Preview: PFL 2025 World Tournament 7: Semifinals

Bantamweights

Sergio Pettis (23-7, 0-0 PFL) vs. Raufeon Stots (21-2, 1-0 PFL)

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the Semifinals of the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, June 27 at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+

This could serve as the main event on a different card. Pettis was a seasoned contender in the UFC before he captured the Bellator title. In Bellator, Pettis blossomed into a star, showcasing some of the best boxing in the promotion. Unfortunately for Pettis, two straight losses and a year-long hiatus have cooled his momentum. “The Phenom” from Milwaukee hasn’t tasted victory since 2023, but he could break open the door to new possibilities with a win over Stots. Like Pettis, Stots is a former Bellator star looking to establish himself in the PFL cage. The onetime interim champion has an underrated resume, with wins over Juan Archuleta, Magomed “Tiger” Magomedov and Danny Sabatello. Unfortunately for Stots, he has been on the back end of two of the greatest one-shot knockouts in MMA history, but he didn’t get to showcase his talents in either of those losses to Merab Dvalishvili and Patrick Mix. Stots, a former two-time NCAA Division II wrestling champion, employs quick combinations to set up his dominant wrestling style. He’s a tricky, well-rounded threat with respectable power and patience. He fights calculated and knows how to pull out a tough win on the scorecards.

This fight will operate like a game of high-speed chess. Pettis and Stots were former teammates and have spent hundreds of hours in the gym together, so they will likely know each other’s strengths and weaknesses intimately. Pettis is no stranger to advanced techniques and will try to catch Stots off-guard with spinning kicks, flying knees and tricky elbows. However, Stots is no slouch in the pocket, either. He has the hand speed and footwork to disrupt Pettis’ timing and make him miss. Stots will try to take the fight to the ground and take Pettis’ back. Pettis has been submitted via rear-naked choke twice in his career, and that happens to be Stots’ specialty. At this point in their careers, Pettis is the younger man, but his skills have diminished more evidently. Stots could capitalize on his inactivity and outgrapple him in a close fight.


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Edwards vs. Silveira
Davis vs. Cauley
Pettis vs. Stots
Rosta vs. Jeffery
Carlos Jr. vs. Powell
The Prelims