ONE SHOT
VIDEO courtesy of PFL
VIDEO courtesy of PFL
One shot at greatness. The 2025 PFL World Tournament kicks off from the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando on April 3, April 11, April 18, and May 1. The annual single-elimination tournament will feature eight athletes in eight action packed brackets spanning five months. 64 of the best fighters from around the world will compete to win MMA's toughest test - win three straight times in five months to become PFL Tournament Champion.
The 2025 PFL World Tournament will air live on ESPN platforms in the U.S. Internationally, fans can catch the action live on DAZN. In total, the tournament will be streamed in 190 countries through 20 premium media partners.
PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series
Main Card:
Saturday, January 25th – Live on MAX / DAZN
Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
11am ET / 4pm GMT / 8pm Local
Bellator Lightweight World Championship bout
Usman Nurmagomedov (154.9 lbs.) vs. Paul Hughes (155 lbs.)
Heavyweight bout
Vadim Nemkov (242.4 lbs.) vs.
Tim Johnson (264.2 lbs.)
Featherweight bout
Akhmed Magomedov (145.7 lbs.) vs. Nathan Kelly (145.6 lbs.)
Catchweight bout (147 lbs.)
Ibragim Ibragimov (146 lbs.) vs.
Kenny Mokhonoana (147 lbs.)*
*missed weight
Bantamweight bout
Renat Khavalov (136 lbs.) vs.
Cleiver Fernandes (135.9 lbs.)
PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series Preliminary Card:
Catchweight bout (199 lbs.)
Tarek Suleiman (194 lbs.) vs.
Ahmed Samy (199.6 lbs.)*
*missed weight
Lightweight bout
Mirafzal Akhtamov (156 lbs.) vs.
Mike Thompson (155.4 lbs.)
Flyweight bout
Hadi Omar Al Hussaini (125.3 lbs.) vs. Ruel Panales (126 lbs.)
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The headlining bout will see reigning Bellator Lightweight World Champion Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0) of Russia put his title on the line against Irish rising star Paul "Big News" Hughes (13-1). Nurmagomedov weighed in at 154.9-pounds while Hughes weighed in at 155-pounds.
In the co-main event, Heavyweights go head-to-head, as former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Vadim Nemkov (18-2, 1NC) of Russia faces Tim Johnson (18-10) of the United States. Nemkov weighed in at 242.4-pounds, while Johnson weighed in at 264.2.
Also on the card, Featherweights throw down, as Akhmed Magomedov (10-1) of Russia meets Ireland's Nathan Kelly (11-2). Magomedov weighed in at 145.7-pounds, while Kelly weighed-in at 145.6-pounds.
PICS COURTESY OF PFL
The undercard for Professional Fighters League's inaugural Road to Dubai Champions Series event on Saturday, January 25 has been released and features Hadi Al Hussaini and Youssef Al Housani from the United Arab Emirates
Dubai, United Arab Emirates –: The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, has released the full Road to Dubai Champions Series undercard, featuring top athletes from the United Arab Emirates and around the world.
The marquee preliminary bout of the night will see Tarek Suleiman (13-8) square off against Ahmed "Lee" Samy (11-4). Dubai's very own Hadi Omar Al Hussaini (5-1-1) will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing his undefeated record in his PFL debut this past July, as he fights in front of a home crowd against former RSF champion Ruel "Bagsik" Pañales (5-2).
Dubai-based fighter, Yakub Sulimanov (7-0) will put his unblemished record on the line against Jordan's experienced Jarrah "Jordanian Lion" Al-Selawe (20-7). While Dubai's 971 Academy product John Mitchell (9-2), a five-time Irish MMA champion, will enter the SmartCage against PFL MENA's Algerian competitor Souhil Tairi (7-5-1).
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In addition, Emirati fighter, Youssef Al Housani (4-1), will face off against Egypt's undefeated Assem Ghanem (4-0). Saudi Arabia's Mostafa Nada (9-3) riding a five-fight win streak, will face the British-Pakistani PFL debutant Haider "Darth" Khan (8-1) who has won his last four bouts.
The undercard will also feature Dubai-based Uzbek fighter, the undefeated Mirafzal "Mirko" Akhtamov (7-0-1), who has an impressive six finishes in his career, will take on England's knockout specialist, Mike "Lefty" Thompson (7-2), with five of his seven victories coming by way of KO/TKO.
