PFL 2025 World Tournament 1 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Nathan Kelly (146) vs. Tae Kyun Kim (145.2)

Round 1

The first featherweight quarterfinal in the PFL 2025 World Tournament kicks off the action at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, as Kelly (11-3, 4-1 PFL) squares off with Kim (10-1, 0-0 PFL) at 145 pounds. Andrew Glenn serves as the third man in the cage. They touch gloves, and we are underway. Kim sets up in the southpaw stance while Kelly probes with the lead hand. Kelly fends off a head kick and closes the distance, pressing the Korean into the cage. Kelly scores with a few knees to the body, then tries to power his way into a takedown. Kim denies it. They remain chest to chest, with Kim’s back to the cage. Kelly troubles him with foot stomps. Kelly stays patient. They jockey for position along the fence. Kim turns the Irishman into the fence. Kelly returns the favor. Some dirty boxing from Kelly before they separate. Sharp jab from Kim, and he floors Kelly with a clean one-two. An overhand left did the damage. Kim powers into top position, then moves to the back and threatens with a rear-naked choke. Kim flirts with an armbar, then turns his attention back to the neck. Ninety seconds left. Kim goes to work on a neck crank. Kelly bleeding from a wound near his right eye. Kim switches arms in a bid for another rear-naked choke. Kelly loses his grip on one of Kim’s hands, and the Korean locks in the choke. Kelly refuses to tap and instead goes to sleep.

The Official Result

Tae Kyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly—Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 4:53 R1

Masayuki Kikuiri (169.4) vs. Giannis Bachar (170.6)

Round 1

They keep the line moving with a welterweight quarterfinal pitting Kikuiri (10-2-1, 0-0 PFL) against a fellow PFL debutant in Bachar (9-2, 0-0 PFL). Keith Peterson administers the law and order. Glove touch gets them started. Bachar shoots on an immediate takedown and drives his opponent into the fence. Kikuiri defends initially. He widens his base and withstands an attempted trip. Kikuiri turns Bachar into the cage, as they enter the second minute. Peterson urges action. Bachar switches to a high single-leg and briefly takedown down Kikuiri. The Japanese standout immediately gets back to his feet. Bachar turns his opponent into the fence and gets back to work on a single-leg. His efforts go nowhere, and they stall again in the clinch. Kikuiri separates and lets his hands go. Bachar answers with a right, then a left. Thudding body kick from Kikuiri. Bachar shoots again, pressing Kikuiri into the fence. Kikuiri shuts it down and turns him into the fence. He separates and lands a powerful right hand over the top. Bachar staggers. Kikuiri rips punches to the body. Bachar returns fire and forces his counterpart to backpedal. Pace slows with 30 seconds to go. Kikuiri shoots on the hips, locks his hands behind Bachar and eventually scores with a brief takedown.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kikuiri
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kikuiri
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Kikuiri

Round 2

Back at it for Round 2. Bachar doubles up on leg kicks and pins his man to the fence with punches. Kikuiri circles out. Bachar flexes some early aggression, shoots on the hips and drives Kikuiri to the fence. Excellent balance from Kikuiri keeps him upright. He turns Bachar into the fence and connects with a knee to the body. Peterson again asks for more action. They separate. Kikuiri follows his jab with a takedown attempt and settles in the clinch once more. Grinding affair here. Bachar sneaks in a few knees to the inner thigh, as they separate and float into open space. They trade jabs. Lead left hook from Bachar bounces of the side of his opponent’s head. Kikuiri drives into a takedown. Bachar gets to his feet without issue. Back to work in the clinch they go. Kikuiri gains the advantage and turns Bachar into the fence. Ninety seconds left in the round. Kikuiri lands an elbow on the break. Leg kick from Bachar. Kikuiri powers forward with a takedown and completes it. Bachar counters by threatening with a guillotine and forces his way back to his feet. More clinch work from both men. Bachar gets a late takedown.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kikuiri
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kikuiri
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Kikuiri

In a stunning turn, Bachar—appearing to have suffered a knee inujury—bows out between rounds.

