Overview

• Marcirley Alves defeated Justin Wetzell by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) in Charlotte to claim the 2025 PFL Bantamweight World Tournament championship.
• The PFL Charlotte card at Bojangles Coliseum also showcased lightweight finalists Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Alfie Davis and women’s flyweight contenders Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop, airing live on ESPN and ESPN+.
• PFL restructured its season into a single-elimination World Tournament after Bellator’s folding, expanding regional circuits across Europe, Africa and MENA and boosting prize purses for divisional winners.
• Alves weathered a late rally in the fifth round—surviving a flying knee and a D’Arce choke attempt—to secure his title on the judges’ scorecards.
• The league will wrap up its 2025 season with middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight finals scheduled for August 21.