Road to Dubai Champions Series is the inaugural "Road to Dubai" event following the signing of a groundbreaking multi-year partnership between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai Sports Council (DSC), and the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
The event will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Coca-Cola Arena, located in Dubai's City Walk and is headlined by the returning "Pride of Dagestan," undefeated Bellator Lightweight World Champion, Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0). He will look to defend his title against Ireland's Paul "Big News" Hughes (13-1) who is coming off the biggest victory of his MMA career at PFL "Battle of the Giants" after defeating AJ McKee.
The first-of-its-kind partnership will see MMA world champions and the sport's biggest stars from the PFL compete in title fights as Dubai becomes a marquee destination for the best of MMA. All other Champions Series events will now be co-branded as "Road to Dubai", as each show culminates to the finale set in the new fight capital. As part of the PFL's commitment to developing the sport of MMA in Dubai, rising Emirati star fighters will now have a pathway to become future PFL Champions.
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PFL is the only organisation in MMA with a sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The PFL roster boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as UFC.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — Professional Fighters League, in partnership with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation (SMMAF) held Championships of the 2024 PFL Global Season and the first-ever PFL MENA Season on Friday at King Saud University. Following an exciting night of action on ESPN+ and DAZN, ten new champions were crowned.
In the main event, Timur Khizriev (18-0) coasted to a unanimous decision win against 2023 PFL Featherweight Champion Brendan Loughnane (30-6). It was ultimately Khizriev's world-class grappling and pace that was the difference, as Khizriev became the fourth Russian PFL athlete to win a Championship in 2024.
The co-main event saw the culmination of Dakota Ditcheva's (14-0) meteoric rise to top of the sport, as the former PFL Europe Champion finished former UFC title challenger Talia Santos (22-4) and laid claim to the 2024 PFL Women's Flyweight Championship. It was a perfect season for the 26-year-old, who finished all four of her opponents en route to the title.
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The pride of Turkmenistan Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (25-7-1), shocked the 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Impa Kasanganay (18-5) in 58-seconds to claim the 2024 Championship. A victor in his first PFL season, Yagshimuradov brings the first major global MMA title to his home nation of Turkmenistan.
In a battle of unbeaten Russian Welterweights, Shamil Musaev (20-0-1) handed Magomed Umalatov (17-1) the first defeat of his career, following a flurry of strikes that ended that bout nearly two minutes into the second round. With arguably the most impressive run in the 2024 Global Season, "The Silent Assassin" now has championship gold and a one-million-dollar check to prove it.
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Photo's courtesy of PFL
Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2) is the 2024 PFL Lightweight World Champion following a vicious third round knockout of former Bellator Champion Brent Primus (15-4). Training alongside Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov, and under the tutelage of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Rabadanov now brings another 155-pound championship home to Russia.
After multiple unsuccessful attempts at winning the PFL Championship, sambo champion Denis Goltsov (36-8) finally captured PFL gold as he completed the Global Season as champion, finishing fellow Russian Oleg Popov (29-2) via submission in the opening round.
FULL WEIGH-IN RESULTS & PHOTOS FOR THE 2024
PFL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — The 2024 PFL Global Season and the first-ever PFL MENA Season come to an electric conclusion tomorrow following today's official weigh-ins. Live from King Saud University and in partnership with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation (SMMAF), the Professional Fighters League will crown ten champions when all is said and done on Friday.
Riyadh once again played host to another monumental night of fights as 2022 PFL Featherweight Champion Brendan Loughnane (30-5) looks to claim gold once again versus the undefeated Timur Khizriev (17-0). The critically acclaimed 2023 PFL Europe World Champion Dakota Ditcheva (13-0) will take on her toughest test to date as she squares off against former title challenger Talia Santos (22-3). 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight World Champion Impa Kasanganay (18-4) aims to have history repeat itself, when he collides against Bellator veteran Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (24-7-1). In the Welterweight division, Russia's Magomed Umalatov (17-0) will square off against fellow countryman Shamil Musaev (19-0-1), while former Bellator Lightweight World Champion Brent Primus (15-3, 1 NC) faces the dangerous Gadzhi Rabadanov (23-4-2). Lastly in the Heavyweight division, a pair of Russian heavy-hitters in Denis Goltsov (19-1) and Oleg Popov (35-8) will battle for the $1 million grand prize and coveted PFL strap.
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Photo's courtesy of PFL
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RIYADH – (February 22, 2024) – Dmitry Bivol avenged the lone loss of his career in a return duel with Artur Beterbiev for the Unified Light Heavyweight World Championship. The highly anticipated rematch exceeded all expectations and saw Bivol walk away with the IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA and IBO 175-pound titles with a majority decision victory (114-114, 116-112, 115-113). THE LAST CRESCENDO: BETERBIEV VS. BIVOL 2, a card that many claimed was the best of the century, was streamed worldwide on DAZN PPV live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with nearly 7,000 fans in attendance at ANB Arena.
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After taking the early rounds, Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs), of Tokmak, Kyrgyzstan, had to withstand an aggressiveness from Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs), of Khasavyurt, Russia, that he did not show in their first meeting. The challenger admitted in the buildup to this night that he had learned he did not like to lose, a reality that was on display as he dug deep to turn the tide as Beterbiev slowed his pace following the midway point of the match.
Bivol landed 170 blows on Beterbiev, a record for a Beterbiev opponent, despite being outthrown by 140 punches. Power shots were near-even at 85-78 Bivol, but the new champion scored over 40 jabs more than his opponent.
Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
📺 TODAY: Undefeated three-division world champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis and WBC Super Featherweight World Champion Lamont Roach go face to face at the final press conference beginning at 1pm ET/10am PT, live on PBC YouTube.
The face of boxing is back Saturday, March 1, as Davis defends his WBA Lightweight World Title against the dangerous and determined Roach at Brooklyn's Barclays Center in a PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
Also at today's press conference will be all the fighters on the pay-per-view undercard, including WBA Super Lightweight World Champion José "Rayo" Valenzuela and hard-hitting top contender Gary Antuanne Russell who will square off in the co-main event, plus WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Alberto Puello and top-rated mandatory challenger Sandor Martín, and rising star Yoenis Téllez who will take on former unified world champion Julian "J-Rock" Williams for the Interim WBA Super Welterweight Title.
RIYADH – February 21, 2024 – Ahead of a highly anticipated night of boxing, the main event of unified light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and former champion Dmitry Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) faced off one last time at the official weigh-in before going toe-to-toe on Saturday, February 22 live worldwide on DAZN PPV (11 a.m. ET) from the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The event will also feature champions, top contenders and rising stars competing on the undercard. The co-main event will have former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) meeting Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs), who stepped in on short notice once IBF champion Daniel Dubois was ruled out of the contest with illness. Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) will also put his WBC lightweight title up against Josh Padley (15-0, 4 KOs), another late replacement, once Floyd Schofield was forced to withdraw due to illness. Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) squares off with Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs) the WBC Middleweight title.
Additional bouts to look forward to include Vergil Ortiz Jr. 22-0, 21 KOs) clashing with Israil Madrimov (10-1, 7 KOs) for the WBC interim super welterweight title and Zhilei Zhang (27-2, 22 KOs) meeting Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs) for the WBC interim heavyweight title. British stars Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) and Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs) are going to battle it out for the WBO interim light heavyweight title. The preliminary card will showcase local talent with welterweight Ziyad Almaayouf (6-0-1, 1 KO) taking on Jonatas de Oliveira (6-20, 5 KOs) and super featherweight Mohammed Alakel (2-0, 0 KOs) meets Engel Gomez (8-42-3), 4 KOs) in six round bouts.
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Photo Credit:
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
THREE TITLE SHOWDOWNS ADDED TO LOADED
GERVONTA DAVIS VS. LAMONT ROACH PBC PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT ON PRIME VIDEO SATURDAY, MARCH 1
WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela Battles Hard-Hitting Top Contender Gary Antuanne Russell in Co-Main Event from Barclays Center
in Brooklyn
WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Alberto Puello Duels Top-Rated Mandatory Challenger
Sandor Martin
&
Rising Star Yoenis Tellez Duels Former Unified Champion Julian Williams for Interim WBA Super Welterweight Title in Pay-Per-View Opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
BROOKLYN – January 21, 2025 – Three title bouts, including two explosive 140-pound world championship showdowns and a 154-pound crossroads matchup between a rising star and former unified champion, will round out a loaded PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video taking place Saturday, March 1 headlined by a lightweight title showdown between boxing superstar and reigning WBA Lightweight World Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Lamont Roach from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela will take on hard-hitting top contender Gary Antuanne Russell in the co-main event, plus WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Alberto Puello defends his title against top-rated mandatory challenger Sandor Martin in a pay-per-view attraction. Kicking off the pay-per-view at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, rising star Yoenis Tellez will take on former unified world champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams for the Interim WBA Super Welterweight Title.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now and through ticketmaster.com. The event is promoted by GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions.
PFL EVENT VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