The Official Result

Masayuki Kikuiri def. Giannis Bachar—TKO (Retirement) 5:00 R2

Frederik Dupras (145.6) vs. Gabriel Braga (144.4)

Round 1

Next up: a featherweight quarterfinal matching Dupras (8-1, 0-0 PFL) with Braga (15-2, 7-2 PFL), a finalist in 2023. Christopher Mignocchi draws the officiating assignment. They touch gloves, and Dupras gets busy right out of the gate. He shoots on an attempted double-leg. Braga stymies those efforts. Dupras fires a few close-range knees to the body in the clinch, then secures a trip takedown. He bites down an arm-in guillotine. Dupras squeezes with all his might, but Braga frees himself and winds up in top position. Braga lashes away with elbows and punches. Dupras flirts with an armbar, then bails. More ground-and-pound from Braga, who wheels behind the Canadian. Dupras gets back to his feet. Braga stays heavy on his back. He drags Dupras down to the mat again and threatens the neck. Braga secures both hooks and alternates between cranks and chokes. He eventually finds the right combination, slides his arms in place and squeezes on a neck crank to force the tapout. It goes in the books as the first submission win of Braga’s career.

The Official Result

Gabriel Braga def. Frederik Dupras—Submission (Neck Crank) 4:37 R1

Thad Jean (170.8) vs. Mukhamed Berkhamov (171)

Round 1

Welterweights close out the undercard, as Jean (8-0, 4-0 PFL) puts his perfect professional record on the line against Berkhamov (17-2, 1-0 PFL) and a 145-pound quarterfinal. Glenn answers the call to referee. They meet in the middle, both men pawing with jabs. Chants of “Silverback” in support of Jean echo through the arena. Measured pace through the first minute. Sharp front kick to the body from Jean. Berkhamov bites on a feint and looks to counter. The Russian sneaks in a jab. Takedown from Berkhamov. Jean threatens with a tight guillotine, sets of a scramble and gets back to his feet. They trade right hooks and exchange inside leg kicks. Jean presses forward, with Berkhamov light on his feet. Jean gets off two jabs, one to the head and one to the body. Inside leg kick from Berkhamov. Double jab from Jean, followed by a body kick. Berkhamov responds with a jab of his own. A minute to go. Another body kick from Jean, who steps into a crushing counter left hook that fells his opponent. He then swarms with hammerfists on the fallen Barkhamov to procure the stoppage.

The Official Result

Thad Jean def. Mukhamed Berkhamov—TKO (Punches) 4:25 R1

Movlid Khaybulaev (145.4) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (145.8)

Round 1

Moving along to the main card, Kennedy (19-5, 2-2 PFL) takes on a 2021 champion in the undefeated Khaybulaev (21-0-1, 7-0-1 PFL) in a featherweight quarterfinal. Peterson serves as the third man in the cage. They touch gloves to get us started. Kennedy takes the center of the cage and focuses his initial efforts on his opponent’s lower extremities. Khaybulaev narrowly misses a sweeping left hook and lands a leg kick. Kennedy staggers him with a right hand, rushes forward and settles into the clinch. Elbow over the top from the Canadian. Khaybulaev content to hang out in the clinch while recovering his faculties. Kennedy digs to the body and lands another right hand upstairs. Khaybulaev’s knees buckle, and Kennedy unleashes his hands. Khaybulaev in survival mode here but throws back and works his way back to the clinch. Elbow over the top from Kennedy. He wades through return fire and settles back into the clinch. Not going well for the heavily favored Khaybulaev. Kennedy again lands an elbow to the head. Khaybulaev on wobbly legs and bleeding heavily from the nose as they separate and exchange. Kennedy gets his jab in gear, shoots on a double-leg and secures a takedown with 30 seconds to go. Round concludes in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Kennedy
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Kennedy
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-8 Kennedy

