Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs The PFL promised some massive changes that were coming to the company late in 2024. Founder and Chairman Donn Davis spoke in length about what fans could expect from the popular MMA organization, including increasing the number of fights in the 2025 calendar year. Exclusive: Peter Murray Details New PFL Single Elimination World TournamentPFL CEO Peter Murray also revealed that the entire format for the company was changing from a regular season and a point system to a new single-elimination tournament.PFL stated that the tournament would receive more details in February, which has now happened. The tournament details have begun to come out, including the location, dates, and the entire welterweight class fighting in the tournament.
Starting with the dates, the first round will take place on April 3, 11, 18, and May 1. The semifinal round will follow on June 12, June 20, and Jun 27, followed by the finals on Aug. 1, 15, and 21.
PFL also shared the location for the first round, which will take place at Universal Studios, Orlando. Fans can get tickets at pflmma.com, which are set to go on sale, Wednesday, Feb. 19.The final big reveal for the tournament is the welterweight combatants being listed.
The PFL tournament will feature eight weight classes, one of which is the 170-pound class, otherwise known as welterweight. The entrants are as follows:Jason Jackson (18-5) – JamaicaMagomed Umalov (17-1) – RussiaAndrey Koreshkov (28-5) – RussiaLogan Storley (16-3) – U.S.A.Mukhamed Berkhamov (17-2, 1 NC) – RussiaFlorim Zendeli (10-1) – AlbaniaGiannis Bachar (9-2) – GreeceMasayuki Kikuiri (10-2-1) – Japan
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 25: Jason Jackson walks to the cage before fighting against Ray Cooper III during the 2024 PFL vs Bellator: Champs event at Kingdom Arena on February 25, 2024 in Riyadh.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 25: Jason Jackson walks to the cage before fighting against Ray Cooper III during the 2024 PFL vs Bellator: Champs event at Kingdom Arena on February 25, 2024 in Riyadh.
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The company is set to release more details on the additional seven weight classes joining the tournament, including the middleweights, which already has a marquee fighter: Impa Kasanganay.Kasanganay has moved down to middleweight (185 pounds), after competing at light heavyweight (205 pounds) during the world championship in Nov. 2024. Exclusive: Impa Kasanganay on Benefits of PFL Single-Elimination TournamentKasanganay also spoke to Newsweek Sports about the upcoming tournament, and how the “clarity” of the new format benefits everyone.”I am excited about the clarity of it. The one and done. You win, you move forward. You lose, you stay home. It’s easier for the fans to understand. The people who support us. The fighters get it. Let’s say you knock a person out, the other person gets knocked out… like last time, everybody in the first round, all the light heavyweights got a first-round finishes… I think it takes away the speculation.”Kasanganay also revealed that he is at his “best self” at 185 pounds.”For sure, 185 is definitely my best self. I’m grateful. Things at 205 weren’t terrible. Won my first world title, back in the championship fight last year. Defended the title three times. Things were going great, but you’ll see a new dimension of me at the 185 weight class. The way I move, the way I feel, the way I see things.Read more from that interview, here.For more MMA, head to Newsweek Sports.
