SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 07: Usman Nurmagomedov walks to the cage before fighting against Alexander … [+] Shabliy during Bellator Champions Series: San Diego at the Pechanga Arena on September 7, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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The Professional Fighters League is at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai for today’s PFL Champions Series – Road to Dubai fight card. The event, which the PFL has labeled Dagestan vs. Ireland 2, features a Bellator title fight in the headlining spot. In that contest, Usman Nurmagomedov puts his Bellator lightweight crown on the line against Paul Hughes. Meanwhile, Vadim Nemkov meets Timothy Johnson in a heavyweight scrap in the co-main event. Also on the main card is a featherweight matchup between Akhmed Magomedov and the much-hyped Nathan Kelly. PFL Champions Series – Road to Dubai results, reactions, video highlights, winners and losers and more will be updated live throughout today’s fight card.
The main card for PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai airs on MAX at 1:00 p.m ET following prelims on MAX at 11 a.m. ET.
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Results
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Results Main Card
Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes
Vadim Nemkov defeats Timothy Johnson via submission at 3:08 of Round 1 (Rear naked choke)
Akhmed Magomedov defeats Nathan Kelly via submission at 4:22 of Round 2 (Rear naked choke)
Ibragim Ibragimov defeats Kenny Mokhonoana via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
Renat Khavalov defeats Cleiver Fernandes via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Results Preliminary Card
Ahmed Sami defeats Tarek Suleiman via TKO at 5:0o of Round 1 (Punches to head on ground)
Mirafzal Akhtamov defeats Mike Thompson via technical submission at 2:50 of Round 2 (Head and arm choke)
Hadi Al Hussaini defeats Ruel Panales via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
John Mitchell defeats Souhil Tairi via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
Haider Khan defeats Mostafa Nada via TKO at 3:18 of Round 1 (Injury)
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Winners
Vadim Nemkov: Vadim Nemkov made easy work of Timothy Johnson on Saturday, scoring a first-round submission.
The question everyone should be asking is what will it take to get Nemkov booked against Francis Ngannou? That fight should happen.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 25: Vadim Nemkov celebrates after submitting Bruno Cappelozza during … [+] the 2024 PFL vs Bellator: Champs event at Kingdom Arena on February 25, 2024 in Riyadh. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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Akhmed Magomedov: Ring rust is not something Khabib NUrmagomedov will allow to develop with his fighters. With that, Akhmed Magomedov, who had not fought since a February 2023 loss to Henry Corrales, looked fresh in his bout against the much-hyped Nathan Kelly.
Magomedov got caught with an elbow in the first round that cut him and hurt him, but Kelly could not close out the fight. Once he recovered, Magomedov took over the fight, using a style reminiscent of Nurmagomedov. He controlled the fight on the mat, sapped the energy of his foe, and secured a rear-naked choke submission.
Ibragim Ibragimov: Ibragim Ibragimov moved to 9-0 with a dominant performance against Kenny Mokhonoana. The 20-year-old set the pace for the featherweight fight and used his wrestling, ground control, pressure, and ability to keep his opponent stacked against the fence to pick up the win. Ibragimov deserves a step up in competition with his record and dominant wrestling skills.
One thing Ibragimov must work on is his striking on the mat. He has no issues controlling things on the ground, but his ground striking and willingness to look for a finish are something he needs to add to his arsenal.
With his age and potential, Ibragimov, is a fighter to watch.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – OCTOBER 19: Ibragim Ibragimov walks out ahead of the Featherweight fight … [+] between Ibragim Ibragimov and Nacho Campos as part of the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants card at Kingdom Arena on October 19, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
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Renat Khavalov: Renat Khavalov faced a game opponent in Cleiver Fernandes, but his ability to make small adjustments throughout the fight was enough to give him the win. His striking was better than Fernandes, and his timing and distance management were difference-makers for the Khabib Nurmagomedov-coached competitor.
The win moved Khavalov to 9-0.
Ahmed Samy: Ahmed Samy did an excellent job mixing his defense and offense in picking up a TKO win over Tarek Suleiman. Samy’s flurry of strikes at the end of the first round left Suleiman unable or unwilling to get off the mat, resulting in the fight being waved off.
Mirafzal Akhtamov: Mirafzal Akhtamov was more controlled and technical in his striking against Mike Thompson, who seemed more interested in a slugfest. Akhtamov used his strengths to hurt Thompson and then put him on the mat, where he easily transitioned to a choke and put Thompson to sleep in the second stanza.
Hadi Al Hussaini: Hadi Al Hussaini’s mission against Ruel Panales was clear from the moment he caught a high kick and put the fight to the ground against the fence. He wanted to keep his explosive opponent on the ground and rack up points and damage using his punches and elbows from top position. He did that well in the first and third rounds, but struggled in the second stanza when Panales was able to keep the fight standing.
Al Hussaini’s ground work and ability to create space on the mat to deliver powerful blows served him well in picking up the win.
John Mitchell: John Mitchell looked good on the feet and when he was in top control against Souhil Tairi in their lightweight matchup. He was quick with his strikes and displayed good footwork, but where he did his best striking work was countering his somewhat reckless opponent.
Mitchell’s work from top position was nice, especially when he got to side control and landed knees to the body of Tairi. He also landed nice elbows and punches inside his opponent’s guard.
Mitchell and his team had an enormous scare in the second round when Tairi locked up an incredibly tight guillotine that looked very close to ending the fight.
If there’s one thing Mitchell needs to work on, it’s leaving his neck exposed when shooting takedowns.
Haider Khan: Haider Khan ended Mostafa Nada’s night early when Nada attempted to block a front kick in the first round of their middleweight matchup. Nada looked to downblock the kick, and from all appearances, the blow broke Nada’s forearm.
Khan looked good in the early going. He used his height and reach advantage well, relying on kicks to keep that distance. If there was one knock against Khan, it was that his striking defense of backing up straight and leaning his head back could be dangerous.
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Losers
Timothy Johnson: Timothy Johnson took a shot at upsetting Vadim Nemkov on short notice, but he is not in the same league as Nemkov.
Nathan Kelly: Nathan Kelly came into Saturday’s event with a lot of hype behind him, and although he rocked Akhmed Magomedov and opened a cut with an elbow, Kelly had nothing to offer the Khabib Nurmagomedov coached Akhmed Magomedov on the mat, submitting in the second round.
Kelly, an SBG Ireland fighter, needs a lot of work on the mat. At 27, he might want to think of going to another gym to get that experience.
Kenny Mokhonoana: Kenny Mokhonoana was overmatched against Ibragim Ibragimov, who put him in deep water from the opening moments of the featherweight fight. Mokhonoana had not fought since he lost to Josh O’Connor in September 2023. The matchmakers did the 28-year-old no favors giving him this matchup.
Cleiver Fernandes: Cleiver Fernandes was a game opponent for Renat Khavalov, but his game lacked the wrinkles and depth of Khavalov
Tarek Suleiman: Tarek Suleiman was simply overwhelmed by Ahmed Samy. He was nothing but a punching bag for his foe in the closing moments of the first round.
Mike Thompson: Mike Thompson wanted a slugfest against Mirafzal Akhtamov and he got that. The problem for Thompson was that he was all offense, which led to the takedown from Akhtamov that put the fight to the mat. Once on the ground, Thompson had nothing to offer and found his lights going out.
Ruel Panales: Ruel Panales had advantages over Hadi Al Hussaini in the striking department in this flyweight matchup. The problem was that his opponent was able to negate those strengths, especially when it came to Panales’ high kicks by catching his legs or stepping in close.
Panales did not have much to offer Al Hussaini on the mat, which is where most of the first and third rounds took place, and that cost him the fight.
Souhil Tairi: Souhil Tairi almost finished John Mitchell with a guillotine choke off a takedown in the second round of their lightweight scrap, but outside of that, he struggled mightily during the three-round affair. His striking was slower, and he could not get off his back once Mitchell had established top control.
Mostafa Nada: Mostafa Nada struggled to close distance against the taller and longer Haider Khan. His best attempts to move in were when he waded in with combinations, but Khan’s defense was too much for Nada, who lost the fight when a blocked kick seemed to break his forearm.
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Results Video Highlights
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai is the first event for the PFL in 2025. The promotion has released the dates for its 2025 World Tournament season, but has yet to release the locations of those contests.
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Main Event: Usman Nurmagomedov Vs. Paul Hughes
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 07: Usman Nurmagomedov celebrates after defeating Alexander Shabliy during … [+] Bellator Champions Series: San Diego at the Pechanga Arena on September 7, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0-1) has held the Bellator lightweight title since he defeated Patricky “Pitbull” Freire in November 2022. Nurmagomedov, the cousin of former UFC lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov defended the title with wins over Benson Henderson and Alexandr Shabliy. He also has a no contest on his record during his title run. Nurmagomedov bested Brent Primus in October 2023, but that fight was ruled a no contest after Nurmagomedov failed a drug test. He was suspended six months for that failed test.
Paul Hughes (13-1) joined Bellator in June 2024 after winning the Cage Warriors featherweight crown. He is 2-0 with Bellator, picking up impressive wins over Bobby King and most recently former Bellator featherweight champion A.J. McKee.
The betting odds for this contest favor Nurmagomedov, who is listed at -600 over the +425 Hughes.
The betting pick is for Nurmagomedov to win via decision, but there is some value in picking Hughes to pull off an upset via knockout thanks to his power and countering ability.
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Co-Main Event: Vadim Nemkov vs. Timothy Johnson
Vadim Nemkov ( 17-2-0-1) is on a run of 13 fights without a loss. The Bellator light heavyweight champion, was initially booked to face Ante Delija and then Corey Anderson on this card, but both of those fights fell through, even though Nemkov said he never accepted the Anderson matchup. Nemkov, a protege of MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko, Nemkov is coming off a February 2024 win over PFL heavyweight Bruno Cappelozza.
Timothy Johnson (18-10) took this fight on short notice. A veteran competitor, who has fought for the UFC, Bellator and the PFL, Johnson last fought in August 2024 when Denis Goltsov knocked him out in the PFL heavyweight tournament semifinals.
The betting odds are lopsided in this contest, with Nemkov listed as the -2300 betting favorite over the +1100 Johnson.
The betting pick is for Nemkov to finish the fight in the first round, most likely via knockout.
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai: Akhmed Magomedov vs. Nathan Kelly
In this featherweight fight we have Akhmed Magomedov (10-1) vs. Nathan Kelly (11-2).
Magomedov was 10-0 until he faced Henry Corrales in February 2023 under the Bellator banner. Corrales won that contest via decision, ending Magomedov’s unbeaten run. Magomedov has not fought since then.
Kelly is a much-hyped rising fighter for Bellator and the PFL. He fights out of the same gym that Conor McGregor comes from, SBG Ireland. Kelly is unbeaten in his past 10 fights after losing his first two pro bouts. He is coming off a June 2024 submission win over Jose Sanchez.
Magomedov is the -260 betting favorite over Kelly, who is the +200 betting underdog.
The layoff is an enormous worry for Magomedov. The betting picks is for Kelly to pull off the upset win via submission.
PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai: Ibragim Ibragimov vs. Kenny Mokhonoana
This is another featherweight bout. In this contest, we have Ibragim Ibragimov (8-0) vs. Kenny Mokhonoana (5-1). The 20-year-old Ibragimov fights out of Manchester, England. He is 2-0 under the PFL banner and coming off a dominant decision win over Nacho Campos in October. Mokhonoana, who is 28 and competes out of SBG Ireland, has not fought since he dropped a decision to Josh O’Connor on a Bellator card in September 2023.
Ibragimov is a hefty -600 betting favorite over Mokhonoana, who comes in at +425.
Look for Ibragimov to grind out a decision win via his mat skills.
PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai: Renat Khavalov vs. Cleiver Fernandes
The opening fight of the main card is a bantamweight scrap between Renat Khavalov and Cleiver Fernandes. Khavalov is 8-0, but he has not been very active. An Eagle FC champion, Khavalov last fought in October 2023, knocking out Hikaru Yoshino on a UAE Warriors card. Fernandes (9-1) has also been on the shelf for a while. A Shooto Brasil champ, his last fight was a May 2023 submission victory over Denilson Lima on a Centurion FC card.
The betting odds have Khavalov as a massive -2000 favorite over Fernandes, who is a +1000 underdog.
The betting pick is Khavalov to win via knockout.
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai results, winners and losers and more will be updated live throughout today’s fight card.
