The Professional Fighters League will return to Washington, D.C. this July, and are bringing a welterweight title fight to the nation’s capital.
Undefeated 2025 PFL World Tournament winner Thad Jean (11-0) will face Shamil Musaev (20-1-1) for the organization’s vacant welterweight title at PFL D.C. on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
The event, which takes place at the CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C., was announced via press release on Wednesday.
The PFL welterweight title was previously held by Ramazan Kuramagomedov, who retired immediately after winning the belt against Musaev in February. The league suggested in Wednesday’s press release that the Russian fighter had been stripped of the title, something PFL CEO John Martin stated on The Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday.
It’s unclear why the promotion felt the need to strip Kuramagomedov of the title if he was in fact retired.
Thad Jean had a breakout 2025 en route to winning the World Tournament, defeating a trio of former Bellator fighters including two former champs. After defeating Mukhamed Berkhamov in the World Tournament quarterfinals, Jean went on to get the better of ex-Bellator welterweight champ Jason Jackson, then former Bellator interim welterweight champion Logan Storley in the tournament final.
Shamil Musaev has not fought since his title fight loss to Kuramagomedov, but had been undefeated prior to that. He was also the 2024 PFL Global tournament champion.
No other fights have been announced for PFL D.C. as of yet.
