PFL 3 Fight Card Preview

Published by Paul Browne on April 16, 2025

PFL 2025: Third Opening Round Event Set for Friday at Universal Studios

The third leg of the PFL’s 2025 World Championship tournament kicks off this Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, with action-packed matchups across the lightweight and middleweight divisions.

Following last week’s event—which featured major upsets and a wave of finishes in the women’s flyweight and men’s bantamweight brackets—this week’s lineup promises just as much intensity as the lightweights and middleweights enter the fray.

Here’s what fans can expect from this week’s slate of fights:

Main Card Preview

Impa Kasanganay vs. Fabian Edwards (185 lbs)
2023 tournament champion Impa Kasanganay (18-5) returns to the SmartCage for the first time since falling short in last year’s final against Dovlet Yagshimuradov. He’s set to face Fabian Edwards (13-4), who will be looking to make a statement following two losses in Bellator title fights to Johnny Eblen—the latest of which took place in Riyadh last October at Battle of the Giants.

Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Marc Diakiese (155 lbs)
Marc Diakiese (18-7), a UFC veteran, kicked off his post-UFC journey with a solid win over Tim Wilde at Bellator’s London event last September. He’ll now meet red-hot Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2), who’s on an eleven-fight tear and remains undefeated in PFL competition.

Dalton Rosta vs. Sadibou Sy (185 lbs)
Dalton Rosta (9-1) bounced back from the first defeat of his career by outpointing Norbert Novenyi Jr. in Dublin last year. A win here could line up a semifinal clash with Aaron Jeffery—his only career loss. On the other side, Sweden’s Sadibou Sy (17-8-2) aims to push past last year’s disappointment when he failed to reach the playoffs.

Mads Burnell vs. Jay Jay Wilson (155 lbs)
This one could turn into a grappling clinic. Denmark’s Mads Burnell (20-6) has submitted nine opponents in his career and is hunting a fifth win in six fights. His opponent, Jay Jay Wilson (10-1), is no slouch on the mat either, with four of his first five pro victories coming via submission. This will be Wilson’s first bout since September 2023.

Clay Collard vs. Alfie Davis (155 lbs)
Veteran Clay Collard (25-14) enters his 40th pro bout hoping to reverse a rough patch, having lost three of four in 2024—including fights against current tournament competitors Mads Burnell and Brent Primus. England’s Alfie Davis (17-5-1) is also seeking redemption after suffering a submission loss in his PFL debut to Mansour Barnaoui last November.

Preliminary Card Preview

Josh Silveira vs. Mike Shipman (185 lbs)
Josh Silveira (13-4) is looking to avoid a third heartbreak at the hands of Impa Kasanganay. After falling short in the 2023 final and 2024 semifinal against him, Silveira might be headed for a trilogy if both men advance. But first, he must get past England’s Mike Shipman, who comes in on a three-fight winning streak.

Brent Primus vs. Vinicius Censi (155 lbs)
Brent Primus (15-4), a former Bellator lightweight champ, returns to action after his 2024 tournament run ended in the final against Gadzhi Rabadanov. Originally scheduled to fight Alexandr Shabliy, he now meets Brazilian newcomer Vinicius Censi (8-2), a potentially tricky opponent for Primus and his vaunted submission skills.

Aaron Jeffery vs. Murad Ramazanov (185 lbs)
Murad Ramazanov (12-2), previously of ONE Championship, makes his PFL debut against battle-tested Bellator vet Aaron Jeffery (15-5). Jeffery brings momentum and experience, with wins over top names like Douglas Lima and Dalton Rosta on his résumé.

Robert Watley vs. Tony Caruso (155 lbs)
While the scheduled middleweight alternate bout between Khalid Murtazaliev and Nick Maximov was scrapped due to injury, the lightweight alternate fight between Robert Watley (15-3) and Tony Caruso (10-2) will go ahead as planned.