2025 in Professional Fighters League

2025 in Professional Fighters League
Information
Promotion	Professional Fighters League
First date	January 25, 2025 (2025-01-25)
← 2024 in PFL 2026 in PFL →

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 the 2025 season of PFL would no longer operate as a points-based tournament, but would rather be contested as a single-elimination tournament.^[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: Path to Greatness	May 9, 2025	Onyx Arena	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia	[10]
7	PFL Europe 1: Belfast	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: The Next Chapter	July 4, 2025	The Green Halls	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	[13]
12	PFL Europe 2: Brussels	July 5, 2025	ING Arena	Brussels, Belgium	[14]
13	PFL Champions Series 2: Eblen vs. van Steenis	July 19, 2025	GrandWest Arena	Cape Town, South Africa	[15]
14	PFL 8: Jean vs. Storley	August 1, 2025	Boardwalk Hall	Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	[16]
15	PFL Africa 2: Johannesburg	August 9, 2025	Big Top Arena	Johannesburg, South Africa	[17]
16	PFL 9: Rabadanov vs. Davis	August 15, 2025	Bojangles Coliseum	Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.	[16]
17	PFL 10: Edwards vs. Rosta	August 21, 2025	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood	Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
18	PFL Europe 3: Nantes	September 26, 2025	Zénith Nantes Métropole	Nantes, France	[18]
19	PFL MENA 3: Champions Collide	September 27, 2025	The Arena Riyadh Venue for Exhibitions	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	[19]
20	PFL Champions Series 3: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2	October 3, 2025	Coca-Cola Arena	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[20]
21	PFL Africa 3: Ocheme vs. Sankara	October 18, 2025	BK Arena	Kigali, Rwanda	[21]
22	PFL MENA 4 Finals: All or Nothing	December 5, 2025	Dhahran Expo	Khobar, Saudi Arabia	[22]
23	PFL Champions Series 4: Nemkov vs Ferreira	December 13, 2025	LDLC Arena	Lyon, France	[23]
24	PFL Africa Finals: Benin	December 20, 2025	Sofitel Dome	Cotonou, Benin

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]
Middleweight	Costello van Steenis	def.	Johnny Eblen	Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)	5	4:51	PFL Champions Series 2	[b]
Light Heavyweight	Corey Anderson	def.	Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov	Decision (unanimous) (49–45, 49–45, 48–47)	5	5:00	PFL Champions Series 3	[c]
Lightweight	Usman Nurmagomedov	def.	Paul Hughes	Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 48–47)	5	5:00	PFL Champions Series 3	[d]
Women's Featherweight	Cris Cyborg	vs.	Sara Collins				PFL Champions Series 4	[e]
Heavyweight	Vadim Nemkov	vs.	Renan Ferreira				PFL Champions Series 4	[f]

1. For the Bellator Lightweight World Championship. Nurmagomedov was deducted 1 point in round 3 due to repeated groin kicks.
2. For the PFL Middleweight World Championship.
3. For the PFL Light Heavyweight World Championship.
4. For the PFL Lightweight World Championship.
5. For the PFL Women's Featherweight World Championship.
6. For the PFL Heavyweight World Championship.

2025 PFL World Tournament

2025 PFL Heavyweight Tournament

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Valentin Moldavsky	UD
	Sergey Bilostenniy	3
					Valentin Moldavsky	1
					Alexander Romanov	NC
	Alexander Romanov	SUB
	Timothy Johnson	1
									Alexander Romanov	5
									Oleg Popov	SD
	Abraham Bably	3
	Rodrigo Nascimento[a]	SD
					Rodrigo Nascimento	3
					Oleg Popov	UD
	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-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Phil Davis	TKO
	Rob Wilkinson	2
					Phil Davis	3
					Sullivan Cauley	UD
	Alex Polizzi[a]	1
	Sullivan Cauley	TKO
									Sullivan Cauley	2
									Antônio Carlos Júnior	SUB
	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-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Impa Kasanganay	1
	Fabian Edwards	TKO
					Fabian Edwards	UD
					Josh Silveira	3
	Mike Shipman	3
	Josh Silveira	UD
									Fabian Edwards	KO
									Dalton Rosta	3
	Dalton Rosta	SUB
	Sadibou Sy	2
					Dalton Rosta	SD
					Aaron Jeffery	3
	Aaron Jeffery	SD
	Murad Ramazanov	3

