Latest news with #2025PFLWorldTournament
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC veterans competing in MMA action May 9-10
UFC veterans competing in MMA action May 9-10 Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this week. This week, the UFC returns to Canada for its May pay-per-view event. UFC 315 takes place at Bell Center in Montreal. The event features two title fights: a welterweight championship fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena, and a women's flyweight championship between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot. Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place, featuring several familiar names who have competed under the UFC banner. Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing May 9-10. Scroll below to see how the UFC veterans fared last week, and see the names and details of this weekend's competitors. Upcoming event information from Tapology. Last week's results Karl Williams: Split decision loss vs. Oleg Popov at 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 Tim Johnson: Submission loss vs. Alexandr Romanov at 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 Rodrigo Nascimento: Split decision win vs. Abraham Bably at 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 Alexandr Romanov: Submission win vs. Tim Johnson at 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 Antonio Carlos Jr.: Split decision win vs. Karl Moore at 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 Rob Wilkinson: TKO loss vs. Phil Davis at 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 Phil Davis: TKO win vs. Rob Wilkinson at 2025 PFL World Tournament 4 Muhammad Mokaev: Knockout win vs. Bolat Zamanbekov at Karate Combat 54 (karate) Sam Alvey: Knockout win vs. Tyrone Spong at Karate Combat 54 (karate) Hunter Azure: Unanimous decision win vs. Alvaro Quiroga at United Fight League 6 Kyle Stewart: Submission loss vs. Randall Wallace at United Fight League 6 Lipeng Zhang: Unanimous decision loss vs. Lucas Gabriel at ONE Fight Night 31 Bruno Souza: Submission win vs. Hector Fajardo at Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 27 Gustavo Lopez: TKO win vs. Simon Bruknar at PML 15 Chase Sherman: May 3 vs. Demarcus Kemp at Off the Hook Boxing Series 1 (boxing) – official results pending Rashad Coulter: May 3 vs. Andres Montoya at Cinco de Mayo Showdown (boxing) – official results pending John Dodson: Unanimous decision loss vs. Takaki Soya at Rizin: Oromo Matsuri Yanis Ghemmouri (12-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) Next fight: May 9 vs. Izzeddine Al Durban at 2025 PFL MENA 1 Last MMA fight (also last UFC bout): TKO loss vs. Payton Talbott at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024 Record since UFC exit: 0-0 Michel Prazeres (27-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) Next fight: May 10 vs. Evgeniy Galochkin at ACA 186 Last MMA fight: Unanimous decision loss vs. Renat Lyatifov at ACA 175 on May 17, 2024 Last UFC fight: Submission loss vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC Fight Night 190 on June 26, 2021 Record since UFC exit: 1-2 Maxim Grishin (33-10-2 MMA, 2-3 UFC) Next fight: May 10 vs. Evgeny Egemberdiev at ACA 186 Last MMA fight: Unanimous decision win vs. Oleg Olenichev at ACA 182 on Dec. 15, 2024 Last UFC fight: Unanimous decision loss vs. Philipe Lins at UFC on ESPN 46 on June 3, 2023Record since UFC exit: 1-0 (1 NC) Hacran Dias (27-12 -1 MMA, 3-5 UFC) Next fight: May 10 vs. Marat Balaev at ACA 186 Last MMA fight: TKO loss vs. Abdul-Rakhman Temirov at ACA 179 on Sept. 8, 2024 Last UFC fight: Unanimous decision loss vs. Jared Gordon at UFC Fight Night 119 on Oct. 28, 2017 Record since UFC exit: 4-6 Mickael Lebout (24-12-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) Next fight: May 10 vs. Amin Ayoub at KSW 106 Last MMA fight: Unanimous decision win vs. Romain Debienne at KSW 101 on Dec. 20, 2024 Last UFC fight: Unanimous decision loss vs. Stevie Ray at UFC Fight Night 76 on Oct. 24, 2015 Record since UFC exit: 10-7-1 Cody Pfister (16-10-1 MMA, 1-3 UFC) Next fight: May 10 vs. Chance Beck at Peak Fighting 44 Last MMA fight: Submission loss vs. Chance Beck at Peak Fighting 34 on March 16, 2024 Last UFC fight: Unanimous decision loss vs. Scott Holtzman at UFC Fight Night 91 on July 13, 2016 Record since UFC exit: 4-4 MMA, 1-1 kickboxing Jose Johnson (16-10 MMA, 1-3 UFC) Next fight: May 10 vs. Jovanis Rodriguez at WFC 175 Last MMA fight (also last UFC bout): Submission loss vs. Felipe Bunes at UFC Fight Night 249 on Jan. 11, 2025 Record since UFC exit: 0-0 Anthony Hamilton (21-12 MMA, 3-7 UFC)
Arab News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Heavy hitters book places in 2025 PFL World Tournament semis
FLORIDA: The first round of the 2025 PFL World Tournament concluded on Thursday night at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, with four fighters in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions punching their tickets to June's semifinals. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport In the heavyweight semifinals, Brazil's Rodrigo Nascimento (12-3) will take on Russia's Oleg Popov (20-2), while Moldova's Alexandr Romanov (19-3) is set to face former interim Bellator champion, Valentin Moldavsky (14-4). In the light heavyweight semifinals, former Bellator champion Phil Davis (25-7, 1 NC) will face Arizona's Sullivan Cauley (7-1), while former PFL Europe standout Simeon Powell (11-1) will go head-to-head with 2021 PFL light heavyweight champion Antonio Carlos Jr. (17-6, 2 NC). Thursday's main event featured a clash between Davis and 2022 PFL light heavyweight champion Rob Wilkinson (19-4, 1 NC). After a slow start, Davis, an NCAA wrestling champion, came out firing in the second round, overwhelming his Australian opponent with a barrage of strikes that forced the referee to step in. With the emphatic stoppage, Davis secured his spot in the semifinals. The co-main event featured a showdown between two Russian heavyweights with nearly identical records, former interim Bellator champion Valentin Moldavsky and Sergey Bilostenniy (13-4). It is rare to see heavyweights maintain such a relentless pace, but the former training partners emptied their tanks over three grueling rounds. While Bilostenniy landed more volume, Moldavsky controlled the grappling exchanges and delivered the more impactful strikes, earning a well-deserved decision victory. Former Bellator light heavyweight No.1 contender Karl Moore (12-4) squared off against 2021 PFL light heavyweight champion Antonio 'Shoeface' Carlos Jr. Using his elite jiu-jitsu pedigree, Carlos J. was able to neutralize the power of his Irish opponent for most of the bout. Despite a late flurry from Moore in the final round, Carlos Jr. stayed in control and earned the split decision victory, his eighth win in his past nine fights. Kicking off the main card was a clash between two European light heavyweights: Karl Albrektsson (14-7) and Simeon Powell. Albrektsson found success early, landing a steady stream of kicks that scored points and wore down the 2023 PFL Europe light heavyweight runner-up. However, momentum shifted in the second round when Powell unleashed a flurry of vicious elbows that staggered the Swede and dropped him to the canvas, prompting the referee to step in. With the win, 'Smooth' Powell secured his spot in the semifinals in June. The 2025 PFL World Tournament continues on Thursday, June 12, with the welterweight and featherweight semifinals. 2025 PFL World Tournament 4: First round main card Phil Davis (25-7, 1 NC) def. Rob Wilkinson (19-4,1 NC) via KO (strikes) at 00:51 of round two Valentin Moldavsky (14-4) def. Sergey Bilostenniy (13-4) via unanimous decision (29-28 x3) Antonio Carlos Jr (17-6, 2 NC) def. Karl Moore (12-4) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Simeon Powell (11-1) def. Karl Albrektsson (14-7) via TKO (strikes) at 2:05 of round two 2025 PFL World Tournament 4: First round early card Alexandr Romanov (19-3) def. Tim Johnson (18-12) via submission (standing guillotine) at 1:53 of round one Oleg Popov (20-2) def. Karl Williams (10-3) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Sullivan Cauley (7-1) def. Alex Polizzi (11-5) via TKO (strikes) at 1:36 of round one Rodrigo Nascimento (12-3) def. Abraham Bably (5-2) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) 2025 PFL World Tournament schedule 2025 PFL World Tournament 5: Semifinals, June 12, Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville 2025 PFL World Tournament 6: Semifinals, June 20, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita 2025 PFL World Tournament 7: Semifinals, June 27, Wintrust Arena, Chicago 2025 PFL World Tournament 8: Finals, Aug. 1, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ 2025 PFL World Tournament 9: Finals, Aug. 15, Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina 2025 PFL World Tournament 10: Finals, Aug. 21, Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida
Forbes
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
2025 PFL World Tournament 3 Fight Card Results
The third fight card of the 2025 PFL World Tournament takes place tonight, Friday April 18. The nine-fight card takes place at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The event feature the opening round matchups in the lightweight and middleweight divisions and includes three former PFL tournament winners in competition, including Impa Kasanganay who faces former Bellator title challenger Fabian Edwards in the main event contest. Below, we have live coverage of the 2025 PFL World Tournament 3 fight card, including results, reactions, video highlights and more. The main event of the PFL World Tournament 3 fight card features 2023 light heavyweight tournament winner, and 2024 PFL 2105-pound tournament finalist, Impa Kasanganay vs. former Bellator title middleweight title challenger Fabian Edwards. Winner of the 2024 lightweight tournament, Gadzhi Rabadanov faces former UFC fighter Marc Diakiese on Friday's main card. Also on the card is 2022 welterweight PFL tournament winner Sadibou Sy. Sy was also a finalist in that weight division in 2023. Another former tournament finalist, Clay Collard, who made it to the lightweight finals in 2023, meets Alfie Davis on the main card. The man Rabadanov defeated in the final last year, Brent Primus also competes on Friday, facing Vinicius Cenci. That fight is on the prelims. Middleweight First Round Bout: Impa Kasanganay (18-5) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-4) Lightweight First Round Bout: Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2) vs. Marc Diakiese (18-7) Middleweight First Round Bout: Sadibou Sy (17-8-2, 1 NC ) vs. Dalton Rosta (9-1) Lightweight First Round Bout: Mads Burnell (20-6) vs. Jay-Jay Wilson (10-1) Middleweight First Round Bout: Josh Silveira (13-4) vs. Mike Shipman (17-4) Lightweight First Round Bout: Brent Primus (15-4-0, 1 NC) vs. Vinicius Cenci (8-2) Middleweight First Round Bout: Aaron Jeffery (15-5) vs. Murad Ramazanov (12-2) Lightweight Alternate Bout: Robert Watley (15-3) vs. Antonio Caruso (10-2) Friday, April 18 Preliminary Card: 5 p.m. ET Main Card: 7 p.m. ET Preliminary Card: ESPN+ Main Card: ESPN The 2025 PFL tournament is different from past events. The previous iterations awarded the winner of each weight division with $1 million. This year, the tournament winners will earn $500,000. Another difference in 2025 is that the tournament is structured as a single-elimination bracketed event. In the past, fighters earned points in two regular-season bouts, with the highest point earners moving onto the playoffs. This year, eight fighters (and two alternates) have been seeded in a tournament bracket, with the winners moving on to the next round. Another change is that eight weight divisions are competing rather than six: heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight bantamweight, and women's flyweight. One of the more substantial changes is that all fights will now allow elbows. The first-round fights and semifinal fights will be three five-minute rounds, while the finals are five five-minute rounds. The final first-round event for the 2025 PFL World Tournament is scheduled for May 1. The light heavyweights and heavyweights compete on that night in Orlando. The semifinal events begin on June 12. Donn Davis Talks 2025 PFL World Tournament Changes, Upsets And More We will have full coverage of the PFL 2025 World Tournament 3 fight card, including event odds before the fights and live results and reactions on fight night.
Forbes
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
PFL World Championship 3: How To Watch Or Stream Tonight's Fight Card
The third fight card of the 2025 PFL World Tournament takes place tonight, Friday April 18, at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The fight card feature the opening round matchups in the lightweight and middleweight divisions and includes three former PFL tournament winners in competition, including Impa Kasanganay who faces former Bellator title challenger Fabian Edwards in the main event contest. Below, we look at how to watch or stream the 2025 PFL World Tournament 3 fight card. The main event of the PFL World Tournament 3 fight card features 2023 light heavyweight tournament winner, and 2024 PFL 2105-pound tournament finalist, Impa Kasanganay vs. former Bellator title middleweight title challenger Fabian Edwards. Winner of the 2024 lightweight tournament, Gadzhi Rabadanov faces former UFC fighter Marc Diakiese on Friday's main card. Also on the card is 2022 welterweight PFL tournament winner Sadibou Sy. Sy was also a finalist in that weight division in 2023. Another former tournament finalist, Clay Collard, who made it to the lightweight finals in 2023, meets Alfie Davis on the main card. The man Rabadanov defeated in the final last year, Brent Primus also competes on Friday, facing Vinicius Cenci. That fight is on the prelims. Middleweight First Round Bout: Impa Kasanganay (18-5) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-4) Lightweight First Round Bout: Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2) vs. Marc Diakiese (18-7) Middleweight First Round Bout: Sadibou Sy (17-8-2, 1 NC ) vs. Dalton Rosta (9-1) Lightweight First Round Bout: Mads Burnell (20-6) vs. Jay-Jay Wilson (10-1) Middleweight First Round Bout: Josh Silveira (13-4) vs. Mike Shipman (17-4) Lightweight First Round Bout: Brent Primus (15-4-0, 1 NC) vs. Vinicius Cenci (8-2) Middleweight First Round Bout: Aaron Jeffery (15-5) vs. Murad Ramazanov (12-2) Lightweight Alternate Bout: Robert Watley (15-3) vs. Antonio Caruso (10-2) 2025 PFL World Tournament 3 Fight Card Betting Odds Friday, April 18 Preliminary Card: 5 p.m. ET Main Card: 7 p.m. ET Preliminary Card: ESPN+ Main Card: ESPN The 2025 PFL tournament is different from past events. The previous iterations awarded the winner of each weight division with $1 million. This year, the tournament winners will earn $500,000. Another difference in 2025 is that the tournament is structured as a single-elimination bracketed event. In the past, fighters earned points in two regular-season bouts, with the highest point earners moving onto the playoffs. This year, eight fighters (and two alternates) have been seeded in a tournament bracket, with the winners moving on to the next round. Another change is that eight weight divisions are competing rather than six: heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight bantamweight, and women's flyweight. One of the more substantial changes is that all fights will now allow elbows. The first-round fights and semifinal fights will be three five-minute rounds, while the finals are five five-minute rounds. The final first-round event for the 2025 PFL World Tournament is scheduled for May 1. The light heavyweights and heavyweights compete on that night in Orlando. The semifinal events begin on June 12. Donn Davis Talks 2025 PFL World Tournament Changes, Upsets And More We will have full coverage of the PFL 2025 World Tournament 3 fight card, including event odds before the fights and live results and reactions on fight night.
