The 2025 PFL World Tournament Semifinals wrapped up Friday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, with fighters in the Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions securing their spots in the championship bouts set for August.
In the Heavyweight Final, Moldova’s Alexander Romanov (19-3, 1 NC) will take on Russia’s Oleg Popov (21-2) for the tournament title.
The Light Heavyweight Final will feature Brazil’s Antonio Carlos Jr. (18-6) facing Arizona’s Sullivan Cauley (8-1) in a battle to crown this year’s 205-pound champion.
At Middleweight, Dalton Rosta (11-1) of Pennsylvania will meet England’s Fabian Edwards (15-4) to determine the division winner in the 2025 PFL World Finals.
In the main event, Fabian Edwards delivered a calculated and effective performance against Josh Silveira (14-5). After a cautious opening round, Edwards took over in the second with sharp elbows and crisp striking, controlling the pace for the remainder of the fight. He secured a unanimous decision victory, earning a trip to the Finals, where he’ll meet Silveira’s American Top Team teammate, Dalton Rosta.
The co-main event saw Sullivan Cauley notch the biggest win of his career, defeating former Bellator champion Phil Davis (25-8) via unanimous decision. Davis controlled the early grappling exchanges, but momentum swung in Cauley’s favor late in Round 2 with a head kick followed by a punch that dropped Davis. Despite Davis’s attempts to recover through wrestling, Cauley’s consistent damage and pressure carried him to victory.
Former teammates Sergio Pettis (24-7) and Raufeon Stots (21-3) finally met in the SmartCage after a long-delayed matchup. The bout was closely contested, with both bantamweights finding success on the feet. Pettis landed several notable spinning backfists that swayed the judges and earned him a decision victory to start his PFL campaign on a high note.
In a heated rematch, Dalton Rosta avenged his only professional loss with a split decision win over Aaron Jeffery (16-6). The back-and-forth contest showcased both fighters’ toughness, but Rosta’s cleaner punches impressed two of the three judges, booking his place in the Middleweight Final.
Kicking off the main card, 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Antonio Carlos Jr. defeated Simeon Powell (11-2) by unanimous decision. Carlos Jr.’s pressure and cage control neutralized Powell’s offense and paved the way for his first Finals appearance since winning the tournament in 2021.
The 2025 PFL World Tournament Finals are scheduled for Friday, August 1, at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN+ and DAZN, with the Early Card starting at 6 p.m. ET and the Main Card at 9:30 p.m. ET.
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