Oleg Popov Avenges Loss In Last Year’s Final, Claims 2025 PFL World Tournament Heavyweight Title

Alexandr Romanov is a wrestling specialist who made his professional debut in 2016. He won 16 fights in a row before suffering his first defeat, and he now gets his first crack at gold on a major MMA stage. He reached the finals through a submission of Tim Johnson and a judges’ ruling following a no contest against Valentin Moldavsky.

Oleg Popov is a wrestling specialist and the protegee of the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. Popov, a Master of Sport in army hand-to-hand combat, made it to the heavyweight finals last year before losing to Denis Goltsov – a loss that snapped a long unbeaten streak. Popov reached the World Tournament finals through decision wins over Karl Williams and Rodrigo Nascimento.

Who will be the 2025 PFL World Tournament Heavyweight Champion?

Round 1

Low kick from Popov. Another one as the two move slowly around the center. Another low kick from Popov. Front kick from Popov. Left overhand by Romanov, and the two enter a clinch. Knee to the body by Romanov. Popov with a couple of body shots before the break. Romanov misses a left but he lands a body kick. Low kick by Popov. Right hand by Popov. Low kick by Popov. Popov flashing the right hand. Right hand lands for Popov. Knee to the body by Romanov in the clinch. Romanov lands another. Ref calls for more action. Popov lands a left hand on the separation.

Inside left hook by Popov. Romanov connects again as he re-enters the clinch. Popov landing knees. Hook by Popov on the inside. The referee quickly separates the two. Right hand by Popov. Low kick by Popov. Popov is in on the single-leg, but Romanov gets away. Another clinch. Romanov lands a knee before the separation. Right hand and a low kick by Popov. Right hand by Popov. Right hand by Popov. Low kick by Popov. Romanov with another clinch. Popov with a short elbow.

Round 2

Low kick by Popov. Popov comes in and we have another clinch. Action breaks, and then another clinch, with Romanov landing an inside knee and pressing Popov to the fence. Popov with a left hand. Low kick by Popov. Popov goes for another takedown. He gets it, but Romanov pops right back up. Romanov with a right hand. Punch and a low kick from Popov. Knee to the body from in close by Romanov. Right hand by Romanov.

Popov goes for another takedown, but Romanov shoves it off. Low kick by Popov. Right hand by Popov. Combination by Romanov. Knee to the body again by Romanov with another clinch. Clinch control battle ensues, as Popov tries to free his arms. Referee calls for more action. Romanov with a knee to the body. Another clinch battle, with Romanov landing inside thanks to pummeling and knees. Another takedown attempt by Popov, results in a counter clinch briefly from Romanov.

Round 3

Low kick by Popov. Romanov with a combination. Another blitz from Romanov, but Popov counters with a right hand. Strong knee by Romanov. Low kick by Popov. The two meet inside again. Popov with a low kick. Right hand by Romanov. Right hand by Popov. One-two by Popov. Left hand by Romanov, and he presses Popov into the fence. Romanov with a couple of low kicks. Right hand by Romanov. Ref calls for more action. Romanov throws an uppercut on the exit.

Popov tries to get inside with level changes, but Romanov counters twice more. Popov with a right hand. Low kick by Romanov. Low kick by Popov. Right hand by Popov. Romanov with another clinch as he pushes forward, pushing Popov into the fence. Knee by Romanov. Popov pushes off the cage, and the referee separates the two. Right and a left by Popov. Ref calls for more action as Popov throws more right hands. Romanov lands a right hand. Front kick by Romanov. Low kick by Popov. Jab to the body by Popov. Right hand just misses for Romanov. Right hand by Popov. Low kick by Popov. Right hand and a low kick by Popov.

Round 4

Romanov and Popov exchanging early, with Popov showing a slightly quicker pace. Another low kick by Popov. Left hand misses for Popov. Right hand by Popov. Another clinch battle. No action and the referee separates the two. Popov with low kicks. One-two by Romanov. Another exchange between the two. Left hand by Romanov. Uppercut lands in a combination by Romanov. Another brief clinch. Fast jab by Popov, which Romanov answers. Another clinch, and Romanov lands a knee. Strong uppercut by Romanov. Romanov with a flurry as Popov is covering! Romanov with a backfist.

Romanov continues to swing and pour on! Elbow lands for Romanov. Right hand by Popov. Another clinch. Has Romanov gassed himself out? Romanov presses Popov to the fence. Ref calls for action. Romanov lands inside shots to the body. Right hand by Romanov on the separation. Popov goes for a takedown, but Romanov stops it and lands a knee. The two both miss straights. Left hand and a low kick by Popov. Romanov presses Popov to the fence. Romanov with a knee. Elbow by Romanov on the separation. Left hook by Popov. Left hand by Romanov. Jabs from both men. Elbow by Romanov.

Round 5

One-two by Popov. Left hand by Popov. Clinch by Romanov. Knee by Romanov. Separation from the clinch and the two exchange. Another clinch, and Romanov presses Popov into the fence. Another separation. Small combination from Romanov. Another clinch. Popov lands on the inside. A couple of short knees to the legs, but one of them lands on the cup. Left hand by Popov. Right hand by Romanov coming forward. Romanov misses a high kick. Right hand by Popov before another clinch, where Romanov again brings Popov to the fence. Popov shoves him off and lands a spinning backfist, followed by a right hand.

Right hand again from Popov. Knee by Romanov. Romanov pins Popov against the SmartCage again. Two minutes left. Knees from Romanov again as the action slows once more. Another separation by the referee. Romanov looks to land, but we get another clinch battle, and we’re back to the fence. Left hand by Popov. Knees by Romanov as we get another clinch that the referee quickly separates. Combination from Romanov. Right hand by Popov. Left hand by Popov. Right hand and a knee by Romanov. Romanov misses another kick. Another clinch, and Popov lands an uppercut. Romanov misses a high kick before the bell.

Oleg Popov is your 2025 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Champion! 🏆

[ #PFLWorldTournament | NOW ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/lqqKVjfdGn

— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 22, 2025

OFFICIAL RESULT

Oleg Popov def. Alexandr Romanov via split decision (47-48, 49-46, 49-48)