2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Jason Jackson	SUB
	Andrey Koreshkov	2
					Jason Jackson	3
					Thad Jean	SD
	Mukhamed Berkhamov	1
	Thad Jean[a]	KO
									Thad Jean	UD
									Logan Storley	5
	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-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci[a]	3
	Brent Primus	SUB
					Brent Primus	3
					Alfie Davis	UD
	Clay Collard	3
	Alfie Davis	UD
									Alfie Davis	UD
									Gadzhi Rabadanov	5
	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-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Jesus Pinedo	TKO
	Ádám Borics	1
					Jesus Pinedo	TKO
					Gabriel Braga	1
	Gabriel Braga	SUB
	Frederik Dupras[a]	1
									Jesus Pinedo	5
									Movlid Khaybulaev	SUB
	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-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Leandro Higo	3
	Marcirley Alves[a]	SD
					Marcirley Alves	UD
					Jake Hadley	3
	Jake Hadley	SUB
	Matheus Mattos[b]	3
									Marcirley Alves	UD
									Justin Wetzell	5
	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-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Juliana Velasquez	1
	Ekaterina Shakalova[a]	SUB
					Ekaterina Shakalova	2
					Jena Bishop	SUB
	Kana Watanabe	3
	Jena Bishop	UD
									Jena Bishop	3
									Liz Carmouche	KO
	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-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze[a]	1
	Abraham Bably	KO
					Abraham Bably	TKO
					Joffie Houlton	1
	Joffie Houlton[b]	DQ
	Abdoullah Kane	1
									Abraham Bably
									Justin Clarke
	Justin Clarke	TKO
	Jashell Ticha Awa	1
					Maxwell Djantou Nana	3
					Justin Clarke	TKO
	Maxwell Djantou Nana	UD
	Mickaël Groguhe	3

1. Badr Medkouri withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze.
2. Mohammad Ben Yahia withdrew from the tournament due to an injury and was replaced by Joffie Houlton.

2025 PFL Africa Welterweight Tournament

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Shido Boris Esperanca	SUB
	Ibrahima Mané	1
					Shido Boris Esperanca	SUB
					Ayinda Octave	1
	British Boloyoang	1
	Ayinda Octave	TKO
									Shido Boris Esperanca
									Yabna N'Tchalá
	Sanon Sadeck	3
	Yabna N'Tchalá	UD
					Yabna N'Tchalá	UD
					Emilios Dassi	3
	Osvaldo Benedito	1
	Emilios Dassi	KO

2025 PFL Africa Featherweight Tournament

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Patrick Ocheme	DEC
	Mohamed Camara	3
					Mohamed Camara	3
					Alain Majorique[b]	UD
	Abdul Razak Sankara	KO
	Shadrick Dju Yemba[a]	1
									Alain Majorique
									Wasi Adeshina
	Wasi Adeshina	SUB
	Jean-Jacques Lubaya	2
					Wasi Adeshina	UD
					Dwight Joseph	3
	Wilker Nsamo	2
	Dwight Joseph	KO

1. The bout was originally scheduled as Abderrahman Errachidy vs. Elbert Lukas Steyn, but both fighters missed weight and were replaced by alternate bout between Abdul Razak Sankara vs. Shadrick Dju Yemba.
2. The bout was originally scheduled as Patrick Ocheme vs. Abdul Razak Sankara, but both fighters missed weight and were replaced by alternate bout between Mohamed Camara vs. Alain Majorique.

2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Tournament

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Nkosi Ndebele	TKO
	Mahmoud Atef	1
					Nkosi Ndebele	SD
					Simbarashe Hokonya	3
	Frans Mlambo[a]	3
	Simbarashe Hokonya	UD
									Nkosi Ndebele
									Karim Henniene
	Shannon van Tonder	3
	Boule Godogo	SD
					Boule Godogo	3
					Karim Henniene	KO
	Asiashu Tshitamba[b]	3
	Karim Henniene	SD

1. Alain Majorique withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Frans Mlambo.
2. Antero dos Santos withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Asiashu Tshitamba.

