The PFL has been right here earlier than — type of. The struggle promotion ends its 2025 season with three August struggle playing cards that includes finals in its eight weight lessons, beginning with Friday’s occasion in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey (9 p.m. ET on ESPN; prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+), headlined by championship fights at welterweight and featherweight.
The primary occasion at Boardwalk Corridor pits undefeated welterweight Thad Jean towards Logan Storley, and the co-main occasion matches up previous PFL featherweight season champions Movlid Khaybulaev (2021) and Jesus Pinedo (2023).
This 12 months, for the primary time, the PFL has adopted a single-elimination match format to get to the finals. The promotion’s earlier six seasons ended with championship finals, too, however these title bouts capped off playoffs decided by a regular-season standings format. Having eight weight lessons can be a primary for the PFL, after previous seasons operated in six divisions.
Listed below are some issues to find out about Friday’s 2025 PFL finals.
How Jean obtained right here: Defeated Mukhamed Berkhamov by first-round TKO on April 3; defeated Jason Jackson by cut up choice in a June 12 semifinal.
How Storley obtained right here: Defeated Joseph Luciano by unanimous choice on April 3; defeated Masayuki Kikuiri by unanimous choice in a June 12 semifinal.
Quantity to know: 1. That’s what number of Bellator champions Jean and Storley have defeated of their careers, mixed. Earlier than becoming a member of the PFL, Storley fought 12 instances within the Bellator cage — however by no means beat a champion. That accomplishment goes to Jean, who by no means competed in Bellator however secured his 2025 PFL finals berth by defeating Jackson, a former Bellator titlist. Storley did have some vital Bellator wins, although. He defeated Joaquin Buckley and Michael “Venom” Web page, each of whom at the moment are within the UFC. The 2022 victory over MVP earned Storley an interim welterweight championship.
Combating phrases: “If [Storley] truly does need to struggle, then yeah, I’ll take it away from him. Not within the third spherical, the fourth, the fifth. No, the primary two rounds, he is gone. … I am not the boring fighter. I am the fighter that you simply need to see. I am the fighter that you simply need to tune in and watch. I am the fighter that you simply need to see win or lose — it would not matter, I would like you to look at me. … Within the nice phrases of [Conor] McGregor, ‘We’re not right here to participate; we’re right here to take over.’ And that is precisely what we’re doing. We’ll take over all the pieces. That is precisely why it is so essential for me to turn out to be the champion, as a result of I’m the following step.” — Thad Jean
“Why I’ve had the profession that I’ve had is simply the grittiness, the consistency of doing exhausting issues over and again and again. The flexibility to carry out. I’ve had most likely 800 hand-to-hand fight and wrestling [matches] since I used to be 5 years previous, via school and in MMA. I’ve competed quite a bit towards one of the best guys on this planet. And so the nerves, what’s on the road, the NCAA [wrestling] match on ESPN, I’ve completed that.” — Logan Storley
X issue: Teamwork. Jean’s most up-to-date victory — and largest win of his younger profession — got here towards Jackson, a teammate of Storley’s at Kill Cliff FC gymnasium in South Florida. Certainly Storley, Jackson and their coaches have put their heads collectively to kind out what went fallacious and the way Storley can keep away from an identical consequence.
What to look at for: In the event you can learn Jean’s title printed on the again of his shorts, that is dangerous information for Storley, as a result of it means the fighters are standing and buying and selling punches and kicks, not mendacity on the canvas grappling. It is a traditional striker-versus-wrestler matchup. Storley was a four-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler on the College of Minnesota, ending third at 174 kilos within the 2014 NCAA nationwide championships. Jean, against this, is a flexible and explosive striker whose quick kicks and lengthy punches have saved him safely away from takedown pictures. Can Storley shut the gap with out getting knocked out?
Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (23-0-1, 1 NC) vs. Jesus Pinedo (25-6-1)
How Khaybulaev obtained right here: Defeated Jeremy Kennedy by cut up choice on April 3; defeated Tae Kyun Kim by unanimous choice in a June 12 semifinal.
