PFL Crowns New Champions in Thrilling World Finals

ATLANTIC CITY: The Professional Fighters League (PFL) witnessed the rise of two new champions Friday night, as Thad Jean and Movlid Khaybulaev secured impressive victories to claim titles in the welterweight and featherweight divisions at the PFL world finals.

Jean demonstrated his exceptional abilities throughout the 2025 season, culminating in a unanimous decision win against former Bellator champion Logan Storley.

The judges scored the five-round contest 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47 in favour of Jean, who utilized precise striking to negate Storley’s grappling style.

Despite exhibiting signs of exhaustion in the later stages, Jean persisted in exchanging powerful blows in the center of the ring and nearly finished Storley in the second round with a fierce combination of kicks and uppercuts.

Acknowledging his rival’s resilience, Jean voiced his optimism for the future.

“Storley is a beast. I thought I would have finished him in the second round, and I think everyone else did, too. This is my belt, and I’m ready for my next fight with whoever is next,” Jean stated.

In the featherweight final, Movlid Khaybulaev (24-0-1) captured his second PFL title by submitting Jesus Pinedo (25-7-1) in the fifth round with an arm-triangle choke.

The Dagestani fighter overcame Pinedo’s early striking offense before establishing dominance on the ground and securing the win at 1:17 of Round five.

Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov lauded his longtime teammate after the bout, emphasizing their shared history.

“We’ve been training together for 18 years, since childhood. He was a student of my father. We’ve sparred thousands of rounds together. He’s undefeated, a two-time PFL champion. I consider him a legend in the sport already,” Khabib remarked.

The PFL World Finals will continue on August 15 in Charlotte, North Carolina, featuring title fights in the lightweight, bantamweight and women’s flyweight divisions.