi.

See also

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References

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  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. ^ "PFL Announces Dates and Locations For 2025 World Tournament Finals". Professional Fighters League. 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
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