Atlantic City, NJ – August 1, 2025 – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is set to deliver a knockout night of mixed martial arts this Friday, August 1st, at the iconic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, which hosts two highly anticipated World Tournament Finals. I have to applaud the PFL for choosing Boardwalk Hall as the venue. Having hosted countless legendary boxing matches over the years, it’s fantastic to see one of the leading MMA promoters bring this historic arena back to the big stage.

A four-fight main card will take over our screens Friday night, complemented by a potentially action-packed preliminary/early card. I’ll list the full lineup later, but for this article, we’re focusing on the top two fights of the night as we find out who takes home the PFL Welterweight and Featherweight gold!

JESUS PINEDO vs. MOVLID KHAYBULAEV – PFL World Featherweight Title

The PFL Featherweight Championship is about to ignite! We’ve got Jesus Pinedo, the reigning champ, ready to throw down with the undefeated powerhouse Movlid Khaybulaev. This isn’t just a title fight; it’s a clash of styles that’s going to be ridiculously fun to watch. I’ve even got my popcorn ready!

Pinedo, nicknamed “El Mudo,” is all about aggressive, finish-first striking. He’s carved a destructive path through the division, racking up wild knockouts along the way. Having proven he can bounce back and claim the gold, expect him to come out swinging and push the pace.

Then there’s Khaybulaev, a fighter with a perfect record and a reputation for smothering his opponents. His Dagestani-style wrestling is next-level—think powerful takedowns and relentless control. He’s like a budget version of Khabib, if you will, for the casual fans reading—and that still makes him pretty darn good. Khaybulaev is rapidly becoming a master at neutralizing his opponent’s strengths, grinding them down, and making them wish they’d chosen poetry over mixed martial arts.

So, what’s going to happen? Will Pinedo keep it standing and unleash his bombs? Or will Khaybulaev take him to the mat and put on a grappling clinic? We’ll find out Friday in Atlantic City. Don’t sleep on this one—I’ve got a hunch we’re in for a banger!

THAD JEAN vs. LOGAN STORLEY – PFL World Welterweight Title

The welterweight title bout between Thad Jean and Logan Storley presents another classic clash of mixed martial arts styles. Much like the featherweight title fight, this battle for all the marbles pits a dynamic striker against a relentless grappler.

Logan Storley, an elite wrestler, aims to secure takedowns, control his opponents on the canvas, and implement ground-and-pound. His success hinges on closing the distance, neutralizing striking, and turning the fight into a grinding, mat-based affair. Casual fans might find this style less flashy, but it’s brutally effective.

Conversely, Thad Jean is recognized for his striking proficiency and showmanship. This man loves the camera and thrives on highlight-reel knockouts. His path to victory lies in maintaining distance, utilizing his range, and unleashing what has proven to be a tidy arsenal of strikes. Jean’s strategy will focus on defending takedowns, circling away, and creating openings for his strikes to land. For Jean to win, this fight must remain standing.

If Jean can defend Storley’s inevitable takedown attempts and keep his footing, his chances of landing fight-changing strikes increase tenfold. However, if Storley secures takedowns early and often, he’ll dictate the pace and likely control the outcome—possibly to a chorus of boos from the spectators inside Boardwalk Hall. Darn those casuals!

Undercard & Preliminary Card

•  Featherweight Showcase: Asaël Adjoudj (9-1) vs. Yves Landu (21-9)

•  Middleweight Showcase: Jordan Newman (7-0) vs. Eslam Abdul Baset (16-3)

•  Catchweight (160 lbs) Showcase: Jakub Kaszuba (14-0) vs. Sergio Cossio (27-10-1)

•  Lightweight Showcase: Husein Kadimagomaev (11-1, 2 NC) vs. Kyle Driscoll (14-4)

•  Featherweight Showcase: Nathan Kelly (11-4) vs. Frederik Dupras (8-2)

•  Welterweight Showcase: Sarek Shields (7-2) vs. Nick Meck (record unavailable)

•  Featherweight Showcase: Damion Nelson (8-4) vs. Isaiah Diggs (5-0)

•  Featherweight Showcase: Matt Turnbull (9-6) vs. Tom Pagliarulo (9-2)

Enjoy the violence!

Phil

Phillip Dean

Phillip Dean is a seasoned combat sports journalist from England, with over 27 years of ringside experience. Phillip delivers engaging, in-depth reporting on the world of combat sports.