Movlid Khaybulaev isn’t just protecting an undefeated record—he’s aiming to look the best he’s ever looked doing it. The 2021 PFL featherweight champion punched his ticket to the finals at PFL Nashville, outclassing Tae-Kyun Kim for a unanimous decision and pushing his record to 23‑0‑1 (1 NC).
Khaybulaev has been part of the PFL fabric since 2019, but his run hasn’t been a straight line. He lost 2020 to the pandemic, and injuries wiped out his 2022 and 2024 seasons. In 2025, though, he’s looked like the old Khaybulaev again—stacking two wins and reminding everyone why he’s one of the most smothering grapplers in the sport.
“That first fight back, I felt rusty,” he admitted after his Nashville win. “But now, every time I fight, I feel sharper. For the finals? This will be the best version of me in years.”
Kim threw plenty at him—spinning elbows, flying knees, and back kicks—but nothing shook the Dagestani. “He didn’t surprise me,” Khaybulaev said with a smirk. “If anything, he woke me up. When he came forward wild, I just pressed even harder.”
Now it’s on to the biggest stage: a champ‑versus‑champ clash with Peru’s Jesus Pinedo at PFL World Tournament 8: 2025 Finals. Khaybulaev has already beaten champions before—Lance Palmer (Khaybulaev vs. Palmer) and Brendan Loughnane (Khaybulaev vs. Loughnane)—and he’s not shying away from another.
“This isn’t new for me,” he told reporters. “I’ve been here before. I’ve beaten champions before. And I plan to do it again.”
Whether his relentless wrestling and pressure game can crack Pinedo will be decided in the cage—but one thing is clear: Movlid Khaybulaev rolls into the PFL finals unbeaten, confident, and carrying the weight of a perfect record.
