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Tag: PFL 8

  • “An Incredible Breakthrough Year” – Fans React As Thad Jean Runs Through Logan Storley To Capture PFL World Tournament Welterweight Championship

    “An Incredible Breakthrough Year” – Fans React As Thad Jean Runs Through Logan Storley To Capture PFL World Tournament Welterweight Championship

    Thad Jean continues to live up to the hype, as he scored a unanimous decision over Logan Storley in the main event of the PFL World Tournament card in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to capture the 2025 PFL Welterweight World Tournament title.

    Jean controlled much of the early action with superior striking and stuffing most of Storley’s takedown attempts. Jean also rocked Storley in the first round with crisp counters, and he nearly finished the fight in round two after a vicious head kick.

    Storley’s grappling skillset and takedowns made their presence more felt in the middle rounds of the belt. Storley gained control positions, though Jean usually was able to escape and continued his effective striking, doing some damage on Storley. Jean’s pace, however, slowed later on, though he continued to have a decent output.

    Jean went on to score the unanimous decision with a pair of 49-46 scores and a 48-47.

    Thad Jean Wins 2025 PFL Welterweight World Tournament

    After winning a PFL contract on the PFL Challenger Series and victories in a few showcase bouts, Jean entered the 2025 welterweight tournament and reached the finals with wins over Mukhamed Berkhamov and former Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson.

    Storley, the former interim Bellator welterweight champion, reached the finals with wins over Joseph Luciano and Masayuki Kikuiri.

  • ‘Elite Fighter’ – Fans React As Movlid Khaybulaev Earns Second PFL Tournament Title With Grappling Showcase Over Jesus Pinedo At PFL World Championship

    ‘Elite Fighter’ – Fans React As Movlid Khaybulaev Earns Second PFL Tournament Title With Grappling Showcase Over Jesus Pinedo At PFL World Championship

    Four years after his first PFL title, Movlid Khaybulaev finds success in the PFL once again, defeating Jesus Pinedo in a battle of former champs to capture his second PFL belt at the PFL World Championships in Atlantic City.

    Khaybulaev set the fight’s pace early by scoring early takedowns and controlling the action from top position, despite Pinedo landing some elbows from the bottom.

    Khaybulaev nearly finished Pinedo twice in the second round, scoring a knockdown and executing an arm-triangle choke right before the bell. Pinedo, however, responded in the third with a knockdown of his own, courtesy of a big right hand. Khaybulaev, however, quickly recovered and re-established control with his ground game again.

    The championship rounds saw more of the same, as Khaybulaev used handcuffs, mat returns, and heavy top pressure to wear Pinedo down. In the fifth, Khaybulaev managed to get into full mount and locked up another arm-triangle. This time, it was enough to score the tap and lock up the PFL title.

    Movlid Khaybulaev Wins 2025 PFL Featherweight World Tournament

    https://twitter.com/BenzemaPouta/status/1951470332940083684

    Khaybulaev now advances to 23-0-1 (1 NC) in his undefeated pro career and locks up a future PFL featherweight world title shot. He advanced to tonight’s final with decisions over Jeremy Kennedy and Kim Tae-kyun.

    Pinedo, meanwhile, advanced with finishes of Adam Borics and Gabriel Braga.

  • PFL World Tournament Week 8 Results & Highlights

    PFL World Tournament Week 8 Results & Highlights

    The first of three events to mark the conclusion of the PFL’s 2025 World Tournaments goes down in Atlantic City, New Jersey tonight — and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    The World Tournament is the spiritual successor to the season-and-the-playoffs has had since its inaugural season in 2018. As part of the changes in format to the PFL upon the official folding of the Bellator brand earlier this year, the PFL changed its global season to a single-elimination tournament format, adding more weight classes, eight fighters per weight class.

    First-round action took place in April and May, with June — previously hosting the second leg of the regular season — hosting semifinal action. This month will see the conclusion of these tournaments, with eight winners receiving PFL World Tournament title belts and $100,000.

    This evening will be headlined by the welterweight tournament final that sees undefeated rising star Thad Jean taking on former interim Bellator welterweight champion Logan Storley. Jean made it to the finals through a first-round knockout of Mukhamed Berkhamov and a split decision win over former Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson. Storley, meanwhile, scored a pair of decision wins over Joseph Luciano and Masayuki Kikuiri.

    The co-main event will be the featherweight tournament final that features a pair of former champions — 2021 PFL featherweight champion Movlid Khaybulaev and 2023 PFL featherweight champion Jesus Pinedo. The unbeaten Khaybulaev reached the finals with decision wins over Jeremy Kennedy and Kim Tae-kyun. Pinedo, meanwhile, scored finishes of Adam Borics and Gabriel Braga (the latter being a trilogy bout between the two).

    2025 PFL World Tournament Week 8 Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Final: Thad Jean def. Logan Storley via unanimous decision (49-46 x2, 48-47)
    • Featherweight Final: Movlid Khaybulaev def. Jesus Pinedo via submission (arm-triangle choke) (R5, 1:17)
    • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj def. Yves Landu via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Middleweight: Jordan Newman def. Eslam Baset via TKO (fighter retirement) (R1, 5:00)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Catchweight (160 lbs): Jakub Kaszuba def. Sergio Cossio via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Lightweight: Kyle Driscoll def. Husein Kadimagomaev via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Frederik Dupras def. Nathan Kelly via technical submission (guillotine choke) (R2, 4:38)
    • Welterweight: Sarek Shields def. Nick Meck via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) (R1, 5:00)
    • Featherweight: Tom Pagliarulo def. Matt Turnbull via KO (R1, 4:36)

    Matt Turnbull vs. Tom Pagliarulo

    Sarek Shields vs. Nick Meck

    Nathan Kelly vs. Frederik Dupras

    Husein Kadimagomaev vs. Kyle Driscoll

    Jakub Kaszuba vs. Sergio Cossio

    Jordan Newman vs. Eslam Baset

    Asael Adjoudj vs. Yves Landu

    Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Jesus Pinedo

    Thad Jean vs. Logan Storley