Some fighters are born to be rivals, and the recent showdown in the PFL SmartCage between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes vividly exemplified this dynamic. After 10 grueling rounds together, the two warriors pushed one another to their limits, keeping fans on the edge of their seats throughout the contest. The atmosphere was electric at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena as the bout unfolded, culminating in Nurmagomedov clinching a unanimous decision victory (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) in their highly anticipated rematch.
Nurmagomedov, now boasting an unblemished 20-0 record and 2-0 in the PFL, secured the lightweight championship but not without significant resistance. Hughes, with a 14-3 record and an even 2-2 PFL tally, showcased impressive boxing skills. His jabs and dazzling combinations repeatedly found their mark, testing Nurmagomedov’s mettle on the feet. However, Nurmagomedov’s world-class wrestling remained a cornerstone of his strategy. Whenever Hughes became overzealous, Nurmagomedov responded with lightning-fast takedowns, though Hughes displayed impressive resilience by avoiding prolonged ground control. The fight was further complicated by multiple low blows, head clashes, and a nearly closed left eye for Hughes, who fought with both grit and grace despite the setbacks.
As the fight reached its final round, many spectators felt the bout hung in the balance. Yet, a late takedown by Nurmagomedov provided the decisive edge, effectively sealing his championship performance. Hughes accepted the outcome with commendable sportsmanship, though frustration was evident after going 0-2 against the Dagestani phenom. Few fighters have pushed Nurmagomedov to such limits, and it’s conceivable Hughes might get another shot in the future.
In the co-main event, Corey Anderson added a PFL 205-pound title to his extensive list of accolades. Anderson’s experience and tactical approach secured him a unanimous decision win over Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (49-45, 48-47, 49-45). Despite Yagshimuradov’s impressive seven-fight winning streak and early success in hurting Anderson, the veteran’s seasoned boxing, clinch control, and relentless takedown attempts gradually wore down the explosive tournament winner. Anderson’s measured pace and strategic dismantling of Yagshimuradov’s offense showcased why he has remained a top contender in the light heavyweight division for over a decade.
Sergio Pettis, aptly nicknamed “The Phenom,” delivered another highlight-reel finish at bantamweight. Facing tough opposition in Magomed “Tiger” Magomedov, Pettis was behind on the scorecards but stunned everyone with a perfect spinning elbow knockout near the end of the second round. Magomedov had been controlling the fight on the ground, but a misjudged Superman punch left him vulnerable to Pettis’s devastating counter. The knockout was followed by a powerful right hand that left Magomedov incapacitated. Pettis capitalized on the win by calling out the PFL bantamweight tournament winner, Marcirley Alves, setting the stage for an exciting potential matchup.
Archie Colgan continued his perfect streak, improving to 13-0 with a dominant unanimous decision win over New Zealand’s Jay-Jay Wilson (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). Recognizing Wilson’s striking prowess early, Colgan implemented a wrestling-heavy game plan that took the fight out of his opponent’s hands. With effective takedowns and ground control, Colgan gradually drained Wilson’s energy and controlled the pace, nearly finishing the fight in the final round with continuous ground-and-pound. This victory keeps Colgan firmly in contention for the PFL lightweight title.
Jack Cartwright made a notable impact in his catchweight bout against Caolan Loughran, stepping in on just three weeks’ notice and earning a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Cartwright’s smart counterstriking and elusive takedowns helped him build an early lead, which proved crucial despite a weaker showing in the last round. Loughran’s late surge, fueled by takedowns and wrestling, wasn’t enough to overturn Cartwright’s two-round advantage.
In the heavyweight division, Iranian fighter Pouya Rahmani made a bold statement by knocking out previously unbeaten Slim Trabelsi in the first round. Rahmani used his 25-pound weight advantage to dominate early, landing a powerful right hand that sent Trabelsi to his knees. After letting him recover briefly, Rahmani delivered another thunderous right hand, followed by relentless ground-and-pound to secure the finish.
Florim Zendeli’s welterweight clash against Omar El Dafrawy turned into an unforgettable war, with both fighters leaving the cage soaked in sweat and blood. After suffering a severe cut early, Zendeli kept his composure and utilized superior grappling to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision (29-28 across the board). Despite El Dafrawy’s attempts to reverse positions and mount offense, Zendeli’s endurance and tactical prowess controlled the fight’s tempo.
Mirafzal Akhtamov edged out Luan Andre Souza Sardinha in a tight lightweight contest decided by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 28-29). While Sardinha dominated the final round with a fierce double leg takedown and ground assault, Akhtamov’s well-timed check hooks and strategic clinch work early in the fight were enough to sway the judges in his favor for his first PFL win.
Takeshi Izumi earned his first PFL victory, outworking Brazil’s Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Izumi’s strength on the fence and relentless inside trips stifled Cenci’s attempts to generate offense, allowing Izumi to bounce back after a previous loss and reestablish himself in the promotion.
In another battle of Dagestan versus Ireland, Makkasharip Zaynukov, coached by the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, secured a unanimous decision over John Mitchell (30-26, 29-28, 29-28). Although Mitchell’s calf kicks were effective early, Zaynukov’s pressure and positional dominance meant the Irishman struggled to mount consistent threats.
The PFL Dubai card kicked off with a middleweight tilt between Jordan’s Jarrah Al-Silawi and France’s Gregory Babene. Babene’s active striking challenged Al-Silawi, but the Jordanian controlled much of the match on the ground. Despite a push from Babene in the final round, Al-Silawi earned the split decision victory (28-29, 29-28, 30-27), handing Babene his second consecutive loss.
The night’s fights delivered compelling storylines and showcased the skill, heart, and resilience of all the fighters involved, setting the stage for what’s next in the PFL season.