How Pinedo obtained right here: Defeated Adam Borics by first-round TKO on April 3; defeated Gabriel Braga by first-round TKO in a June 12 semifinal.
Quantity to know: 0. Each time a fighter’s file ends in a zero — as in, no losses — that is at all times the important thing quantity, particularly when stated fighter has competed greater than two dozen instances as an expert. The factor that is totally different with Khaybulaev is that he has tasted defeat within the PFL. Within the 2019 quarterfinals, he was knocked out by Daniel Pineda — however the consequence was overturned to a no contest after Pineda examined constructive for a banned substance. Nonetheless, Khaybulaev has skilled being knocked out and Pinedo is an influence puncher, with KOs in his previous 9 wins.
Combating phrases: “I am only a totally different sort of fighter than what [Khaybulaev] has confronted. A number of guys — whether or not it is being afraid of Movlid or over-respecting him — they modify their struggle model after they see him. I’ll struggle my similar struggle, and that is going to be one thing he is by no means confronted. … My recreation plan for each struggle is keep standing, defend takedowns and are available ahead and convey strain to the struggle. … I got here for the cash, the belt and to take his zero.” — Jesus Pinedo
“If [Pinedo] desires to have a struggle, we’ll have it. That places extra fireplace into me. … If he thinks that he noticed individuals who had good wrestling, he has one other factor coming. Our wrestling is on a unique degree. … The factor with Khabib [Nurmagomedov] being in my nook, one of the best factor is that he provides exact recommendation. He sees the total image. Generally cornermen yell totally different recommendation. He’s at all times spot on. He is very exact. In the event you hearken to him and execute effectively, that provides you a bonus.” — Movlid Khaybulaev
X issue: Inactivity. Each of those fighters sat out all of 2024. Khaybulaev’s absence reached virtually two years, as he stepped away in June 2023 and didn’t return till this previous April. He is by no means totally defined the rationale for his break from the game. Pinedo, however, spent a lot of 2024 recovering from a again damage, and his scheduled return in November was canceled after Pinedo badly missed weight. Each fighters bounced again with a pair of 2025 match wins, and Pinedo’s two KOs had been spectacular.
What to look at for: Pinedo is 9-1 in his previous 10 fights, with six of his 9 knockouts coming within the first spherical. In his one struggle that went the gap, Pinedo misplaced a cut up choice. He has not received a choice since 2018. Khaybulaev, against this, has constructed his profession on impressing cageside judges. Amongst his 23 victories, 14 got here by choice, all however three of them unanimous. He has extra choice wins than knockouts (6) and submissions (3) mixed. So the factor to look at for is a Spherical 2 and past, one thing Pinedo has not skilled since 2023. Contemplating that the PFL books its finals for 5 rounds, Pinedo could possibly be taken the place he is by no means been earlier than. Khaybulaev has fought 5 rounds solely as soon as, however his recreation is constructed for lengthy journeys.
Friday’s full struggle card
ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET
Welterweight ultimate: Jean vs. Storley
Featherweight ultimate: Pinedo vs. Khaybulaev
Featherweight: Asaël Adjoudj vs. Yves Landu
Middleweight: Jordan Newman vs. Eslam Abdul Baset
ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET
Catchweight: Jakub Kaszuba vs. Sergio Cossio
Light-weight: Husein Kadimagomaev vs. Kyle Driscoll
Featherweight: Nathan Kelly vs. Frederik Dupras
Welterweight: Sarek Shields vs. Nick Meck
Featherweight: Matt Turnbull vs. Tom Pagliarulo
The remainder of the PFL finals
Aug. 15 in Charlotte, North Carolina
Light-weight: Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Alfie Davis
Girls’s flyweight: Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop
Bantamweight: Marcirley Alves vs. Justin Wetzell
Aug. 21 in Hollywood, Florida
Middleweight: Fabian Edwards vs. Dalton Rosta
Gentle heavyweight: Sullivan Cauley vs. Antonio Carlos Jr.
Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov vs. Oleg Popov