Latest news with #2025PFLWorldTournament1
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jesus Pinedo vows to stop Gabriel Braga, 'make it look easy' in PFL trilogy
Jesus Pinedo wants to leave no doubt he's the better fighter in his rivalry with Gabriel Braga. Pinedo, the 2023 PFL featherweight champion, is tied up at 1-1 with Braga, and the two will get a chance to settle the score in the semifinals of the 2025 PFL featherweight tournament. Pinedo (24-6-1) and Braga (16-2) first fought in 2023, with Braga coming out on top in a close decision win. A few months later, they rematched in the final of the 2023 season, with Pinedo avenging his loss by third-round TKO to claim the 2023 PFL featherweight title and $1 million prize. This time around, the Peruvian wants to show the MMA world that he's vastly superior to Braga and close out the trilogy with a definite win. 'Braga is a tough fighter. No one can say otherwise,' Pinedo told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. 'He has a good record, he's been winning his fights, but I have to be sincere: I think I will finish him quick. I know he's a tough guy, but I'm going to make it look easy.' Pinedo vs. Braga 3 is one of the most anticipated bouts of the 2025 PFL tournament series. It got a lot of fans talking after watching the two win their respective bouts at 2025 PFL World Tournament 1 earlier this month, and then face off in an intense staredown. Pinedo vs. Braga III is OFFICIAL! The trilogy we needed to see! 1-1. The final chapter begins with FIRE in their eyes. 🔥🇵🇪🇧🇷#PFLWorldTournament 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW | ESPN2 & ESPN+ 🌎 — PFL (@PFLMMA) April 4, 2025 Braga was very aggressive during the staredown, but 'El Mudo' was in no way intimidated by the Brazilian. 'No, the truth is that I wasn't bothered,' Pinedo explained. 'I know how it feels. I know that he has all the pressure on him. I'm coming off beating him and, in my opinion, the two times we fought I won them both with the last one being more dominant. He has the pressure. He knows what he's dealing with. He knows who I am. I just hope he's ready.' Pinedo is, in the eyes of many, the favorite to win this year's PFL featherweight tournament. It's a much more different position than when he first entered the promotion as an unknown and unproven fighter in 2023. 'I feel like everyone know sees me with different eyes, and that's recent,' Pinedo said. 'Even after this fight, people are realizing that none of this was a coincidence. It's all hard work. People know me and that motivates me because now nobody is going to underestimate me. I have to train very hard. Fights are going to be even harder now.'
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 PFL World Tournament 1 results: Jason Jackson chokes Andrey Koreshkov unconscious in main event
Former Bellator champion Jason Jackson is through to the semifinals for the 2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament. Jackson (19-5) dominated and stopped fellow former Bellator champ Andrey Koreshkov in the main event of Thursday's 2025 PFL World Tournament 1 at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Fla. The win got Jackson through to the next round, and he will now face undefeated prospect Thad Jean in the semifinals. Jackson dominated the action from start to finish. On the feet and in the grappling, he got the better of Koreshkov (28-6) in the first round of their 170-pound clash. There was a scare for Jackson in the second round, as he landed a couple of illegal elbows to the back of the head of Koreshkov. The shots were deemed unintentional, so Jackson was not disqualified. Instead, Koreshkov was given some time to recover, Jackson was given a warning, and the fight resumed. Almost immediately after the fight resumed, the fight ended. Jackson shot and got a takedown, quickly moved to mount, landed a few shots, and then got the back of Koreshkov. It was then when he sank in a rear-naked choke and put the Russian to sleep at the 4:21 mark of Round 2. With the win, Jackson was able to bounce back from his June defeat to PFL champion Ramazan Kuramagomedov at the Bellator Championship Series – which is now defunct. Prior to the loss to Kuramagomedovk, Jackson was on an eight-fight winning streak that saw him win the Bellator welterweight title. Below are the full results for the entire card of 2025 PFL World Tournament 1: MAIN CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET) Jason Jackson def. Andrey Koreshkov via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:21 Jesus Pinedo def. Adam Borics via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:43 Logan Storley def. Joseph Luciano via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Movlid Khaybulaev def. Jeremy Kennedy via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET) Thad Jean def. Mukhamed Berkhamov via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:25 Gabriel Braga def. Fred Dupras via submission (face crank) – Round 1, 4:37 Masayuki Kikuiri def. Giannis Bachar via TKO (retirement) – Round 2, 5:00 Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:53 For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for 2025 PFL World Tournament 1.
