2025 PFL World Tournament: Brackets Announced, $20 Million Prize Fund & Universal Studios Kick-Off

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has unveiled the official brackets and match-ups for the First Round of the 2025 PFL World Tournament. The tournament commences at Universal Studios Florida on 3rd April, 11th April, 18th April, and 1st May. The 2025 PFL World Tournament promises high-octane mixed martial arts (MMA) action.

The 2025 PFL World Tournament will be broadcast live on ESPN platforms in the United States, Canada, and across Europe. For fans in Europe and Canada, DAZN will provide live coverage. Globally, the tournament will be streamed in 190 countries via 20 premium media partners. This ensures widespread access to the MMA tournament.

A single-elimination format defines the annual tournament. Brackets include Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Women’s Flyweight. The PFL World Tournament spans five months of action. 64 fighters from around the globe will compete to win MMA’s toughest test. Win three consecutive fights in five months to become PFL Tournament Champion.

First Round and Semi-final fights consist of three, five-minute rounds. The Finals will feature five, five-minute rounds. Elbows are now permitted in all events and fights. The PFL World Tournament will distribute over £20 million in total prize money, including a £500,000 bonus for each winner. This substantial prize fund attracts top MMA talent.

Watch and download the full 2025 PFL World Tournament spot here! The full fight cards for the First Round are as follows:

2025 PFL World Tournament 1: First Round Main Card

ESPN2 and ESPN+ (US) | DAZN (Europe & Canada) – Thursday, 3rd April – 10 pm ET

Welterweight First Round Bout: Jason Jackson (18-5) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (28-5)
Featherweight First Round Bout: Jesus Pinedo (23-6) vs. Adam Borics (19-2)
Welterweight First Round Bout: Magomed Umalatov (17-1) vs. Logan Storley (16-3)
Featherweight First Round Bout: Jeremy Kennedy (19-4) vs. Movlid Khaybulaev (21-0-1)

2025 PFL World Tournament 1: First Round Early Card

ESPN+ (US) | DAZN (Europe & Canada) – Thursday, 3rd April – 7 pm ET

Welterweight First Round Bout: Mukhamed Berkhamov (17-2) vs. Florim Zendeli (10-1-1)
Featherweight First Round Bout: Gabriel Braga (15-2) vs. Yves Landu (21-9)
Welterweight First Round Bout: Giannis Bachar (9-2) vs. Masayuki Kikuiri (10-2-1)
Featherweight First Round Bout: Nathan Kelly (11-3) vs. Taekyun Kim (10-1)
Welterweight Alternate Bout: Joseph Luciano (10-2) vs. Thad Jean (8-0)
Featherweight Alternate Bout: Fred Dupras (8-1) vs. Nathan Ghareeb (10-3)

2025 PFL World Tournament 2: First Round Main Card

ESPN2 and ESPN+ (US) | DAZN (Europe & Canada) – Friday, 11th April – 11 pm ET

Bantamweight First Round Bout: Magomed Magomedov (20-3) vs. Leandro Higo (23-6)
Women’s Flyweight First Round Bout: Taila Santos (24-4) vs. Juliana Velasquez (13-3)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Savarjon Khamidov (16-0) vs. Jake Hadley (11-4)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Ciaran Clarke (10-0) vs. Kasum Kasumov (16-1)

2025 PFL World Tournament 2: First Round Early Card

ESPN+ (US) | DAZN (Europe & Canada) – Friday, 11th April – 8 pm ET

Women’s Flyweight First Round Bout: Liz Carmouche (22-8) vs. Ilara Joanna (12-9)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Ali Taleb (11-1) vs. Zebenzui Ruiz (12-3)
Women’s Flyweight First Round Bout: Kana Watanabe (13-3-1) vs. Jena Bishop (7-2)
Women’s Flyweight First Round Bout: Elora Dana (7-0) vs. Diana Avsaragova (6-1)
Bantamweight Alternate Bout: Francesco Nuzzi (10-1) vs. Matheus Mattos (14-3-1)
Women’s Flyweight Alternate Bout: Ekaterina Shakalova (8-2) vs. Saray Orozco (8-6)

