Latest news with #2025PFLWorldTournament8
USA Today
06-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Aug. 5: Tatsuro Taira nears top 5
Tatsuro Taira and Movlid Khaybulaev move up after impressive wins last week. The latest event in the UFC Apex produced a key move in the men's flyweight division. Coming off the first loss of his career, Tatsuro Taira rebounded with a flawless performance against short-notice replacement opponent HyunSung Park in the main event of UFC on ESPN 71. Taira entered the week at No. 8, and after his victory, moved up to the No. 6 spot behind Manel Kape. In New Jersey, 2025 PFL World Tournament 8 also caused a move in the featherweight division. Movlid Khaybulaev entered the week at No. 14, but after a dominant performance in the co-main event against No. 15 Jesus Pinedo for the featherweight tournament championship, he now settles in at the No. 11 spot. Pinedo stays at No. 15. Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
USA Today
02-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 PFL World Tournament 8 results: Thad Jean masterclasses Logan Storley in tournament final
Thad Jean is the 2025 PFL Welterweight World Tournament winner – and he might be soon one of the promotion's biggest stars. Over the course of five rounds, Jean (11-0) largely had his way with former Bellator interim champion Logan Storley (18-3) en route to a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) victory. The bout headlined Saturday's 2025 PFL World Tournament 8 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The opening round was all Jean, as he showed off not only striking prowess and poise but some grappling skills as well. Despite Storley's wrestling notoriety, Jean mounted him in the opening 90 seconds. Storley worked his way up and out of danger – at least, momentarily. Jean pummeled Storley in Round 2 after a front kick to the face. With referee Gary Copeland practically breathing on the fighters, the fight was close to being stopped. But Storley hung tough and did just enough to evade. While Storley's cardio maintained, he was unable to generate offense like Jean. Jean utilized both technique and flashiness to pick apart Storley for the remainder of the fight. With the victory, Jean earns $500,000 and is named the 2025 welterweight tournament winner. Jean, 27, is one of the promotion's top homegrown talents to date. He came through the PFL Challenger Series at 4-0. He competed on PFL undercards until 8-0, when he was a late replacement to the 2025 tournament bracket. He defeated Mukhamed Berkhamov and Jason Jackson in the first two rounds of the tournament to set up the Storley fight in the final. Storley, 32, was imported into PFL after the promotion's merger with Bellator. He went 1-1 in the 2024 season format but didn't qualify for the playoffs. In 2025, he defeated Joseph Luciano and Masayuki Kikuiri en route to the fight vs. Jean. The full 2025 PFL 8 results include:
USA Today
02-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 PFL World Tournament 8 results: Movlid Khaybulaev dominates Jesus Pinedo, wins tournament
Movlid Khaybulaev is the 2025 PFL featherweight tournament winner – and the final wasn't really competitive. Over the course of four – almost five – full rounds, Khaybulaev (24-0-1) dominated Jesus Pinedo (25-7-1). At 1:17 of Round 5, Khaybulaev locked in an arm-triangle submission and took the judges out of the equation. The fight served as the 2025 PFL World Tournament 8 co-main event at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.. Khaybulaev looked strong from the opening round, but nearly finished Pinedo with a vicious onslaught of attack in Round 2. Somehow, someway, Pinedo did just enough to survive and keep referee Vitor Ribeiro at bay. Pinedo was bloody and swollen as he went back to the stool, but Khaybulaev looked a bit gassed. In the opening seconds of Round 3, Pinedo dropped Khaybulaev with a punch but was promptly taken down thereafter. Khaybulaev's wrestling became his most-effective weapon from that point in the fight. He relentlessly smothered Pinedo as he sought submissions. Eventually, he found one – and a $500,000 tournament winner check with it. Khaybulaev, 34, adds the 2025 tournament win to a trophy case that already includes a 2021 PFL championship. Khabib Nurmagomedov was on hand in the corner, as he coached his longtime teammate. Pinedo, 29, loses for the first time since April 2023 and only the second time since March 2019. The Peruvian fighter was on a five-fight winning streak when he entered Saturday's fight. Up-to-the-minute 2025 PFL 8 results include:
USA Today
02-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 PFL 8 video: Frederik Dupras puts Nathan Kelly to sleep as referee misses tap
Frederik Dupras, take a bow. At 2025 PFL World Tournament 8, the French-Canadian bounced back into the win column when he defeated Nathan Kelly by technical submission via guillotine choke. The fight was stopped at 4:38 of Round 2 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. A tight guillotine choke began standing as Dupras (9-2) hopped up on Kelly (11-5) and locked in his grip. As the two eventually fell to the canvas, Kelly tapped, but the referee was not in position to see it. So Kelly's neck was squeezed for a few seconds longer before the official recognized consciousness no longer was present. Dupras bounces back from an April loss to Gabriel Braga. Ireland's Kelly finds himself on a three-fight skid. Up-to-the-minute 2025 PFL 8 results include:
USA Today
01-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 PFL 8 video: Tom Pagliarulo crushes Matt Turnball with violent knee to body
Tom Pagliarulo starts the night with a KO![ #PFLWorldTournament | TONIGHT | Early Card 6:30pm | Main Card 9pm | ESPN ] Tom Pagliarulo stepped into the national spotlight Friday and brought his violence with him. At 2025 PFL World Tournament 8, Pagliarulo (10-2) kicked... or kneed rather... things off with a bang when he crushed the midsection of opponent Matt Turnball (9-7) en route to a TKO stoppage at 4:36 of Round 1. The featherweight bout was the opening prelim at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The fight was Pagliarulo's PFL debut after signing a one-fight deal with the promotion. The 28-year-old New England Cartel product has now picked up four first-round TKOs in a row. Up-to-the-minute 2025 PFL 8 results include:
