The B-League: PFL 8, aka World Tournament Finals (2025)

A quick peek at the first of three World Tournament Finals events for the PFL.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
BOARDWALK HALL, ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
MAIN CARD 7 PM (Eastern)

MAIN EVENT: WELTERWEIGHT FINAL - Thad Jean (10-0) vs Logan Storley (18-3)

Here we are, friends. The 2025 PFL world tournament championship finals, welterweight division. Thad Jean, man of punch-kick, taking on Logan Storley, wrestling devil of the frozen midwest. Thad got here by knocking out Mukhamed Berkhamov in the first round of the tournament, and took Jason Jackson to a split decision in the semi-finals. Logan Storley won by decision against Joseph Luciano and the same against Masayuki Kikuiri.

Everything in my life of MMA watching is telling me Logan Storley fights his way in close, gets Thad down and grinds out a decision victory. And yet.

AND YET!

My precious little cotton socks-wearing blessed heart is nursing the tiniest ember of hope that Thad Jean emerges victorious. It is entirely within the realm of possibility! Thad Jean’s a very solid fighter and has shown good enough takedown defense to not just get smashed for twenty-five minutes. I also think he’s faced, and of course, beaten, better fighters this tournament compared to Storley.

I am nothing if not a silly little goose. Thad Jean by late TKO.

CO-MAIN EVENT FEATHERWEIGHT FINAL - Movlid Khaybulaev (23-0-1) vs Jesus Pinedo (25-6-1)

Khaybulaev defeated Jeremy Kennedy by split and then Tae Kyun Kim by unanimous decision to get here. He’s currently on a nine fight win streak, with a TKO loss overturned to a no contest because Daniel Pineda was on drugs, and a majority draw interrupting his run of continued greatness

Pinedo knocked out Adam Borics in the first round of the first round of the tournament, and then knocked out Gabriel Braga (Again) in the first round of the second round of the tournament. Pinedo is on a five fight win streak, all by way of Fearsome Punching.

Dagestan Man takes on PUNCHO, the Fist what’s Full of Hurt.

Again, my years of fight watching tells me Khaybulaev wins by way of overwhelming grappling. But, man, Pinedo punches folks and they stay punched. Also, Pinedo has had some experience against overwhelming wrestlers, knocking out Bubba Jenkins in the 2023 PFL Playoffs.

Am I really going to double down and pick both punching men over the grapplers? Nah. Khaybulaev wins by middle round submission. Sorry, this time, Jesus does tap.

FEATHERWEIGHT - Asael Adjoudj (9-1) vs Yves Landu (21-9)

Those Two Guys from all those Bellator cards in France are finally squaring off! As is the case with PFL, I ask - to what purpose? Will the winner be more favorably considered for next year’s tournament?

Or is this just busy work, keeping both contracted fighters active. Considering both men have spent most of their Bellator careers treading water on the prelims, I’m thinking its the latter.

I never thought I would have to care about either of these guys, and I’m confident I still don’t. I guess Landu by decision.

MIDDLEWEIGHT - Jordan Newman (7-0) vs Eslam Abdul Baset (16-3)

Newman’s a wrestle-type out of Wisconsin, undefeated so far in his career.

Baset’s first career fight went to No Contest due to hair pulling in the first round. Also, his most recent win is against a guy who’s 24-19

Newman wins by early submission.

PRELIM CARD

You are mentally unwell if you think I’m going to cover the PFL prelims that I’m most assuredly going to forget about and probably miss entirely.

It’s a collection of men who will fight. Watch them if you wish to consume combat sports.