The PFL Washington D.C. event remains on schedule despite a last-minute shake-up to its welterweight title fight, as Shamil Musaev withdraws and Ernesto Rodriguez steps in to face Thad Jean for the vacant title. Jean, who is 11-0 and the 2025 PFL World Tournament winner, will now clash with Rodriguez, an 11-1 Cuban prospect, in what remains the weekend’s headline matchup. The card still features a high-profile light heavyweight pairing between Tyson Pedro and Rafael Xavier, along with several other top welterweight and light heavyweight bouts. The change to the main event has been widely reported across outlets, with analyses noting the potential impact on the event’s overall competitiveness while confirming the rest of the lineup. Rodriguez had been slated for a different preliminary bout, making his promotion-wide debut in a title-contending role after stepping in on short notice. The show continues to be presented as a major showcase for PFL’s welterweight division and Thad Jean’s ongoing pursuit of the title.