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 PFL World Tournament 1 video: Jesus Pinedo throttles Adam Borics for Round 1 TKO
Peru's Jesus Pinedo said his pressure would be too much for Adam Borics to handle, and he was right. In the co-feature of 2025 PFL World Tournament 1 at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Fla., Pinedo (24-6-1) made quick work of a very durable Adam Borics, finishing the fight by TKO at 3:43 in Round 1. Borics (19-3) provided some resistance initially, but Pinedo's forward pressure became overwhelming as he blitzed forward with punches. During the barrage, Pinedo clipped Borics, sending him to the canvas. From there, Pinedo unloaded follow-up punches until the referee stopped the fight. Borics protested the stoppage, but the decision was already made. Check out video of the finish below (via Instagram): With the win, Pinedo advances in the featherweight tournament to face Gabriel Braga, who finished Frederik Durpas earlier on the card. It will be the third time the pair has met inside the cage; Braga won the first meeting by split decision and Pinedo won the second by third round TKO. Pinedo, the 2023 PFL featherweight champion, has now won four straight fights, all by stoppage. Related 2025 PFL World Tournament 1 live and official results [veritcal-gallery id=2815233] For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for 2025 PFL World Tournament 1.
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 PFL World Tournament 1 video: Thad Jean scores vicious knockout, hollers at Dakota Ditcheva
Thad Jean's post-fight callout was an unconventional one, to say the least. Jean (9-0), who came through the PFL challenger series in 2023, picked up a nasty finish at Thursday's 2025 PFL World Tournament 1 in Orlando, Fla. He dropped Mukhamed Berkhamov (17-3) with a crisp left hand, and then jumped on him with some vicious ground-and-pound to seal the deal at 4:25 of Round 1. After the finish, in his in-cage-post-fight interview, Jean had a message for 2024 PFL women's flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva. 'By the way, where's Dakota Ditcheva?' Jean said. 'Why is she not here? No, never mind, don't say nothing. I want to see you June 12, Nashville. I'm not saying anything, though, come.' STATEMENT. MADE. 🦍🔥 Thad Jean brought the VIOLENCE to ORLANDO!#PFLWorldTournament Main Card 10pm ET on ESPN2 & ESPN+ — PFL (@PFLMMA) April 4, 2025 Interesting callout aside, Jean continues to build momentum, still undefeated in MMA and adding his fifth career finish by TKO/KO. Jean, who trains out of Fight Sports Deerfield Beach in Florida, is now slatted to take on the winner of the 2025 PFL World Tournament 1 main event between Andrey Koreshkov and Jason Jackson. Gallery 2025 PFL World Tournament 1: Best photos from Orlando View 21 photos For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for 2025 PFL World Tournament 1.
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 PFL World Tournament 1: Best photos from Orlando
Check out these photos from the fights at 2025 PFL World Tournament 1, which took place at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Fla., and featured welterweight and featherweight opening-round tournament bouts. (Photos courtesy of PFL MMA.) (The gallery will be updated throughout the event.) Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios… Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Cooper Neill / PFL) more Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios… Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Cooper Neill / PFL) more Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios… Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Cooper Neill / PFL) more Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios… Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Cooper Neill / PFL) more Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios… Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Cooper Neill / PFL) more Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios… Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Cooper Neill / PFL) more Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios… Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Cooper Neill / PFL) more Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios… Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Cooper Neill / PFL) more Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios… Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly - 2025 PFL World Tournament: First Round at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Cooper Neill / PFL) more Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email
