Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced the launch of its new-look 2025 World Tournament, featuring eight weight classes comprised of eight fighters competing to claim the title of PFL Tournament Champion. The action gets underway on April 3 with semifinals starting on June 12 and finals beginning on August 1.
All tournament fights will air live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the United States.
“The PFL World Tournament is continued innovation by PFL, and we are thrilled to present to global MMA fans an even more exciting product,” Peter Murray, PFL CEO said. “One shot, single elimination, nothing more exciting in all of sports.”
The single-elimination tournament features brackets at Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Women’s Flyweight. 64 of the promotion’s best fighters from around the world will need to win three straight times in five months to become PFL Tournament Champion.
The opening round fights and the semifinals will be three, five-minute rounds while the finals consist of five, five-minute rounds. All events and all fights now allow the use of elbows, as previously reported. The PFL World Tournament will pay out over $20 million in total prize money, including a $500,000 bonus for every winner.
The complete five-month World Tournament dates are as follows:
Opening Round
April 3, 2025
April 11, 2025
April 18, 2025
Semifinals
June 12, 2025
June 20, 2025
June 27, 2025
Championships
August 1, 2025
August 15, 2025
August 21, 2025
A full tournament roster reveal of all 64 competitors and corresponding matchups will be released in February.
