Nashville, TN — Movlid Khaybulaev, the reigning 2021 PFL featherweight champion, has secured his spot in this year's World Tournament final following a decisive unanimous decision victory over Tae-Kyun Kim from South Korea during PFL Nashville. Khaybulaev's impressive record now stands at 23 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest, making him one of the standout fighters in the PFL featherweight division.
Despite his decorated career, Khaybulaev has faced challenges with consistency since joining the PFL in 2019. The featherweight fighter missed the entire 2022 season and did not compete in 2024. Additionally, the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Khaybulaev returned to the cage in 2025, boasting a perfect record with two wins so far this year. After the fight with Kim, Khaybulaev spoke to media outlets, including Cageside Press, emphasizing his determination for the upcoming championship fight. “My main goal was to get this first fight going that I had two months ago because I had a little break. It was a tough two-year hiatus, and I was a little rusty, but now I’ve got two fights in. For me, the first one was more difficult than this one because I was still coming into myself. Now I feel much better, and going into the final, I’m going to feel even better, I’m going to be in even better shape,” he stated.
During the bout against Kim, Khaybulaev faced some unexpected and creative attacks. Kim unleashed a spinning back kick and an elbow strike in the third round, demonstrating his versatility. Instead of causing concern, these moves only fueled Khaybulaev’s competitive spirit. “I wouldn’t say that was a surprise. If anything, that was actually helping me to wake up a little bit. What he was throwing at me just made me see red, you know, get twice harder back at him,” Khaybulaev remarked.
Looking ahead, Khaybulaev is set to face Jesus Pinedo in the highly anticipated champion versus champion final. This is a familiar situation for Khaybulaev, who reminded reporters of his past successes. “Remember, I already won against two former champions. I beat Lance Palmer before, and Brendan Loughnane became champion after me, but I beat him,” he recalled confidently.
As the featherweight division gears up for its World Tournament final, fans can expect an exciting showdown featuring Khaybulaev's striving for glory once again. With his undefeated record and newfound momentum, the stakes have never been higher for the PFL veteran.
For those interested in witnessing Khaybulaev's journey to the championship, be sure to catch the full post-fight media appearance from PFL Nashville available through various sports news outlets, including Cageside Press.