Round 2

Kennedy enters Round 2 with a clear lead. Can he keep up the momentum? Khaybulaev swings wildly and misses a left hook. Kennedy commands the center and backs his opponent towards the cage. Khaybulaev springs forward with an overhand right. Jab from Kennedy, then another. Khaybulaev pushes the Canadian back with a left hook. “JBC” undeterred. One-two from Khaybulaev sets Kennedy on wobbly footing and a flying knee sends him to the canvas. Elbow-laced ground-and-pound follows. Kennedy stands, only to get pinned to the fence while eating elbows. He manages to clinch. Khaybulaev secures a takedown. Two minutes to go, and the tide has turned. Kennedy now bleeding from the side of the head. Khaybulaev working towards a more dominant position. More elbows from the rejuvenated Russian. Kennedy stands and shields himself. Khaybulaev moves behind him and feeds him knees to the back of the leg.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev

Round 3

Anyone’s fight at the start of the third round. Khaybulaev gets started with a leg kick and a jab. They clinch in the center and meander to the fence. Both men score with knees and exchange short punches. Khaybulaev wheels behind Kennedy and drags him briefly to the mat. Kennedy gets back to his feet but cannot shake the Russian. He turns him into the fence and works for a trip. Khaybulaev denies it. Kennedy fires a few elbows to the side of the head, forcing his opponent to bail on a double-leg. Khaybulaev works behind him before they separate. Overhand right from Kennedy staggers the Russian, who dives back into the clinch for cover. Ninety seconds to go, and the outcome remains very much in doubt. Kennedy stays close with a body lock and fires short knees to the midsection. Khaybulaev turns him into the fence, drops down on the hips and eats elbows to the side of the head. Chest to chest, they exchange shots in the clinch. Khaybulaev drags Kennedy to his knees as the fight ends.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kennedy (29-27 Kennedy)
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kennedy (29-27 Kennedy)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Kennedy (29-27 Kennedy)

The Official Result

Movlid Khaybulaev def. Jeremy Kennedy—Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) 5:00 R3

Joseph Luciano (170.4) vs. Logan Storley (171)

Round 1

Welterweights step into the spotlight, as Storley (16-3, 1-1 PFL) locks horns with Luciano (9-2, 0-0 PFL) in a 170-pound quarterfinal. Luciano replaced Magomed Umalatov, who withdrew after failing to make weight. Mignocchi administers the law and order. They step forward and touch gloves. Check left hook from Luciano, who then just misses a front kick up the middle. Storley shoots on and completes a takedown, then drags him away from the cage and consolidates his position. Not where Luciano wants to be. He gets back to his feet but eats punches while doing so. Knee from Storley, who completes another takedown and moves toward an arm-triangle. Both men bleeding from cuts. Storley settles in full guard, passes to side control and works behind Luciano, who tries to build a base. Ninety seconds to go. Knee to the body from Storley. Luciano gets back to his feet, only to be dragged down again. Action stalls along the fence, with Luciano in a crouched position. Storley maintains control and hammers away with knees to the legs. They separate with 50 seconds to go. Luciano lands a strong leg kick at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Storley
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Storley
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Storley

Round 2

Back to work for Round 2. Body kick from Storley. Luciano answers with a right hook, then cuts off a takedown. They trade punches in the center. Rear-leg front kick to the body from Luciano, who follows with a leg kick. Storley ducks in on the hips and secures a takedown. Butterfly guard from Luciano. Storley passes easily to side control before settling in half guard. Short punches from the decorated wrestler, who looks to be in his element here. Storley drops elbows and continues to extend his lead. He flirts with an arm-triangle. Luciano defends. Storley turns to ground-and-pound, postures and drops an elbow, then another. Luciano probably not enjoying life right now. Storley passes to full mount with 35 seconds left. Luciano reclaims half guard, only to eat elbows and forearm strikes for his efforts. Storley ends a dominant round in top position.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Storley
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Storley
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Storley

