Bracketology: PFL 2025 Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight World Tournament Finals

The 2025 PFL World Tournament 7: Semifinals took place in Chicago on Friday with the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight brackets all setting their championship finals.

The page now turns to PFL Championship month in August, where all eight brackets will crown their champion for the first year of the World Tournament format. Here’s a look at the final brackets for the final three divisions which will see plenty of familiar names.

Here's a look at the final 2025 #PFLWorldTournament heavyweight bracket: pic.twitter.com/EltN68Lybx

— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) June 28, 2025

2025 PFL Heavyweight Final: Oleg Popov vs. Alexander Romanov

Popov took on Brazil’s Rodrigo Nascimento and controlled the fight. Using his powerful wrestling and control in the clinch, Popov had all the momentum in the first two rounds. Continuing his excellent run in the PFL, Popov is back in a championships for the second straight year, and will look to avenge his title loss from 2024.

Romanov’s bout against Valentin Moldavsky was the most bizarre of the night, as he seemed in complete control early with a big takedown but the match would come to a sudden halt. On the wrong end of a knee to the groin, Romanov immediately went down and was in severe pain. After minutes laying down on the mat, Romanov was unable to extend his legs fully and the fight was called as Romanov was stretchered out of the SmartCage.

Here's a look at the final 2025 #PFLWorldTournament light heavyweight bracket: pic.twitter.com/lwZ0H7Oxxx

— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) June 28, 2025

2025 PFL Light Heavyweight Final: Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Sullivan Cauley

Carlos Jr. is back in the championship spotlight four years after he was the 2021 PFL champion. Taking on rising young contender Simeon Powell, Carlos Jr., most known for his grappling, kept the fight on the feet throughout all three rounds in what was a fun striking battle between the two. Carlos Jr. would seize control early on and never took his foot off the gas and would get the win by unanimous decision.

Throughout all eight of his professional bouts, Cauley had never been out of the first round, but had to go all 15 minutes in the biggest fight of his life against Phil Davis. After a big first frame for Davis, Cauley stole the momentum in Round 2 when he landed a big head kick that wobbled his foe, and then Cauley turned up the aggression in the third stanza. Having to go all 15 minutes with a battered and cuts under his eyes, Cauley got the win by unanimous decision.

Here's a look at the final 2025 #PFLWorldTournament middleweight bracket: pic.twitter.com/2GmD2MkgEN

— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) June 28, 2025

2025 PFL Middleweight Final: Dalton Rosta vs. Fabian Edwards

Looking to avenge the only loss of his career, Rosta faced Canada’s Aaron Jeffery in what was a display of high-level technical fighting. Using good control time and clinch work, Rosta was able to earn the split decision victory while showcasing the improvements he’s made from the first time they fought each other.

Edwards faced Joshua Silveira in the main event, looking to get himself back into a championship match and put on a showing in the final two rounds. After Silveira looked to have won the first round with his control, Edwards came out with electric striking and dominant use of his elbows in striking exchanges standing and on the ground. While nullifying Silveira’s grappling, Edwards continued to display his top-level striking and got his hand raised after going to the scorecards.