The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will be taking the SmartCage to Nashville, Kansas, and Chicago for this year's World Tournament semifinal events.
PFL will be shaking things up this year after a 2024 that was marred by fighter complaints and a largely unsuccessful merger with the Bellator MMA roster. Over a year on from the acquisition, the promotion has decided to eliminate the Bellator brand moving forward.
And that’s not the only change in strategy in 2025. The PFL will also be abandoning its season and playoff format after many had questioned its sustainability. Instead, Grand Prix-style tournaments will take place across eight divisions, with $500,000 prize money going to each winner.
The promotion has completed its roll-out of the roster lists for each tournament, featuring the likes of Taila Santos, Jason Jackson, Movlid Khaybulaev, Liz Carmouche, Fabian Edwards, Jake Hadley, and Alexandr Romanov.
Those names will begin their campaigns with first-round bouts across four events on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1. And the dates and locations for the subsequent semifinal cards in the summer have now been confirmed.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025 PFL World Tournament 5: Semifinals will take place at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, with tickets ranging from $35 to $300.
Eight days later, the promotion makes its debut in 'Cowtown' with the 2025 PFL World Tournament 6: Semifinals at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. Tickets range from $40 to $250.
The last semifinal event is scheduled for June 27 and will be held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, with ticket prices ranging from $50 to $350.