To make it to the finale this year, Pinedo (25-6-1) finished rival Gabriel Braga, in the rubber match of the pair’s career series. Pinedo put the fight away via TKO barely a minute into the opening round.

“It’s what we expected,” Peru’s Pinedo told media outlets including Cageside Press following his win at PFL Nashville. “We expected a fast finish, and that’s what we got. It’s good to see our labour, being able to showcase it in front of all these people.”

Asked about putting the rivalry with Braga behind him, Pinedo reiterated what he had said all Fight Week, that he didn’t recognize his 2023 regular season loss to the Brazilian. “It’s been 3-0. I won the first fight, I’m convinced about that, and now he’s in the past. Now my next target is Movlid, and that’s our next fight.”

When it comes to Khaybulaev, Pinedo has had his sights set on the Dagestani for a while. “When the tournament started, that was the guy that I wanted to fight,” he noted. And despite Khaybulaev’s wrestling pedigree, “training the same,” Pinedo added. “It’s going to be MMA training whether it’s him, whether it’s Braga. We’re going to be striking, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, nothing changes for us.”

The 2023 PFL champ also touched on the change in format this year. Gone is the “regular season” and “points” to make the playoffs. It’s a single elimination grand prix now, and Pinedo has won his first two fights. And finished them.

“For me the format doesn’t really change much. I’ve finished every fight in the PFL except my first one. My goal is always to finish, and to be honest nothing really changed with the new format.”

Watch the full PFL Nashville post-fight media appearance by Jesus Pinedo above.

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Khaybulaev (23-0-1, 1NC) remains a very interesting piece of the PFL’s featherweight puzzle. He’s undefeated, decorated, holds wins over a couple of the promotion’s big names from years past, but has struggled to fight consistently at times. With the PFL since 2019, he missed all of 2022 and 2024, not to mention the 2020 season that was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now 2-0 in 2025, Khaybulaev told media outlets including Cageside Press following PFL Nashville that “My main goal was to get this first fight going that I had two months ago, because I had a little break. It was a tough two-year hiatus, and I was a little rusty, but now I’ve got two fights in. And actually for me the first one was more difficult than this one, because I was still coming into myself. Now I feel much better, and going in to the final I’m going to feel even better, I’m going to be in even better shape.”

Kim at times threw some very creative, perhaps surprising attacks at Khaybulaev, including a spinning back kick and elbow in the third round. The Dagestani just used those as motivation however.

“I wouldn’t say that was a surprise. If anything that was actually helping me to wake up a little bit,” Khaybulaev stated. “So whatever he was throwing at me, that was just making me see red, you know, get twice harder back at him.”

Next up is the champ versus champ final with Jesus Pinedo. That’s a position he’s been in before, Movlid Khaybulaev reminded reporters.

“Remember, I already won [against] two former champions. Lance Palmer, I [beat] him before, and Brendan Loughnane. He became champion after me, but I beat him.”

Watch the full PFL Nashville post-fight media appearance by Movlid Khaybulaev above.

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It’s now seven weeks to a fight with Thad Jean, though Storley (18-3) had been rooting for teammate Jason Jackson instead. Jean took that fight by split decision later in the night.

As far as the turnaround, “it’s not a long time, and I’ve been in these situations before with wrestling, high-level tournaments, doing a season,” Storley told media outlets including Cageside Press following the bout. “I know how to do it, and I have the best team in the world.”

The compact schedule of the World Tournament, however, is something Storley sees as beneficial in the long run. “It’s nice when you get to stay active, because you’ve done Fight Week before the walk. Everything gets a little more comfortable. That was my what, 21st fight? When you take long breaks, it always sucks to go back to it. When you get to stay active, I think it just helps build that momentum.”

Much has been made in the PFL essentially halving the prize money for their World Tournament this year. In their previous season format, winners took home a million dollars, cumulative throughout the season. Now, fighters get their purse plus $500,000 should they win the tournament, which is a single-elimination, grand prix style.

Critics have pointed to the pay cut as a sign of the PFL’s struggles, but Storley doesn’t seem fixated on the money.

“For me, this year we spent a lot of time on being grateful for the opportunity to compete, not about the money. A lot of people have made five hundred grand or a million dollars in their life. Not a lot, very very very few people ever get to compete at the highest level in front of people for a living. So I’m pretty grateful to get to do that, and get to do it with some of my best friends in my corner.”

Watch the full PFL Nashville post-fight media appearance by Logan Storley above.

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Jean (10-0) is a bright spot for the PFL this year, an undefeated prospect who now faces his second straight Bellator champion.

“I already know Logan Storley is going to grab, and he’s going to be able to really drag me into deep waters,” Jean told media outlets including Cageside Press following PFL Nashville. “Going against Jason Jackson has definitely been the toughest fight of my career, and I don’t think a fight will get tougher than that. Now that I’ve felt that, I know my training has to go to the next level.”

