PFL World Tournament 8 – Matt Turnbull vs Tom Pagliarulo

At the start of the PFL World Tournament 8 prelims on August 1, 2025, at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, Matt Turnbull and Tom Pagliarulo met in a featherweight clash that was over almost as soon as it began. With referee Vincent Dudley waving them forward and no glove touch to break the tension, the debuting Pagliarulo pushed forward with sharp kicks and combinations while Turnbull circled away, trying to settle into range. Pagliarulo kept his jab busy early, working to control distance, as Turnbull replied with leg kicks and quick changes of stance, signaling that this was going to be a fast-paced chess match.

As the round developed, Turnbull started to find timing on his counters, cracking Pagliarulo with a looping overhand right that forced the newcomer to reset. Not backing down, Pagliarulo began mixing in body kicks and combinations to force exchanges, while Turnbull’s low kicks began to disrupt his rhythm. A slick head kick from Turnbull brushed the guard and landed partially, reminding Pagliarulo that a single mistake could shift the momentum. The crowd responded as the tension built with every exchange.

Momentum flipped suddenly when Pagliarulo timed a forward surge perfectly, driving a vicious knee up into Turnbull’s midsection that folded him instantly. The impact knocked the wind out of Turnbull and dropped him to the canvas, where Pagliarulo immediately swarmed with hammer fists until Dudley stepped in to end the fight with just 24 seconds left in the opening round. The official result was a first-round TKO at 4:36, giving Pagliarulo a successful start to his PFL career and extending his record to 10–2.

Post-fight, Pagliarulo spoke about making a statement in his debut and how much the finish meant to him after a long training camp. For Turnbull, who came in with a reputation for resilience and a knack for submissions, the loss halted his recent momentum, despite some promising moments in the opening exchanges. Pagliarulo’s debut performance was a clear warning to the rest of the featherweight division: speed, pressure, and precision can quickly change a fight, as he proved with a single fight-ending strike on a high-stakes night in Atlantic City.