PFL World Tournament 5 – Kendly St. Louis vs Mukhamed Berkhamov

Under the bright lights of the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on June 12, 2025, a grueling welterweight matchup unfolded between Kendly “The Highlander” St. Louis and Mukhamed “Cherkes” Berkhamov at PFL World Tournament 5. Both fighters entered determined, but it was St. Louis who steadily took control, seizing the moment in the third round.

Round 1 began with Berkhamov pressing forward, mixing jabs and low kicks to establish range. St. Louis fired back with rights and counters, even locking in a guillotine that Berkhamov escaped. A scramble led to Berkhamov landing in mount and unloading heavy elbows until the horn.

In Round 2, Berkhamov looked effective early with strikes and a strong takedown, but St. Louis scrambled back, landed knees and brutal leg stomps along the fence. Although Berkhamov regained control in the clinch, St. Louis’ pressure remained constant .

By Round 3, both fighters traded strikes in the center until St. Louis secured a powerful takedown at roughly 3:00 minutes in. He slipped into the back, locked a body triangle, and unleashed a rear-naked choke. Berkhamov, for the first time in his pro career, tapped at 3:21—clinching the fight .

St. Louis’ win by submission (rear-naked choke) marked a historic moment—he became the first fighter ever to submit Berkhamov—and pushed his record to 11–2, capturing a coveted spot in the tournament finals. Berkhamov fell to 17–4, but his earlier work showed why he’s a dangerous grappler.

This bout was a clash of resilience and strategy: Berkhamov’s early aggression and control met St. Louis’ unwavering composure and submission prowess. In the end, St. Louis’ patience and technique paid off, showcasing not just his toughness, but his polish—and signalling he’s someone to fear on the path to PFL gold.