Bracketology: PFL 2025 Welterweight, Featherweight World Tournament Finals

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The first of eight Professional Fighters League World Tournament brackets crowned champions on Friday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After three tournament bouts, here’s how two champions were crowned at 2025 PFL World Tournament 8: Finals.

2025 Featherweight King: Movlid Khaybulaev

The former 2021 PFL champion Khaybulaev entered this year’s tournament as a favorite to win it all and did just that with a dominant, impressive showing against Jesus Pinedo. Also a former champ, Pinedo cemented himself in the finals by picking up two first-round finishes to begin his tourney run.

Khaybulaev used dominant wrestling and control throughout the fight and threw everything he had at Pinedo, who would not go away easily. Beaten and battered throughout the first four stanzas, Khaybulaev would get the victory with an arm-triangle submission early in the fifth period to capture his second PFL championship.

Championship journey: Defeated Jeremy Kennedy by split decision; defeated Tae Kyun Kim by unanimous decision; defeated Jesus Pinedo by submission

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament Finals LIVE Friday, Aug. 1 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+

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2025 Welterweight King: Thad Jean

A replacement to begin the tournament, Jean was a late entry into this year’s bracket and had to beat two former Bellator MMA champions to get his moment. Taking on Logan Storley in what would be his first 25-minute championship fight, Jean would have moments early in the contest where he battered Storley, but the veteran opponent would not go away. Taking his opponent’s best wrestling attack and defending well, Jean looked in control for most of the tilt and rode his way to a decision victory.

Jean’s road through the PFL was one that saw him take on both Storley and Jason Jackson, two former Bellator kings, both of which he was battle-tested against going the distance and getting the win. With the world tournament victory, Jean improved to 11-0 in his professional career and cemented himself as one of the rising stars within PFL.

Championship journey: Defeated Mukhamed Berkhamov by TKO; defeated Jason Jackson by split decision; defeated Logan Storley by unanimous decision