Round 3

Luciano needs a stoppage, as the third round gets underway. Body kick from Luciano greets the American. Storley presses forward, gets in on the hips and completes another takedown. Ground-and-pound ensues. Not the start for which Luciano was looking. Luciano gets back to his feet but cannot shake Storley. Back to the mat they go. Knee to the buttocks from Storley, who maintains a dominant position even though he cannot yet get his ground-and-pound going. He stays glued to Luciano, giving him no room to breathe much less operate. Halfway home in the third round. Storley pounds away with right hands and keeps Luciano grounded. More knees to the rear end from the Kill Cliff Fight Club rep. Ninety seconds left, and hope has dimmed for Luciano. Storley pins him to the fence and feeds him short knees. Suffocating control from the wrestler. Luciano seems resigned to his fate with 20 seconds to go in the match. Not the most exciting performance from Storley, but it was undeniably effective.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Storley (30-27 Storley)
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Storley (30-27 Storley)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Storley (30-27 Storley)

The Official Result

Logan Storley def. Joseph Luciano—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Jesus Pinedo (145.4) vs. Adam Borics (145.6)

Round 1

PFL 2025 World Tournament First Round 1 has arrived at its co-main event, where Pinedo (23-6-1, 3-1 PFL) awaits Borics (19-2, 1-0 PFL) in a featherweight quarterfinal. Pinedo has not fought since he won the 2023 PFL championship. Glenn draws the officiating assignment. They step into the center, Pinedo out of his southpaw stance. Borics tests the water with a head kick. Pinedo blocks it. Tentative start. Borics counters with a right hand, giving the Peruvian pause. Pinedo steps through with a left hand. They circle in the center. Nice counter left hook from Borics. Body kick from the Hungarian. Pinedo doubles up on his jab and fires a slashing left hand behind it. Plenty of feints from both men. Right hook-left hook combo from Pinedo. Borics answers with an inside leg kick and follows it with a body kick. Overhand right stuns Borics and sets of an exchange. Pinedo connects with a sweeping left hook, fells his opponent and forces him to turtle in a defensive shell. A burst of unanswered punches came next, prompting the stoppage.

The Official Result

Jesus Pinedo def. Adam Borics—TKO (Punches) 3:43 R1

Jason Jackson (170.8) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (171)

Round 1

A welterweight showdown between former Bellator MMA champions closes the show, as Jackson (18-5, 1-0 PFL) collides with Koreshkov (28-5, 1-1 PFL) in the headliner. Peterson answers the call to referee. They touch gloves and get down to business. Jackson opens with a pair of leg kicks. He presses Koreshkov into the fence, swarms with punches to the body and clinches. Jackson connects with a few elbows to the leg, then knees. Heavy pressure from the Jamaican. Koreshkov unable to get off the fence. Jackson drops down on the hips. No luck. Koreshkov turns him into the fence. Jackson regains control midway through the round. Peterson urges more action. Knees to the body from Jackson. They separate with a minute left. One-two from Jackson. Koreshkov stops a takedown and turns Jackson into the fence. They jockey in the clinch again, and the action stalls. Korsehkov drops in on a single-leg but goes nowhere. Jackson misses a kick wildly and hits the deck at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jackson
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jackson
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Jackson

Round 2

Off we go for Round 2. Jackson commands the center, and they trade leg kicks. Koreshkov level changes in a bid for a single-leg. Jackson wise to it and chips away with elbows with the Russian clinging to his leg. Jackson flattens out his sprawl and drives and elbow into his counterpart’s ribcage. Koreshkov struggling to match his opponent’s physicality here. Jackson connects with a knee and clinches, then moves toward the back and drops another elbow to the midsection. Jackson maneuvers into top position, threatens to climb to full mount and forces Koreshkov onto all fours. He controls Koreshkov from the rear waistlock, scores with knees and trips him to the floor. Jackson lands a pair of shots to the back of the head, one of them an elbow. Peterson pauses the action. They restart after a five-minute delay. Jackson lands a low kick, eats a one-two and ducks in to complete a takedown. He climbs immediately to full mount and drops punches. Jackson progresses to the back, snakes the arms in place for a rear-naked choke and tightens his squeeze until Koreshkov loses consciousness.

The Official Result

Jason Jackson def. Andrey Koreshkov—Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 4:21 R2