2025 PFL World Tournament 3: First Round Main Card

ESPN and ESPN+ (US) | DAZN (Europe & Canada) – Friday, 18th April – 7 pm ET

Middleweight First Round Bout: Impa Kasanganay (18-5) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-4)
Lightweight First Round Bout: Alexander Shabliy (24-4) vs. Brent Primus (15-4-0, 1 NC)
Lightweight First Round Bout: Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2) vs. Marc Diakiese (18-7)
Lightweight First Round Bout: Mads Burnell (20-6) vs. Jay-Jay Wilson (10-1)

2025 PFL World Tournament 3: First Round Early Card

ESPN+ (US) | DAZN (Europe & Canada) – Friday, 18th April – 4:30 pm ET

Middleweight First Round Bout: Sadibou Sy (17-8-2, 1 NC) vs. Dalton Rosta (9-1)
Middleweight First Round Bout: Josh Silveira (13-4) vs. Mike Shipman (17-4)
Lightweight First Round Bout: Clay Collard (25-14) vs. Alfie Davis (17-4-1)
Middleweight First Round Bout: Aaron Jeffery (15-5) vs. Murad Ramazanov (12-2)
Middleweight Alternate Bout: Khalid Murtazaliev (17-3) vs. Jordan Newman (7-0)
Lightweight Alternate Bout: Sergio Cossio (27-10-1) vs. Robert Watley (15-3)

2025 PFL World Tournament 4: First Round Main Card

ESPN2 and ESPN+ (US) | DAZN (Europe & Canada) – Thursday, 1st May – 10 pm ET

Light Heavyweight First Round Bout: Phil Davis (24-7, 1 NC) vs. Rob Wilkinson (19-3, 1 NC)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Valentin Moldavsky (13-4) vs. Sergey Bilostenniy (13-3)
Light Heavyweight First Round Bout: Antonio Carlos Jr (16-6, 2 NC) vs. Karl Moore (12-3)
Light Heavyweight First Round Bout: Karl Albrektsson (14-6) vs. Simeon Powell (10-1)

2025 PFL World Tournament 4: First Round Early Card

ESPN+ (US) | DAZN (Europe & Canada) – Thursday, 1st May – 7 pm ET

Heavyweight First Round Bout: Alexandr Romanov (18-3) vs. Tim Johnson (18-11)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Linton Vassell (25-10) vs. Oleg Popov (19-1)
Light Heavyweight First Round Bout: Sullivan Cauley (6-1) vs. Marcelo Nunes (11-2)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Pouya Rahmani (4-0) vs. Abraham Bably (5-1)
Light Heavyweight Alternate Bout: Alex Polizzi (11-4) vs. Rafael Xavier (13-8)

Upcoming 2025 PFL World Tournament Schedule

2025 PFL World Tournament 1: First Round – 3rd April – Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19
2025 PFL World Tournament 2: First Round – 11th April – Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19
2025 PFL World Tournament 3: First Round – 18th April – Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19
2025 PFL World Tournament 4: First Round – 1st May – Universal Studios Florida, Stage 19
2025 PFL World Tournament 5: Semi-finals – 12th June – Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville
2025 PFL World Tournament 6: Semi-finals – 20th June – INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita
2025 PFL World Tournament 7: Semi-finals – 27th June – Wintrust Arena, Chicago
2025 PFL World Tournament 8: Finals – 1st August
2025 PFL World Tournament 9: Finals – 15th August
2025 PFL World Tournament 10: Finals – 21st August

Key Tournament Highlights

£20 million total prize fund, with £500,000 for each tournament winner.
Single-elimination tournament format across eight weight divisions.
First Round fights at Universal Studios Florida.
Live broadcasts on ESPN platforms and DAZN.
Global streaming in 190 countries.
Elbows now permitted in all fights.

Summary

The 2025 PFL World Tournament is set to deliver thrilling MMA action with a £20 million prize fund. Universal Studios Florida will host the First Round, showcasing top fighters across eight weight divisions. With live broadcasts and global streaming, fans worldwide can witness the tournament. The single-elimination format and use of elbows add intensity to this premier MMA event.