Khaybulaev’s Mat Returns Denied Kim the Space to Change
Movlid Khaybulaev defeated Taekyun Kim by unanimous decision at the PFL World Tournament semifinals on June 12, 2025. The featherweight contest at Nashville Municipal Auditorium ended with three 30–27 scorecards and a place in the final for Khaybulaev.
An early caught kick led straight to wrestling
Khaybulaev caught a kick, landed a right hand and followed with a takedown. Kim answered from underneath with elbows and repeatedly tried to work upright.
Each escape brought another clinch or mat return. Khaybulaev stayed connected to the back and used knees to the legs, limiting the time Kim could spend striking in open space.
Kim’s reversals did not break the pattern
The second round included an attempted positional reversal from Kim, but Khaybulaev recovered the advantage and continued pursuing takedowns. His punches helped connect the standing exchanges with his grappling entries.
Kim eventually secured a takedown of his own. Khaybulaev stood and resumed answering with accurate punches, ensuring that the challenger’s success did not become sustained control.
The final frame reinforced the decision
Khaybulaev returned to top pressure in the third, progressed through dominant positions and explored an arm-triangle opportunity. Kim defended and stood, only to face another wrestling sequence.
The victory established a final against Jesus Pinedo, who stopped Gabriel Braga in the other semifinal. The pairing matched two former PFL featherweight champions after Khaybulaev’s full-distance grappling performance and Pinedo’s rapid finish supplied contrasting routes through the Nashville bracket.
Sources
- PFL: kick catch, reversals and repeated mat returns
- PFL: event details, official three 30–27 scores and final pairing
- Sports Illustrated: independent confirmation of unanimous scorecards