The win, he later stated, was part of God’s plan in his opinion. “Being able to go out there and put on the show that everybody knew it was going to be, the Clash of the Islands, Jason Jackson versus the up-and-coming Thad Jean- I kept my zero, thank God I kept my zero. It’s so good. That was a tough fight. And you know there’s going to be people in the comments, ‘you didn’t win that fight, you didn’t win that fight!’ But you’re following me, so it doesn’t matter, and I took the win.”

Jean added that there’s no hard feelings with Jackson, and he plans to try to recruit him to prepare for Logan Storley. Good luck, as the pair are teammates. As for the scorecards, Jean was confident. “I was confident that I was going to win; I didn’t know by how much I was going to win. I knew it was probably going to be a split decision, and it was a split decision.”

Watch the full PFL Nashville post-fight media appearance by Thad Jean above.

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The night’s main event saw Thad Jean earn a split decision win over former Bellator champ Jason Jackson, which has landed him in a finale against another Bellator alum, Logan Storley. Given the nature of the result, there was plenty of talk after the fight, but the PFL’s Jonathan Coachman, who fielded questions after the event, wasn’t surprised with the scorecards.

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And even Umalatov (18-1), who spent two weeks with the now-former UFC champ, isn’t sure why Muhammad strayed from what the team thought was a path to victory.

“I went to his [Belal Muhammad’s] camp here for two weeks, he was asking for help. I don’t know what happened,” stated Umalatov, speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press following a win over Anthony Ivy. “Plan was, wrestle. He changed the plan. Striking, striking, they made big damage and after, wrestle. But plan was wrestling. I don’t know what happened.”

What happened was, Muhammad lost his title to Jack Della Maddalena, who will now fight another of Umalatov’s teammates, Islam Makhachev.

In the meantime, Umalatov addressed the weight issues that forced him out of the PFL World Tournament earlier this year. “It was difficult, I regret it, because it was Ramadan. I was fasting at night and I got sick,” recalled Umalatov. “It’s a problem, I wasn’t healthy.”

The former Eagle FC champ also gave his pick for who will win this year’s PFL World Tournament at 170lbs. “I think this year will be Jason. My opinion. I don’t know what happens. My opinion, Jason Jackson. I’ll be ready next year.”

It won’t be Jackson, however. He lost to Thad Jean later in the night.

Watch the full PFL Nashville post-fight media appearance with Magomed Umalatov above.

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Borics (20-3) defeated Jeremy Kennedy via unanimous decision, in a tournament alternate bout. Borics will only fight if needed come the final, of course, but regardless, it’s a step back in the right direction.

“I’m happy to be back. It wasn’t the fight I wanted, but it’s hard to fight against somebody who doesn’t want to fight, just wants to grapple and hold you down,” Hungary’s Borics said following the bout, speaking with Cageside Press and other media outlets. “But I’m happy, I’m back on a win streak, and yeah.”

As the scores were being read, Borics didn’t have much cause for concern.

“I was pretty confident because in the first round I tried to finish him, I knocked him down and I tried to submit him. I was pretty close,” noted Borics, who could hear how close Kennedy was to going out. “Little bit I burned out my arms, and when he took my back I was like ‘okay I’ll give the second round, I don’t want to risk it, and I got to win the third round.’ So I was pretty sure it was 1-1, and it was.”

Should his services not be required at the end of the single-elimination PFL World Tournament, Adam Borics would prefer to fight later in the year. And he teased a move to lightweight as well.

“If they call me for the final, maybe but I would rest a little bit, because making weight two times in three, four months is pretty hard for me. I’m a pretty big 145’er, maybe in future I’ll move to 155. So if I get a choice, I would just fight end of the year.”

Watch the full PFL Nashville post-fight appearance by Adam Borics above.

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In the main event, one of two welterweight semifinals sees Jason Jackson, former Bellator MMA 170lb champ, was set to face off against Thad Jean, who Jackson felt had been dismissive if not downright disrespectful in the build-up. In the co-headliner, the long awaited third fight between featherweights Jesus Pinedo and Gabriel Braga was lined up, with their career series tied 1-1.

Where to Watch the PFL World Tournament Semifinals

PFL Nashville airs live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S., and DAZN elsewhere, taking place at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on Thursday, June 11, 2025. The preliminary card gets underway at 8:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM PT with prelims at 11 ET, 8 PT.

