Mackenzie Dern isn't just a UFC champion, she's now officially defended that title as well.
MMA
PLL 2025 World Tournament Semifinals results: Romanow, Carlos Jr., Rosta and Edwards Advance to Finalsromanov, Carlos Jr., Rosta & Edwards Punch Tickets for the finals of the World Tournament 2025 PFL
Published
1 year agoon
CHICAGO – The World Tournament PFL 2025 semi -finals came to a dramatic ending on Friday evening at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, crowning the last pretenders in heavyweight, featherlight weighty weight and medium weight.
With rates higher than ever, the fighters fought for the desired place in the PFL finals on August 1 in Atlantic City. The evening was full of explosive performances, stunning nervousness and emotional victories that prepared the stage for the unforgettable night of the championship.
The main event: Fabian Edwards dominates Silveira, goes to the finals of the average weight
In the header of the evening, England Fabian Edwards (15-4) He presented his elite skills hitting clinical results against the American team Josh Silveira (14-5).
After the initial first round, Edwards took control in the second, landing in the punishment of elbows and pure meters that began to wear Silveira. At the end of the third round, Edwards clearly established dominance, gaining unanimous decision win.
“The Assassin” showed a composed, tactical style, winning a shot in a crown of an average weight of 2025 against a friend from the ATT Silveira team, Dalton Rosta.
Collaborator factor: Sullivan Cauley stunns Phil Davis in a featherlight heavyweight thriller
Former Bellator master Phil Davis (25-8) It looked sharply, using his characteristic supplies to control Arizona Sullivan Couley (8-1). But at the end of the second round, Cauley overturned the script, landing a destructive kick of his head and another blow that Davis dropped.
Davis survived the attack, but the shoot changed. Cauley continued to press in the final cage, landing with authority and generally causes more damage. The judges admitted him Unanimous victory of the decision 1st place in featherlight heavyweight finals.
Sergio Pettis Edge former teammate of the Raufeon Stots in Showcase Walki team
Three years after the canceled fight due to injury, Sergio Pettis (24-7) AND Raufeon Stots (21-3) Finally, I met in SmartCage in a striking high -level chess match.
Pettis delighted the crowd of skillful combinations, especially his characteristic rotating backning. Despite the competitive stock exchanges, he managed to overtake Narrow winmarking a successful debut in PFL and reviving your rush in the Bantamweight division.
Dalton Rosta Avenges, his only loss, defeats Aaron Jeffery in the middle war
In one of the most anticipated rematch of the night, Dalton Rosta (11-1) Revenge Aaron Jeffery (16-6) for a lonely professional failure.
Both warriors had robust moments, but the cleaner blows of the rost and the pressure moved forward Decision divided victory (29-28, 29-28, 27-30). The victory not only exerts a result in the competition, but also protects the Rosta ticket to the average weight finals, where he will face Fabian Edwards.
Antonio Carlos Jr. Outworks Simeon Powell in a featherlight heavyweight semi -final
Opening the main card, 2021 PFL Featherlight Heavyweight Champion Antonio Carlos Jr. (18-6) A star emerging star Simeon Powell (11-2).
Carlos Jr. He imposed his will early, pressing Powell against the cage and neutralizing his crime. His control of the struggle and a relentless pace led to Unanimous winning decisionsending him back to the finals for a chance to regain his title – this time against Sullivan Couley.
2025 PFL finals: set to August 1 in Atlantic City
The global PFL 2025 tournament ends Friday, August 1With Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall At Atlantic City, Fresh Jersey.
Final duels include:
- Heavyweight final: Alexander Romanov vs. Oleg Popov
- Featherlight heavyweight final: Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Sullivan Couley
- Medium weight final: Dalton Rosta vs. Fabian Edwards
To get more updates, the most crucial points and full results, or on a regular basis with official PFL platforms.
2025 PFL World Tournament Chicago: Semi -finals Main Card results:
Fabian Edwards (15-4) def. Josh Silveira (14-5) Through a unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Sullivan Couley (8-1) def. Phil Davis (25-8) Through a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Sergio Pettis (24-7) def. Raufeon Stots (21-3) through a unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Dalton Rosta (11-1) def. Aaron Jeffery (16-6) through a divided decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
Antonio Carlos Jr. (18-6) def. Simeon Powell (11-2) through a unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
2025 PFL World Tournament Chicago: Semi -finals Early card results:
Valentin Moldawsky (14-4) vs. Aleksander Romanow (19-3.1 NC)-Brak of the competition (accidental strike in the groin) at 4:26 round of the first-preview of the global tournament of the PFL, in order to determine the promotion in the tournament, in the absence of a competition, three judges are asked to choose a warrior who, as they think, had the most complete work for the whole fight- The judges chose Romanov to move to the finals
Ronnie Gibbs (2-0) def. Biaggio Ali Walsh (2-1) Through technical notification (arm) at 2:45 round of the second
Oleg Popov (21-2) def. Rodrigo Nascimento (12-4) Through a unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Rafael Xavier (14-8) def. Karl Albretsson (14-8) via TKO (strikes) in: 27 round of the first
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MMA
UFC 330 winner Mackenzie Dern doesn't need to beat Zhang Weili to solidify title reign: "I proved I was the champ"
Published
7 hours agoon
August 16, 2026
Zuffa LLCMackenzie Darn is still the women's strawweight champion following UFC 330, and she doesn't feel a bout with Zhang Weili is necessary to vindicate her title run.