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Donn Davis Talks 2025 PFL World Tournament Changes, Upsets And More
PFL (Professional Fighters League Europe) founder and president Donn Davis answers journalists ... More questions during the Professional Fighters League Europe (PFL) event at the Accor Arena in Paris, on March 7, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) The Professional Fighters League is in the early stages of its 2025 World Tournament. This week, the promotion is in Orlando, Florida, for Week 3 of the tournament, which features the first-round matchups in the middleweight and lightweight divisions. Three former PFL tournament winners are involved in this week's event. PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis answered some questions about the current PFL Tournament ahead of Friday's event, which ESPN will carry live. The first two events of the 2025 PFL World Tournament took place on April 3 and April 11 at Universal Studios in Orlando. That site also hosts the upcoming April 18 event. Unlike the first two cards, which streamed on ESPN+, the PFL World Tournament 2025 3 fight card will be carried on ESPN proper while also streaming on ESPN+. ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 03: Jason Jackson celebrates after fighting against Andrey Koreshkov during the ... More first round of the PFL 2025 World Tournament at Universal Studios on April 3, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by) Davis told Forbes he is happy with the viewership numbers of this year's first two fight cards, "Yes, we're very pleased," said Davis. "Across our global media partners, digital platforms, we have seen a significant uptick from last season, and it shows that fans are responding to the fresh look of the PFL World Tournament and the stakes that surround each also have seen that MMA fans viewing habits are now heavily streaming-focused, and we are seeing growth there." In previous years, the PFL moved things around for its first-round events, hosting the fight cards in different cities. This year, the promotion decided to hold its first four events in the same location, Universal Studious in Orlando, Florida, before hitting the road for the future rounds of the tournament. "By holding the first round of our 2025 World Tournament at Universal Studios Florida, we've created a high-quality production environment to launch this historic change in our format," Davis said of staying in Florida for the first round. "This residency streamlines our logistics, enhances the global broadcast, and gives us a controlled setting that allows us to put on our best product." The decision to hold the first-round events in one location was not the only change the PFL made heading into the 2025 PFL World Tournament. One of the more attention-grabbing changes was the prize for winning the tournament went from $1 million to $500,000. "Let's be clear: $500,000 is still the highest tournament prize in MMA today," said Davis. "And in 2025, through the $20 million total prize pool, we're investing more broadly across fighter pay, including higher base purses and performance incentives. It's about creating sustainable careers. Our model puts more fighters in position to earn more, more often. That's real progress for the sport." The first two events of the year have seen upsets and weight misses, knocking some of the early betting favorites from the tournament; this is something the PFL has taken in stride and perhaps expected and even looked forward to in the case of the upsets. ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 11: Liz Carmouche speaks with Dan Hardy after defeating Ilara Joanne during the ... More first round of the PFL 2025 World Tournament at Universal Studios on April 11, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by) "This is the beauty and the brutality of a world tournament. You've got to make weight. You've got to win. No politics. No picking and choosing opponents. It's win or go home," said Davis. "While unfortunate, it also creates room for new stars to emerge and showcases the depth of global talent in our roster. That's what makes our format so compelling. You've already seen upsets also, like Ekaterina Shakalova from Ukraine, or Justin Wetzell, who was the biggest betting underdog I can remember. You never know what will happen." The 2025 PFL World Tournament 3 fight card takes place on Friday, April 18. We will have live results for both the prelims and main card. Prelims begin at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+, while the ESPN main card starts at 7 p.m. ET. HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA - AUGUST 16: Impa Kasanganay gestures after his light heavyweight fight against ... More Josh Silveira during the PFL 2024 Playoffs at Hard Rock Live in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on August 16, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by) 2023 light heavyweight tournament winner and 2024 PFL 2105-pound tournament finalist Impa Kasanganay vs. former Bellator title middleweight title challenger Fabian Edwards headlines Friday's event. Also on the main card is the winner of the 2024 lightweight tournament, Gadzhi Rabadanov, who faces former UFC fighter Marc Diakiese. 2022 welterweight PFL tournament winner Sadibou Sy is also part of the main card. He faces Dalton Rosta.