PFL Nashville: Jackson vs. Jean Results

Main card

Welterweight: Thad Jean def. Jason Jackson via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) – Tournament Semifinal
Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo def. Gabriel Braga via R1 KO, 1:16 – Tournament Semifinal
Welterweight: Logan Storley def. Masayuki Kikuiri (30-27, 29-27, 29-28) – Tournament Semifinal
Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev def. Kim Tae-kyun via Unanimous Decision (30-27×3) – Tournament Semifinal

Preliminary card

Featherweight: Ádám Borics def. Jeremy Kennedy via via Majority Decision (29-28, 28-28, 29-28) – Tournament Semifinal
Welterweight: Magomed Umalatov def. Anthony Ivy via R1 KO, 2:28 – Tournament Alternate Bout
Welterweight: Sarek Shields def. Joseph Luciano via Unanimous Decision (30-27×3)
Welterweight: Kendly St. Louis def. Mukhamed Berkhamov via R2 SUB (RNC), 3:21
Featherweight: Alexei Pergande def. Mike Bardsley via Unanimous Decision (30-27×3)
Bantamweight: Jason Danner def. Nathan Gilmore via Unanimous Decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

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The card features featherweights and lightweights in action, with the main event becoming a little heated between Jason Jackson and Thad Jean. That, after Jackson accused Jean of disrespecting his accomplishments (not to mention calling him old).

In the co-main event, the long awaited third fight between Gabriel Braga and Jesus Pinedo arrives. While Braga won the first bout, Pinedo got his revenge by defeating his rival in the 2023 PFL featherweight final. That earned Pinedo a million dollars and a world championship, but he’s back for more in the World Tournament.

Weigh-ins for PFL Nashville take place on Wednesday; full results can be found below.

PFL Nashville: Jackson vs. Jean Weigh-In Results

Main card

Welterweight: Jason Jackson (171) vs. Thad Jean (170.4) – Tournament Semifinal
Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (145.2) vs. Gabriel Braga (145) – Tournament Semifinal
Welterweight: Logan Storley (170.6) vs. Masayuki Kikuiri (170.4) – Tournament Semifinal
Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (145.4) vs. Kim Tae-kyun (145.6) – Tournament Semifinal

Preliminary card

Featherweight: Jeremy Kennedy (146) vs. Ádám Borics (145.8) – Tournament Semifinal
Welterweight: Magomed Umalatov (170.4) vs. Anthony Ivy (175.4)* – Tournament Semifinal
Welterweight: Joseph Luciano (170.4) vs. Sarek Shields (170)
Welterweight: Mukhamed Berkhamov (170.6) vs. Kendly St. Louis (170.2)
Featherweight: Alexei Pergande (145.4) vs. Mike Bardsley (145.2)
Bantamweight: Jason Danner (135.8) vs. Nathan Gilmore (135)

* Ivy weighed in 4.5lbs over the non-championship welterweight limit

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The pair face off in the main event of the first PFL World Tournament semifinal on Thursday, with Jackson (19-5) telling Cageside Press and other media outlets on Tuesday that “it does give me a lot of confidence and self-confidence. The more Thad opens his mouth the more confidence grows on my side. Because it just shows the insecurity and the youngness in him, and that is what’s going to be his downfall on Thursday night.”

For Jackson, it all boils down to respect, or lack thereof. “The Ass-Kicking Machine” is a former Bellator MMA welterweight champ, who also held gold in LFA and Titan FC, among other organizations.

“This guy does not respect my accomplishments and all the big names that I’ve fought to be where I am on this big stage. He does not see nothing that I have done or the way that I have paved for him to be here, to where he’s the main event,” exclaimed Jackson. “He’s never been on a main card or a main event, and he’s not even grateful for none of that. He’s just talking about how he’s the greatest, and how I’m nothing, I’ve done nothing, I’m old man, I’m like what? What are you talking about buddy?”

“I’m in my prime, and I’m ready to kick ass. What are you talking about? I’m a champion, multiple time champion. So what are you talking about? I’ve beat tougher opponents, harder-hitting opponents than you are. For you to not acknowledge that, there definitely has to be some type of insecurity.”

Jackson also took umbrage with Jean playing Muhammad Ali videos while claiming to be the greatest. “You’re not the greatest, you haven’t done nothing to be the greatest.”

Thad Jean has suggested he’s going to have a Conor McGregor-Jose Aldo style moment with Jason Jackson at PFL Nashville. “Listen, he’s not no Conor McGregor, and definitely not no Jose Aldo,” retorted Jackson. “This guy’s delusional, because if he thinks it’s going to be a walk in the park, come and just hit me and then boom, it’s not going to happen. Because guess what, I’m ready for everything that he’s going to throw at me.” In part, added Jackson, “because everything he does, somebody’s reporting to me. He don’t even know I’ve got eyes everywhere.”

Spies in camp perhaps? In any case, Jackson revisited the McGregor-Aldo comparison. “He’s gonna be Jose Aldo. He brought up, that’s a good perspective he’s using right there. I’m gonna be Conor McGregor, I’m going to start on Thursday night.”

Watch the full PFL Nashville media day appearance by Jason Jackson above.

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