Preview: PFL 2025 World Tournament 3

Lightweight Quarterfinal

Jay-Jay Wilson (10-1, 0-0 PFL) vs. Mads Burnell (20-6, 2-1 PFL)

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.

New Zealand’s Wilson was on the rise before his undefeated record was ruined by Gadzhi Rabadanov in 2022. He bounced back and picked up two wins in the next 18 months but was forced to sit out a nine-month suspension after testing positive for metenolone, an androgen and anabolic steroid on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list. Wilson is a high-flying, exciting lightweight who presses for finishes and has the potential to build a following in the PFL, but he will have his work cut out for him in his debut. Burnell was one of Bellator’s best lightweight for years, and at 31, he still possesses the goods to give anyone a tough fight. A former Cage Warriors champion, Burnell made his PFL debut last season, when he was stunned via guillotine choke by Michael Dufort in the first round. Burnell bounced back with a pair of wins over Clay Collard and Elvin Espinoza, and he comes into the tournament riding the high of those victories.

Burnell is a calculated fighter who looks to stay safe on the feet so he can find superior positioning on the ground. Four of his nine submissions have been by the Japanese necktie, proving that his black belt-level jiu-jitsu is a step above most lightweights in the field. He’s not a power puncher or an elite striker, but he will keep you honest with his footwork and feints. Wilson will need to take a measured approach, but he must still be the aggressor. Wilson is explosive and should force Burnell to fight more defensively than he would like. This could be one of the toughest fights of the young fighter’s career, as Burnell thrives in these types of bouts against unrefined talent. While Wilson will have his moments, expect Burnell’s experience to carry him to a clear decision.

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Kasanganay vs. Edwards
Rosta vs. Sy
Rabadanov vs. Diakiese
Wilson vs. Burnell
The Prelims