The third installment of the PFL’s 2025 World Tournament opening round goes down this Friday at Universal Studios in Florida.
Last week saw plenty of upsets and a flurry of finishes as the women’s flyweights and men’s bantamweights threw down. This week, the lightweights and middleweights will look to follow their lead.
Let’s take a look at all the action on this week’s card.
MAIN CARD
Impa Kasanganay vs. Fabian Edwards (185 pounds)
Impa Kasanganay (18-5), who won the million-dollar tournament in 2023, returns to the PFL SmartCage for the first time since losing in the 2024 finals to Dovlet Yagshimuradov.
He takes on Fabian Edwards (13-4), who has twice fallen short against Johnny Eblen in Bellator title fights—the most recent coming at the Battle of the Giants event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last October.
Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Marc Diakiese (155 pounds)
Marc Diakiese (18-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) got his post-UFC career off to a strong start by outpointing Tim Wilde at last September’s Bellator Champions Series event in London.
“Bonecrusher” faces a tough test this time around as he takes on last year’s PFL tournament winner, Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2), who is riding an eleven-fight winning streak and has never lost inside the PFL SmartCage.
Dalton Rosta vs. Sadibou Sy (185 pounds)
Dalton Rosta’s (9-1) only appearance in 2024 came in Dublin, Ireland, last June, where he outpointed Norbert Novenyi Jr. to return to the win column. Prior to that, “Hercules” had suffered the first loss of his career against Aaron Jeffery—who, coincidentally, he could face in the semifinals if both men pick up wins on Friday night.
Sweden’s Sadibou Sy (17-8-2) will be looking to improve on last year’s campaign, where he exited the tournament before reaching the playoff stage.
Mads Burnell vs. Jay Jay Wilson (155 pounds)
Grappling fans could be in for a treat as Mads Burnell (20-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) looks for his fifth win in his last six outings. The Danish lightweight has secured nine submission victories over the course of his career, while his opponent, Jay Jay Wilson (10-1), is also a serious threat when the fight hits the canvas.
Wilson, who hasn’t fought since September 2023, won his first five professional bouts—four of them by submission.
Clay Collard vs. Alfie Davis (155 pounds)
Veteran Clay Collard (25-14) enters his 40th professional fight looking to snap a skid in form. “Cassius” lost three of his four bouts in 2024, including two against fighters who join him in this year’s lightweight bracket—Mads Burnell and Brent Primus.
UK standout Alfie Davis (17-5-1) will be aiming to get back in the win column after being submitted in his PFL debut last November by Mansour Barnaoui.
PRELIMINARY CARD
Josh Silveira vs. Mike Shipman (185 pounds)
American Top Team’s Josh Silveira (13-4) may have one eye on a potential semifinal clash with Impa Kasanganay, should both men advance with wins this weekend. Silveira fell short against Kasanganay in both the 2023 final and the 2024 semifinal, missing out on the million-dollar prize on both occasions.
First, however, he faces a tough test in Mike Shipman. The Englishman enters Friday’s bout in excellent form, riding a three-fight winning streak.
Brent Primus vs. Vinicius Censi (155 pounds)
Former Bellator lightweight champion Brent Primus (15-4) looks to rebound from the heartbreak of falling at the final hurdle in 2024. The Oregon native was stopped by Gadzhi Rabadanov after winning his first three fights in last year’s tournament.
Originally slated to face Alexandr Shabliy, Primus will now take on Brazilian newcomer Vinicius Censi (8-2), who could present an intriguing challenge to Primus’s well-known submission game.
Aaron Jeffery vs. Murad Ramazanov (185 pounds)
Former ONE Championship standout Murad Ramazanov (12-2) is set to face Bellator veteran Aaron Jeffery (15-5), who has shared the cage with some of the top talent the PFL has to offer and holds notable wins over respected names like Douglas Lima and Dalton Rosta.
Robert Watley vs. Tony Caruso (155 pounds)
While the middleweight alternate bout between Khalid Murtazaliev and Nick Maximov is off the card after Maximov sustained an injury, the lightweight alternate contest between Robert Watley (15-3) and Tony Caruso (10-2) goes ahead as scheduled.
PFL World Tournament 3 takes place this Friday at Universal Studios, Florida and live on ESPN.
