NASHVILLE (June 12, 2025) – The air was electric at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium as the Semifinals of the 2025 PFL World Tournament officially kicked off. Fans packed the venue, buzzing with excitement and anticipation as fighters vied for a chance to advance to the finals set for August. The night’s events showcased an impressive display of skill and determination across two weight classes—Welterweight and Featherweight.
In the spotlight was the highly anticipated Welterweight final, which will feature undefeated fighter Thad Jean (10-0) squaring off against former Bellator Champion Logan Storley (18-3). This match promises to be a thrilling clash as Jean’s striking prowess meets Storley’s wrestling acumen. Both athletes have carved out their respective paths through this tournament, setting the stage for an electrifying title bout.
Meanwhile, in the Featherweight division, avid fight fans can look forward to a showdown between two titans: the defending champion Jesus Pinedo (25-6-1) and 2021’s champion Movlid Khaybulaev (23-0-1). With the stakes higher than ever, these seasoned competitors seem poised to battle not just for a belt, but for supremacy in the 145-pound division.
The evening’s main event featured a fierce rivalry between Jason Jackson (19-6) and the undefeated Jean. From the outset, Jean made an impressive statement by knocking Jackson down early in the first round. However, Jackson proved resilient; the following rounds saw back-and-forth exchanges, with Jackson securing crucial takedowns while Jean delivered sharp, effective strikes. The match culminated in a nail-biting split decision, with two of the judges preferring Jean, thereby allowing him to advance to the finals against Storley.
In the co-main event, the trilogy match between Pinedo and Gabriel Braga (16-3) caught the audience’s attention. Pinedo replicated his success from their previous encounter, landing a perfectly timed right hand that dropped Braga early in the first round. The veteran Pinedo didn’t waste any time, closing the show swiftly and securing his place in the championship bout this August.
Logan Storley stepped into the SmartCage on Thursday with a game plan that highlighted his grappling dominance. His matchup against Masayuki Kikuiri (11-3-1) saw Storley unleash an early barrage of ground-and-pound, nearly finishing Kikuiri in the initial moments. Even though Kikuiri managed to weather the storm, he had no answer for Storley’s relentless wrestling, culminating in a clear unanimous decision victory for the former champion.
Kicking off the main card was a Welterweight Semifinal bout involving Khaybulaev and South Korea’s Taekyun Kim (11-2). Khaybulaev’s elite grappling skills were on display throughout the fight, enabling him to control the match and secure a unanimous decision, extending his impressive unbeaten streak to 23 fights.
The action continues as the 2025 PFL World Tournament gears up for more thrilling bouts on Friday, June 20, featuring Lightweight, Women’s Flyweight, and Bantamweight Semifinalists. Fans can tune in live on ESPN, ESPN+, and DAZN to catch all the excitement.
2025 PFL World Tournament 5: Semifinals Main Card Results:
Thad Jean (10-0) def. Jason Jackson (19-6) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Jesus Pinedo (25-6-1) def. Gabriel Braga (16-3) via KO (punches) at 1:16 of round one
Logan Storley (18-3) def. Masayuki Kikuiri (11-3-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-28)
Movlid Khaybulaev (23-0-1) def. Taekyun Kim (11-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2025 PFL World Tournament 5: Semifinals Early Card Results:
Adam Borics (20-3) def. Jeremy Kennedy (19-7) via majority decision (29-28, 28-28, 29-28)
Magomed Umalatov (18-1) def. Anthony Ivy (15-8) via KO (punch) at 2:28 of round one
Sarek Shields (7-2) def. Joseph Luciano (10-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Kendly St. Louis (11-2) def. Mukhamed Berkhamov (17-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:21 of round three
Alexei Pergande (6-0) def. Mike Bardsley (5-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jason Danner (3-0) def. Nathan Gilmore (4-6) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Upcoming 2025 PFL World Tournament Schedule:
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 – August 1 – Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
2025 PFL World Tournament 9: Finals – August 15 – Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
2025 PFL World Tournament 10: Finals – August 21 – Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida
