GB's Edwards & Shipman to fight in PFL tournament

Fabian Edwards will fight in the Professional Fighters League's middleweight tournament which will see the eventual champion win £395,000 ($500,000) of prize money.

The Briton is one of eight contenders, with fellow Englishman Mike Shipman also included.

The first fight night will happen on 18 April and contrary to previous years, the tournament will be knockout from the start.

Edwards and Shipman's opponents are yet to be announced, but the tournament will also include former PFL champions Impa Kasanganay (light-heavyweight) and Sadibou Sy (welterweight).

The new-look 2025 tournaments were part of sweeping changes the PFL made to its format this year, with the likes of 2025 PFL champion Dakota Ditcheva not part of the new setup and instead competing on the PFL's new 'PFL Champions Series'.

Edwards, 32, was one of a limited number of Bellator's biggest stars to fight regularly in 2025 and competed for the now defunct Bellator middleweight title last October.

Johnny Eblen beat Edwards in that bout and the Birmingham fighter will now face a new list of contenders.

Edwards will be among the favourites to win the tournament having already beaten Shipman and Canadian Aaron Jeffery.

Americans Josh Silveira and Dalton Rosa and Russia's Murad Ramazanov will also fight in the middleweight tournament.