Balancing a career in finance with his passion for fighting, Josh Rettinghouse, the headliner for the 2025 PFL World Tournament 2, leads a life of contrasts. Interestingly, his fighting career isn`t a financial necessity.
Rettinghouse, with a record of 20-5, steps into the main event of 2025 PFL 2 as a replacement for Magomed Magomedov. This elevation occurred after Taila Santos, the original main event participant, had to withdraw from her bout against Juliana Velasquez due to injury.
This card reshuffling places Rettinghouse`s first-round bantamweight tournament fight against Leandro Higo in the spotlight. This was an unexpected development for the certified public accountant, who also considers himself a top golfer in the MMA world. Nevertheless, he is excited to headline a PFL event.
“(It’s a) significant opportunity, and it feels right,” Rettinghouse stated in an interview. “It`s always exciting to be in a main or co-main event, regardless of the show, but to achieve it on this platform is truly special.”
Rettinghouse, who participated in Season 29 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” has faced several well-known fighters throughout his career, including Marlon Moraes, Sergey Morozov, and Brady Hiestand. At 35, he is aware that his time in professional fighting is limited. He aims to make a strong impact in the PFL tournament, beginning with his fight against a formidable opponent in Higo.
“I believe this is an excellent matchup for me,” Rettinghouse commented. “Stylistically, it suits me well. I see similarities in our approaches. I don`t perceive him as exceptionally dangerous in any single area, but he is proficient across the board. I anticipate an engaging fight.”
“I`ve been on the fringes for some time now, and I`ve been telling myself that as I approach the end of my career, if I want to make a significant mark, it needs to be against someone close to the top 15 level – and I believe he fits that description.”
If he performs well in the tournament and secures the $500,000 prize, Rettinghouse plans to assess his career future step-by-step. However, a loss would likely lead to retirement, as agreed with his wife. They are currently financially secure due to their stable day jobs.
“I keep telling her that if I lose, I`m essentially done,” Rettinghouse explained. “I don`t feel I can afford a loss at this stage in my career. So, as long as I continue to win, we`ll see what the future holds.”
