PFL Featherweight Championship Preview: Khaybulaev, Wade Battle For 145-Pound Crown

For the first time since its inception, the Professional Fighters League’s will be crowning a new featherweight champion as undefeated Russian standout Movlid Khaybulaev faces American veteran Chris Wade

The bout will be one of the co-feature attractions at the PFL World Championships 2021 on October 27, set to take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Resort and Casino in Hollywood Florida.

The first two seasons of PFL saw Lance Palmer dominate the 145-pound ranks en route to back-to-back title reigns.

The 2021 season, however, wasn’t so kind to the man known as “The Party” as Palmer absorbed his first loss under the PFL banner at the hands of highly-touted newcomer Bubba Jenkins at PFL 1.

Things continued to go downhill from there as Palmer again found himself on the losing end, this time against eventual finalist Khaybulaev at PFL 6, ultimately eliminating him from the tournament.

Khaybulaev (18-0-1), on the other hand, continued to remain undefeated in his career as he coasted through the 2021 PFL Elimination Round.

“Killer” Khaybulaev dominated Lazar Stojadinovic at PFL 1 before taking Palmer out to secure his spot in the playoffs. I

n the post-season, Khaybulaev toppled top-seeded Brendan Loughnane by split decision to advance to the finals for the first time in his career.

In the 2019 season, Khaybulaev was the second-seed heading into the playoffs but suffered a first-round KO loss to Daniel Pineda.

The loss was later overturned and ruled a no contest after Pineda tested positive for a banned substance.

Standing opposite Khaybulaev will be Wade (20-6), who knows a thing or two about the PFL post-season.

In each of his past two stints with the league--both at lightweight--Wade has managed to make it all the way to the semifinals.

In 2021, “The Long Island Killer” decided to drop down a weight division, and the move paid off.

In the elimination round, Wade bested Anthony Dizy by decision at PFL 1 before defeating Arman Ospanov by second-round knockout to secure the No. 2 spot.

In the playoffs, Wade derailed Bubba Jenkins’ title hopes, winning by unanimous decision.

At the PFL World Championships 2021, Khaybulaev and Wade will do battle to decide who becomes just the second featherweight champion in PFL history.