PFL Washington DC crowns a new welterweight champion
Two tournament winners, one vacant belt and no easy route to the finish line. PFL Washington DC: Jean vs. Musaev takes over CareFirst Arena on July 25, with Thad Jean and Shamil Musaev meeting for the vacant welterweight world championship.
The matchup gives the PFL exactly the kind of title fight it needed after Ramazan Kuramagomedov was stripped of the championship. Jean won the 2025 tournament without losing a fight. Musaev conquered the 2024 field and has already established himself as one of the division’s most dangerous finishers. Now the last two tournament champions must settle the hierarchy themselves.
“𝙄𝙏’𝙎 𝘼𝙇𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙔 𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙀” 🏆🇭🇹
— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 22, 2026
Thad Jean takes a look at the PFL Welterweight World Title ahead of PFL DC
The PFL Welterweight World Title will be on the line between Thad Jean and Shamil Musaev in a banger of Main Event#PFLDC | Saturday, July 25th | 📺Prelims 7PM EST… pic.twitter.com/4eYEnUSw1r
Thad Jean has taken the difficult road to a PFL title shot
Jean arrives at 11-0 after navigating a tournament run that removed any doubt about his place among the elite. He knocked out Mukhamed Berkhamov in the opening round, defeated former Bellator champion Jason Jackson and then outworked Logan Storley across five rounds to win the 2025 tournament.
What Jean has not yet held is the undisputed world title. Victory in Musaev vs. Jean would complete that climb and turn one of the promotion’s most entertaining unbeaten fighters into the official face of its welterweight division.
. @ThadJean is must watch TV anytime he is on your screens 📺🦍
— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 22, 2026
The PFL Welterweight World Title will be on the line between Thad Jean and Shamil Musaev LIVE from the @CareFirstArena #PFLDC | Saturday, July 25th | 📺Prelims 7:30PM EST on the ESPN App | Main Card 10PM EST on… pic.twitter.com/VagSI3PLfQ
Shamil Musaev brings proven knockout danger
Musaev enters at 20-1-1 with the deeper professional record and the kind of pressure that can make technically sound opponents unravel. His 2024 tournament campaign included a knockout of Storley, two victories over Murad Ramazanov and a third-round stoppage of Magomed Umalatov in the final.
He has already demonstrated that he belongs at this level. What remains missing is the permanent championship. Musaev is not coming to Washington to validate his résumé; he is coming to add the one piece of gold that résumé still lacks.
One of the scariest PFL Welterweights in Shamil Musaev returns this Saturday, July 25th!
— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 23, 2026
The PFL Welterweight World Title will be on the line between Thad Jean and Shamil Musaev LIVE from the @CareFirstArena #PFLDC | Saturday, July 25th | 📺Prelims 7:30PM EST on the ESPN App |… pic.twitter.com/AK3jH4qZMY
Tyson Pedro and Rasul Magomedov feature on the main card
The light heavyweight co-feature pairs Australian veteran Tyson Pedro with Germany-based finisher Rafael Xavier. Pedro vs. Xavier gives Pedro an opportunity to steady his recent form, while Xavier can break into the promotional rankings with the biggest victory of his career.
Another important light heavyweight bout sees unbeaten Rasul Magomedov meet Sullivan Cauley. In Cauley vs. Magomedov, Cauley brings explosive wrestling and knockout power, but Magomedov enters at 9-0 and has yet to find an opponent capable of solving him.
The final main-card matchup is Kubanza vs. Mixan. Eliezer Kubanza has produced one of the fastest rises in the PFL welterweight division, while Chris Mixan gets the chance to disrupt that momentum.
PFL Washington DC full fight card
Main Card
Shamil Musaev vs. Thad Jean, vacant PFL welterweight championship
Tyson Pedro vs. Rafael Xavier, light heavyweight bout
Sullivan Cauley vs. Rasul Magomedov, light heavyweight bout
Eliezer Kubanza vs. Chris Mixan, welterweight bout
Preliminary Card
Michael Cyr vs. Bryce Meredith, bantamweight bout
Brandon Davis vs. Nkosi Ndebele, bantamweight bout
Aaron McKenzie vs. Ernesto Rodriguez, welterweight bout
Chad Yard vs. Coby Bradford, light heavyweight bout
Jacob Pais vs. Noah Hermosillo, featherweight bout
PFL Washington DC FAQ
When is PFL Washington DC: Jean vs Musaev?
PFL Washington DC: Jean vs. Musaev takes place Saturday, July 25, 2026, at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C.
Who is fighting for the PFL welterweight championship?
Thad Jean and Shamil Musaev will compete for the vacant PFL welterweight world title.
Why is the PFL welterweight title vacant?
The championship became vacant after former titleholder Ramazan Kuramagomedov was stripped of the belt.
Is Thad Jean undefeated?
Yes. Jean enters his world championship fight with an 11-0 professional record after winning the 2025 PFL welterweight tournament.
Who won the 2024 PFL welterweight tournament?
Shamil Musaev won the 2024 tournament after stopping Magomed Umalatov in the third round of the final.
Who is fighting in the PFL Washington DC co-main event?
Tyson Pedro vs. Rafael Xavier is scheduled as the light heavyweight co-main event.
How can fans watch PFL Washington DC?
The main card is scheduled to air in the United States on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET, with preliminary fights available through the ESPN app.
