The road to the 2025 PFL World Tournament title fights heated up in Nashville, as finalists in both the Welterweight and Featherweight divisions were officially determined during a thrilling night of action at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

In the Welterweight Finals, undefeated rising star Thad Jean (10-0) will face former Bellator Champion Logan Storley (18-3). Meanwhile, the Featherweight Finals will feature a highly anticipated matchup between two former champions: 2023 PFL titleholder Jesus Pinedo (25-6-1) and 2021 winner Movlid Khaybulaev (23-0-1).

Main event drama and co-main knockouts

The night’s main event pitted heated rivals Jason Jackson and Thad Jean in a razor-close battle. Jean dropped Jackson early but had to overcome intense pressure over the next two rounds. While Jackson scored crucial takedowns, Jean’s sharp striking won him the favor of two judges, earning a split decision victory (29-28, 28-29, 30-27).

The co-main event delivered fireworks with a trilogy bout between Jesus Pinedo and Gabriel Braga. Just like in their 2023 meeting, “El Mudo” sealed it with a first-round knockout, landing a perfectly timed right hand that secured his return to the PFL Featherweight Finals.

Storley and Khaybulaev dominate en route to finals

Earlier in the night, Logan Storley displayed his trademark wrestling dominance against Japan’s Masayuki Kikuiri. Nearly finishing the fight in round one, Storley cruised to a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-28) and booked his spot in the August finals.

Movlid Khaybulaev extended his undefeated streak to 23 fights with a unanimous decision win over South Korea’s Taekyun Kim. The Dagestani grappler controlled every round, securing all three judges’ cards (30-27 across the board).

More action on the early card

The early portion of the Nashville event saw solid performances from top prospects and veterans alike. Magomed Umalatov delivered a brutal first-round KO over Anthony Ivy, while Adam Borics edged Jeremy Kennedy via majority decision. Kendly St. Louis, Sarek Shields, Alexei Pergande, and Jason Danner also notched big wins.

Upcoming PFL World Tournament schedule

The tournament continues June 20 in Wichita with the Lightweight, Women’s Flyweight, and Bantamweight Semifinals. The action culminates in three massive final cards:

• Aug. 1: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

• Aug. 15: Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte

• Aug. 21: Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida