PFL Road To Dubai Champions Series Results: Winners And Losers

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 Main Event: Usman Nurmagomedov Vs. Paul Hughes

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

PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Results Main Card

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes

Vadim Nemkov vs. Timothy Johnson

Akhmed Magomedov vs. Nathan Kelly

Ibragim Ibragimov vs. Kenny Mokhonoana

Renat Khavalov vs. Clever Fernandes

PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai Results Preliminary Card

Ahmed Sami vs. Tarek Suleiman

Mirafzal Akhtamov vs. Mike Thompson

Ruel Diapers vs. Hadi Al Hussaini

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

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

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 results, winners and losers and more will be updated live throughout today’s fight card.