2025 PFL Europe Tournament

2025 PFL Europe Lightweight Tournament

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

2025 PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Mahio Campanella	UD
	Matiss Zaharovs	3
					Baris Adiguzel[b]	KO
					Julien Lopez[c]	1
	Anas Azizoun	1
	Gustavo Oliveira	KO
									Baris Adiguzel
									Dean Garnett
	Dean Garnett	UD
	Tuomas Grönvall[a]	3
					Dean Garnett	SUB
					Jan Ciepłowski	3
	Jan Ciepłowski	TKO
	Julien Lopez	1

1. Alexander Luster withdrew from the tournament due to an injury and was replaced by Tuomas Grönvall.
2. Mahio Campanella withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Baris Adiguzel.
3. Gustavo Oliveira was forced to withdrew due to a cut sustained in training and was replaced by Julien Lopez.

2025 PFL MENA Tournament

2025 PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Omar Hussein	3
	Mohammad Alaqraa	UD
					Mohammad Alaqraa	TKO
					Mohamed Zarey	1
	Mohamed Zarey	UD
	Ayman Galal	3
									Mohammad Alaqraa	UD
									Badreddine Diani	3
	Badreddine Diani	UD
	Ahmad Abdelbast Darwish	3
					Badreddine Diani	SD
					Amir Fazli	3
	Rostem Akman	2
	Amir Fazli	KO

2025 PFL MENA Lightweight Tournament

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

2025 PFL MENA Featherweight Tournament

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Akram Nasri[a]	3
	Islam Reda	SUB
					Islam Reda	UD
					Taha Bendaoud	3
	Drissi Boualem[b]	1
	Taha Bendaoud	SUB
									Islam Reda	SUB
									Yanis Ghemmouri	2
	Izzeddine Al-Derbani	–
	Yanis Ghemmouri	BYE[c]
					Yanis Ghemmouri	UD
					Assem Ghanem	3
	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-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Xavier Alaoui	UD
	Ziad Ayman Mokhtar	3
					Xavier Alaoui	3
					Islam Youssef	UD
	Benyamin Ghahraman[a]	2
	Islam Youssef[b]	KO
									Islam Youssef	1
									Nawras Abzakh	SUB
	Moktar Benkaci	TKO
	Marcel Adur	1
					Moktar Benkaci	3
					Nawras Abzakh	UD
	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

• List of current PFL fighters
• 2025 in UFC
• 2025 in ONE Championship
• 2025 in Absolute Championship Akhmat
• 2025 in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki
• 2025 in Legacy Fighting Alliance
• 2025 in Rizin Fighting Federation
• 2025 in Oktagon MMA
• 2025 in Brave Combat Federation
• 2025 in Cage Warriors
• 2025 in UAE Warriors

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. "Full Fight Card Revealed For 2025 PFL MENA 2 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia". Professional Fighters League. 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
14. "PFL Europe Brussels on 5 July at the ING Arena to Feature New Wave of Belgian MMA Superstars as Tickets Go On-Sale". Professional Fighters League. 2025-05-22. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
15. 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.
16. "PFL Announces Dates and Locations For 2025 World Tournament Finals". Professional Fighters League. 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
17. Anderson, Jay (2025-06-10). "Second PFL Africa Event Set for Johannesburg on August 9". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
18. Sherdog.com. "'The Lazy King' to Headline PFL Europe Event in Hometown on Sept. 26". Sherdog. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
19. "Full card revealed for 2025 PFL MENA semifinals". Arab News. 2025-08-25. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
20. King, Nolan. "Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2 booked for PFL Dubai". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
21. "The First Ever PFL Africa Semifinals Are Set for Rwanda". Professional Fighters League. 2025-08-25. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
22. "PFL MENA Finals Set to Crown Four Champions in Saudi Arabia". www.lowkickmma.com. 2025-10-22. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
23. Anderson, Jay (2025-09-24). "Ferreira vs. Nemkov, Cyborg vs. Collins Title Fights Announced for PFL Lyon". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-09-24.

External links