The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has officially revealed a formidable lineup of 16 world-class fighters set to compete in the Bantamweight (135 lbs) and Women’s Flyweight (125 lbs) divisions of the 2025 PFL World Tournament. Scheduled to take place on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, the tournament will be a showcase of elite MMA talent, where fighters must win three consecutive bouts over a span of five months to be crowned champion.
Tournament Overview
The 2025 PFL World Tournament will kick off with fights on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1. In this annual single-elimination format, fighters across eight weight divisions—including Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Women’s Flyweight—compete for a share of over $20 million in prize money, with each winner receiving a $500,000 bonus.
Specifically, the Bantamweight and Women’s Flyweight brackets have been unveiled with 16 fighters:
Bantamweight Division (135 lbs) Fighters:
- Magomed Magomedov (24-4) – Russia
- Leandro Higo (23-6) – Brazil
- Sarvarjon Khamidov (16-0) – Tajikistan
- Ali Taleb (12-1) – Sweden
- Ciaran Clarke (10-0) – Ireland
- Kasum Kasumov (16-1) – Russia
- Jake Hadley (11-4) – England
- Zebenzui Ruiz (12-3) – Spain
Alternates: Francesco Nuzzi (10-1) – Italy; Matheus Mattos (14-3-1) – Brazil
Women’s Flyweight Division (125 lbs) Fighters:
- Taila Santos (22-4) – Brazil
- Liz Carmouche (22-8) – USA
- Kana Watanabe (13-3-1) – Japan
- Juliana Velasquez (13-3) – Brazil
- Jena Bishop (7-2) – USA
- Elora Dana (7-0) – Brazil
- Ilara Joanne (12-9) – Brazil
- Diana Avsaragova (6-1) – Russia
Alternates: Ekaterina Shakalova (8-2) – Ukraine; Saray Orozco (8-6) – Mexico
Additional weight classes will be announced soon, and the completed brackets will be revealed on March 11 through a special bracket reveal show powered by VALR Energy.
Broadcast and Global Reach
The tournament will air live on ESPN platforms in the United States, while international viewers can catch all the action live on DAZN. With coverage spanning 190 countries through 20 premium media partners, the 2025 PFL World Tournament promises to bring high-caliber MMA competition to a global audience.
What to Expect
- Fights Format: First-round and semi-final fights will consist of three, five-minute rounds, while finals will feature five, five-minute rounds. Notably, the use of elbows is now permitted in all bouts.
- Prize Money: With over $20 million in total prize money and a $500,000 bonus for every winner, the stakes have never been higher.
- Tournament Structure: Fighters must win three consecutive bouts to secure the championship, making the event one of the toughest tests in MMA.
The PFL World Tournament 2025 is set to be an action-packed spectacle that not only showcases the skills of 64 of the world’s best fighters across multiple weight classes but also redefines the competitive landscape of MMA.
