PFL World Tournament 7 – Rafael Xavier vs Karl Albrektsson

On June 27, 2025, inside the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, Rafael Xavier delivered one of the most devastating and quickest finishes of the PFL World Tournament 7. As the cage door closed and the crowd settled, the anticipation for this Light Heavyweight semifinal between Xavier and Karl Albrektsson was high. Both fighters entered with reputations for aggression and finishing ability—Xavier known for his explosive Muay Thai and Albrektsson bringing years of European MMA experience with a strong grappling base.

When the opening bell rang, Xavier wasted no time asserting himself. He immediately took the center of the cage, cutting off Albrektsson’s movement and pressuring him backward. Within seconds, Xavier launched a perfectly timed and sharp left jab that landed flush on Albrektsson’s chin. The impact was immediate—Albrektsson’s legs buckled and he collapsed awkwardly to the canvas.

Seeing his opponent hurt, Xavier showed no hesitation. He pounced with ruthless intent, dropping heavy ground and pound from top position. Albrektsson, dazed and unable to intelligently defend himself, covered up as best he could, but Xavier’s strikes kept landing clean. Referee Nick Cimmarusti quickly stepped in to stop the fight at just 27 seconds into Round 1, waving it off to prevent further damage.

The official result was a TKO victory for Rafael Xavier at 0:27 of the first round. It was not only the fastest finish of the night but also a clear statement from Xavier that he’s a serious threat heading into the tournament finals. His precision, timing, and killer instinct were on full display under the bright lights of Chicago, and for Karl Albrektsson, the night ended almost as soon as it began.