Dern thwarted the challenge of Gillian Robertson inside Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia this past Saturday. At the end of the opening frame, Dern worked her jiu-jitsu game and nearly had a rear-naked choke prior to the horn. Dern had success throughout the fight setting up takedowns and maintaining top control, and it earned her a unanimous decision win.
This was Dern's first successful UFC Women's Strawweight Championship defense. Some fans have been calling for Dern to face former 115-pound champion Weili, who was never defeated for the gold in her second reign. Instead, Weili vacated the championship in an effort to chase the women's flyweight title.
During the UFC 330 post-fight presser, Dern dismissed the idea that she needs to defeat Weili in order to give her title reign credibility (via MMAJunkie).
“I felt like the champion before I won the belt,†Dern said. “I just feel like I solidified myself even more as a champ for the fans that they would say that. I don't think I need to (beat) Weili to be a champ. People retire. I'm not saying that's what she's going to do but the more defenses I can get at this, whoever comes next, I think I proved I was the champ. Gillian was on a five-fight winning streak. Virna was a four-fight winning streak. I just became a four-fight winning streak. I don't know how much more I need to do from that.â€
Weili hasn't competed since falling short in her bid for the women's 125-pound championship back in Nov. 2025. Dern didn't commit to calling out the Fight Wing UFC Hall of Famer, and said it's up to the UFC matchmakers to determine her next challenger. If it is indeed Weili, Dern feels she will be ready for her second title defense.
Do you agree with Mackenzie Dern, or do you think she needs a win over Zhang Weili to solidify her UFC title run? Share your opinion in the comments below.
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
MMA
Mackenzie Dern doesn’t feel she needs to beat Zhang Weili to cement championship status after UFC 330
Published
8 hours agoon
August 16, 2026
Saturday's UFC 330 co-main event saw Dern earn a one-sided decision win over Gillian Robertson to successfully defend the strawweight belt she won in a vacant title fight by defeating Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 this past October. That title was vacated by Zhang Weili, who dominated the 115-pound division before moving up a weight class in a failed bid to dethrone flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko.
At the moment, it's unclear whether Zhang is planning to return at 115 or 125 pounds, if at all. So does Dern feel like that matchup has to happen for her to be considered the strawweight division's true champion?
“No,†Dern said at the evening's post-fight press conference. “I felt like the champion before when I won the belt, but I just think I solidified myself even more as the champ for the fans, that they would say that, but I don't think I need to win Weili to be a champ. I mean, people retire, I'm not saying that that's what she's going to do but the more defenses I can get at this, whoever comes next, I think I proved that I was the champ.
“Gillian was on a five-fight win streak, Virna was on a five-fight win streak, I just became a four-fight win streak. I don't know how much more I need to do to prove that.â€
Whenever Dern is booked to defend her title again, Zhang is the most obvious candidate to challenge her. However, other contenders have made strong cases, including Tatiana Suarez, Alexia Thainara, and blue-chip prospect Fatima Kline.
Dern isn't sure who she'll fight next, but she knows when she wants to come back.
“I don't hope for anybody. Whoever the UFC gives to me, I'll be ready,†Dern said, later adding, “Ideally I would like to fight probably March, so maybe in six months if I can get maybe two fights a year, that would be good.â€
The only caveat Dern would put on an otherwise successful evening is that she wasn't able to put Robertson away inside the distance. Dern threatened with a couple of tight chokes and even worked for a leg lock at one point, but Robertson managed to make it to the final buzzer.
Ultimately, Dern is satisfied at having done enough to officially log a UFC title defense and is eager to continue her evolution.
“Honestly, it feels good, but it could feel even better if I would have got the submission,†Dern said. “I'm somewhat that's always looking for the best performance possible, so I'm happy with my wrestling, I'm happy with I guess the dominance of the fight, but I wanted to submit Gillian, for sure. I still see lots of things that I want to get better just to be able to defend it more and more times, but definitely feel like I solidified myself as the champ.â€
UFC 330 winner Mackenzie Dern doesn't need to beat Zhang Weili to solidify title reign: "I proved I was the champ"
UFC 331 main card announced
Mackenzie Dern doesn’t feel she needs to beat Zhang Weili to cement championship status after UFC 330
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