Jason Jackson is one step nearer to turning into champion once more.
On Thursday night time at Common Studios Florida in Orlando, PFL kicked off its 2025 event marketing campaign with PFL1, that includes the opening spherical of the welterweight and featherweight tournaments. And in the principle occasion, Jackson ran over Andrey Koreshkov, scoring a second-round technical submission to earn his spot within the welterweight semifinals.
After a aggressive opening spherical between the 2 former Bellator welterweight champions, Jackson started to take over within the second spherical; nevertheless, issues virtually went awry when Jackson landed an unlawful elbow to the again of Koreshkov’s head, opening a minimize and inflicting referee Keith Peterson to cease the motion. After Koreshkov took the complete 5 minutes of restoration time, Peterson declined to take some extent from Jackson, and the motion resumed. Jackson pounced instantly, capturing a takedown and delivering brutal ground-and-pound till Koreshkov gave up his again. Jackson rapidly locked in a rear-naked choke and squeezed till Koreshkov went to sleep.
Within the co-main occasion, Jesus Pinedo made a profitable return to the SmartCage, stopping Adam Borics within the first spherical. The 2023 PFL featherweight event winner, Pinedo, has not fought since beating Gabriel Braga to win that title however didn’t present any indicators of ring rust on Thursday. Pinedo got here out firing early and harm Borics with a stinging proper hand. As soon as he had Borics harm, Pinedo didn’t let up, pouring on punches till he dropped Borics and bought the stoppage. Now, Pinedo will face Braga, who additionally beat Fred Dupras earlier within the night, in a trilogy bout within the featherweight event semifinals.
Within the different foremost card welterweight bout of the night, former interim Bellator champion Logan Storley cruised to the semifinals with a dominant choice over Joseph Luciano. Storley was initially presupposed to face 2024 PFL runner-up Magomed Umalatov, however Umalatov missed weight and was changed by Luciano, who had no reply for Storley’s wrestling assault.
Storley will face Masayuki Kikuiri, who beat Giannis Bachar earlier within the night, within the semifinals.
Within the opening foremost card bout, Movlid Khaybulaev narrowly edged out Jeremy Kennedy to sneak his method into the welterweight semifinals. Kennedy got here out sturdy, repeatedly hurting Khaybulaev within the first spherical, however the 2021 PFL champion bounced again sturdy within the second and returned the favor, hurting Kennedy and controlling the spherical. The third was a back-and-forth affair with neither man clearly establishing themselves. Ultimately, the judges awarded Khaybulaev a cut up choice victory.
Khaybulaev will combat Ta Hyun Kim, who defeated Nathan Kelly within the opening bout of the night, in his featherweight semifinal.
The prelims had been filled with thrilling finishes as Thad Jean and Masayuki Kikuiri earned their spots within the welterweight semifinals, whereas Ta Hyun Kim and Gabriel Braga moved on to the featherweight semifinals. Jean, particularly impressed, scoring a nasty KO of Mukhamed Berkhamov, and can now face foremost occasion winner Jason Jackson in a semifinal bout.
Try the complete PFL 1 outcomes beneath.
Jason Jackson def. Andrey Koreshkov through technical submission (rear-naked choke) — Spherical 2, 4:21
Jesus Pinedo def. Adam Borics through TKO (punches) — Spherical 1, 3:43
Logan Storley def. Joseph Luciano through unanimous choice (30-27×3)
Movlid Khaybulaev def. Jeremy Kennedy through cut up choice (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Thad Jean def. Mukhamed Berkhamov through TKO (punches) — Spherical 1, 4:25
Gabriel Braga def. Fred Dupras through submission (rear-naked choke) — Spherical 1, 4:37
Masayuki Kikuiri def. Giannis Bachar through TKO (retirement) — Spherical 2, 5:00
Tae Hyun Kim def. Nathan Kelly through technical submission (rear-naked choke) — Spherical 1, 4:53
