PFL Champions Series 1

PFL Champions Series 1: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes
The poster for PFL Champions Series 1: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes
Promotion	Professional Fighters League
Date	January 25, 2025
Venue	Coca-Cola Arena
City	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Event chronology
PFL Europe 4 PFL Champions Series 1: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes PFL 1

Main article: 2025 in Professional Fighters League

PFL Champions Series 1: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes (also known as PFL Champions Series - Road to Dubai) was a mixed martial arts event produced by Professional Fighters League that took place on January 25, 2025, at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ^{[1] [2]}

Background

The event marked the organization debut in United Arab Emirates. ^[3]

The Champion Series 6 event was initially scheduled to take place under the Bellator MMA banner on November 16, 2024 at Adidas Arena in Paris, France with a Bantamweight title bout between Patchy Mix and Leandro Higo as the main event. ^[4] However, this event was later cancelled due to unspecified reasons. ^[5]

A Bellator Lightweight World Championship bout between current champion Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes headlined the event. ^[6]

A heavyweight bout between former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Vadim Nemkov and 2022 PFL heavyweight winner Ante Delija was scheduled for the event. ^[7] However, Delija withdrew due to not ever signing the contract due to him undergoing elbow surgery and was replaced by current light heavyweight champion (also The Ultimate Fighter 19 light heavyweight winner) Corey Anderson in a trilogy bout. ^[8] The pairing first met at Bellator 277, which the bout ended by no-contest in round two due to accidental clash of heads rendered Nemkov unable to continue. ^[9] Their second meeting took place at Bellator 288, which Nemkov defended the title and won the tournament by unanimous decision. ^[10] In turn, on December 15, Anderson stated that the fight was off because he is "too tough of a fight" for Nemkov. ^[11] Nemkov faced Timothy Johnson instead. ^[12]

Khasan Magomedsharipov and Nathan Kelly were scheduled to meet in a featherweight bout. ^[13] However, Magomedsharipov withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Akhmed Magomedov. ^[14]

On the fight week, Jarrah Al-Silawi and Yakub Sulimanov were scheduled to meet in a welterweight bout, but the bout was cancelled for unknown reasons. ^[15]

At the weigh-ins, Kenny Mokhonoana and Ahmed Sami missed weight. