PFL Champions Series Dubai takes place Friday, and MMA Junkie has you covered with live round-by-round coverage and official results throughout the card.
In the headliner at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai (ESPN Unlmtd), former Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0) takes on Paul Hughes (14-2) in a rematch for the vacant PFL belt. In the co-feature, Corey Anderson (19-6) meets Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (25-7-1) in another rematch for the vacant light heavyweight title.
Check out the round-by-round coverage and official results below.
PFL Champions Series Dubai live updates:
Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes – for vacant lightweight title
Round 1 – Here we go. One of the biggest fights in PFL history. Both men are intense right off the bat. Nurmagomedov kicks Hughes low. Timeout is called and action resumes. Nurmagomedov does it again. Hughes winces but referee Keith Peterson tells them to fight on. Hughes lands a big knee. Nurmagomedov grabs hold and takes his back standing. He drags Hughes down. He’s looking for the rear-naked choke. Seeking… seeking… and he doesn’t get it. The bell rings. The two fighters stand and go forehead-to-forehead, quite literally. That was a bit of a head-butt from Nurmagomedov, actually. But no discipline coming. 10-9 Nurmagomedov.
Round 2 – Nurmagomedov ties up Hughes and they are up against the fence. Nurmagomedov working from the back. Hughes breaks the grasp after quite a long time against the cage. Hughes pumps the jab and lands some hard strikes. Hughes knees Nurmagomedov in the midsection. They trade. The round ends. Close round. 19-19.
Round 3 – The fighters are much more measured in this round. They’re prioritizing precision over volume. Hughes lands a big overhand right. That was slick. Both fighters land punches. Nurmagomedov has not gone to his grappling this round, which is pretty surprising. Hughes seems to be doing just a tad more on the feet. There it is. Nurmagomedov ducks under a Hughes combination and takes the fight down. He was waiting, but he may have waited too long. He leans on Hughes as the round ends. 29-28 Hughes.
Result: Records: Nurmagomedov (19-0), Hughes (14-2)Division: LightweightReferee: Keith Peterson
Corey Anderson vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov – for vacant light heavyweight title
Round 1 – Vacant light heavyweight title is on the line here. PFL is trying to condense things. All previous light heavyweight titles were just figments of our imaginations. Yagshimuradov is first to land a big shot. He hurt Anderson but was unable to capitalize. Anderson grabbed him and controlled him, but that’s Yagshimuradov’s round. 10-9 Yagshimuradov
Round 2 – The two fighters are going tit-for-tat, hanging in the pocket. Getting rocked earlier has not deterred Anderson from exchanging. As this round is progressing, Yagshimuradov is noticeably slowing. Anderson seems to be getting the better of these exchanges. 19-19.
Round 3 – Anderson’s coach Nick Catone told his fighter in between rounds he thinks Yagshimuradov is “cooked,” calling out the cardio. Yagshimuradov does indeed look beat. Anderson kicks him in the midsection and Yagshimuradov says the shot was low. Referee Jacob Montalvo calls timeout. The action resumes. Anderson seems to be throwing two or three combinations for every one of Yagshimuradov’s. Anderson is landing more, too. Yagshimuradov shows a burst of energy in the final minute. 29-28 Anderson.
Round 4 – Anderson breaks out his wrestling shoes. That’s probably not what Yagshimuradov wants to see at this point, given his tiredness. Anderson drags Yagshimuradov down and works some ground-and-pound. Referee Jacob Montalvo is taking a close look. Yagshimuradov does just enough to keep this fight going and survive until the bell. 39-37 Anderson.
Round 5 – Round 5 is playing out much like Round 4. Anderson immediately goes for the takedown, and why wouldn’t he? Anderson is on top of Yagshimuradov once again. Yagshimuradov is doing enough to survive, but not enough to get up and get away. Anderson, meanwhile, is doing just enough to make sure the action is not stood up. Anderson goes for a guillotine choke at the buzzer. No dice. But he should walk away with the title. 49-45 Anderson.
- Result: Corey Anderson def. Dovlet Yagshimuradov via unanimous decision (49-45, 48-47, 49-45) – to become light heavyweight champion
- Records: Anderson (20-6), Yagshimuradov (25-8-1)
- Division: Light heavyweight
- Referee: Jacob Montalvo
Magomed Magomedov vs. Sergio Pettis
Round 1 – Here’s a goodie. Former Bellator champ Sergio Pettis vs. longtime contender Magomed Magomedov. Both guys are flashy strikers and they’re showing that off here in Round 1. Magomedov gets a takedown. Back on the feet, Magomedov leaps in for a flying knee that grazes Pettis. They tie up. 10-9 Magomedov.
Round 2 – Quickly, Magomedov gets Pettis down. He’s seeking a rear-naked choke. Pettis is defending. He works his way out of Magomedov having his back, but Magomedov obtains it once again seconds later. Magomedov working for the rear-naked choke. Pettis works his way up against the fence. They separate. Magomedov leaps in. Pettis drills Magomedov with a spinning back elbow. Down goes Magomedov. Oh! Pettis absolutely hammers him with a follow-up shot that Dan Henderson would be proud of. Magomedov is out. Good lord. That’s a Knockout of the Year candidate – very similar to what he hit Kyoji Horiguchi with years ago. What a knockout. My word.
- Result: Sergio Pettis def. Magomed Magomedov via knockout (spinning back elbow) – Round 2, 4:31
- Records: Magomedov (21-5), Pettis (25-7)
- Division: Bantamweight
- Referee: Sam Amidi
Archie Colgan vs. Jay Jay Wilson
Round 1 – Colgan goes right to his wrestling with a big takedown. Wilson is slippery though. Colgan is able to control Wilson but only for short periods of time and without much damage. Wilson is utilizing his kicks well. Colgan doesn’t seem to love them and I can’t say I blame him. When they’re at distance, they’re opening up. But Colgan only wants to hang there for so long. 10-9 Wilson, on damage.
Round 2 – Colgan is relentless with these takedowns. Wilson’s striking is polished but Colgan is limiting him from using it. Much of this round has been Colgan draped on Wilson, who is working to break. Eventually he does with a big knee to Colgan’s face. Both fighters swing and miss a bunch before the round ends. 19-19.
Round 3 – It’s deja vu all over again. He takes Wilson down. Every time Wilson raises up, Colgan puts him down. With approximately one minute left, Wilson rolls under Colgan and gets up and away. Both men look relatively tired. Colgan scoops Wilson up with a ridiculous double-leg. Colgan lands right into crucifix and explodes with some hard elbows. Wilson looks somewhat hurt. Colgan lands some big ground-and-pound as the horn sounds. 29-28 Colgan.
- Result: Archie Colgan def. Jay Jay Wilson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Records: Colgan (13-0), Wilson (11-2)
- Division: Lightweight
- Referee: Bryan Miner
Jack Cartwright vs. Caolan Loughran
Round 1 – Cartwright is the short-notice replacament, but he looks good. He’s utilizing his striking, really picking apart the former UFC fighter. Cartwright, at one point in time, was regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound prospects in Europe. But his path went in a different direction, with an untimely loss on Dana White’s Contender Series. After a few OKTAGON fights, here’s his big break. And he’s making the most of it. 10-9 Cartwright.
Round 2 – The two fighters have traded takedowns as the pace has slowed. Not much action from either man. Referee Jacob Montalvo stood them up after a Loughran takedown. Loughran was able to get up from a Cartwright takedown. Loughran drags the fight back to the canvas. This seems to be his Plan B after failing in the striking. 20-18 Cartwright.
Round 3 – Loughran goes back to the ground attack. He takes Cartwright down near the fence. He’s controlling the fight but there’s not much damage. His eye is swollen. Loughran lands some ground-and-pound before the round ends. That was his best, but it likely is not enough. 29-28 Cartwright.
- Result: Jack Cartwright def. Caolan Loughran via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Records: Cartwright (13-2), Loughran (10-3)
- Division: 140-pound catchweight
- Referee: Jacob Montalvo
Pouya Rahmani vs. Slim Trabelsi
Omar El Dafrawy vs. Florim Zendeli
Mirafzal Akhtamov vs. Luann Sardinha
Vinicius Cenci vs. Takeshi Izumi
John Mitchell vs. Makkasharip Zaynukov
Jarrah Al-Silawi vs. Gregory Babene
Up-to-the-minute PFL Champions Series Dubai results:
MAIN CARD (ESPN Unlmtd)
- Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes – for vacant lightweight title
- Corey Anderson def. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov via unanimous decision (49-45, 48-47, 49-45) – for vacant light heavyweight title
- Archie Colgan def. Jay Jay Wilson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Sergio Pettis def. Magomed Magomedov via knockout (spinning back elbow) – Round 2, 4:31
- Jack Cartwright def. Caolan Loughran via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD (11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN Unlmtd)
- Pouya Rahmani def. Slim Trabelsi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:47
- Florim Zendeli def. Omar El Dafrawy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mirafzal Akhtamov def. Luann Sardinha via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Takeshi Izumi def. Vinicius Cenci via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Makkasharip Zaynukov def. John Mitchell via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jarrah Al-Silawi def. Gregory Babene via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
