NEW YORK (January 15, 2025) – The Professional Fighters League announced the launch of its new 2025 World Tournament featuring eight weight classes, each with eight world-class fighters competing to claim the title of PFL Tournament Champion. The PFL 2025 World Tournament starts in April, with semi-finals in June, and finals in August. All fights will be available live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S. and broadcast and streamed live to 190 countries with 20 premium media partners. 
 

One Shot. The annual single-elimination tournament will feature brackets at Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Women’s Flyweight. The PFL World Tournament spans an action packed five months. 64 of the best fighters from around the world will compete to win MMA’s toughest test – win three straight times in five months to become PFL Tournament Champion.  
 

The First Round fights and the Semi-Final fights will be three, five-minute rounds while the Finals are five, five-minute rounds. All events and all fights now allow the use of elbows. The PFL World Tournament will payout over $20 million in total prize money, including a $500,000 bonus for every winner. 
 

The eight brackets and corresponding matchups will be released in February. 
 

“The PFL World Tournament is continued innovation by PFL, and we are thrilled to present to global MMA fans an even more exciting product,” Peter Murray, PFL CEO said. “One shot, single elimination, nothing more exciting in all of sports.”
 

The complete five-month World Tournament dates are as follows:
 

First Round

April 3, 2025  

April 11, 2025 

April 18, 2025

TBD
 

Semifinals

June 12, 2025 

June 20, 2025 

June 27, 2025 
 

Championships

August 1, 2025

August 15, 2025 

August 21, 2025 
 

A full World Tournament roster reveal of all 64 competitors will also be announced in February.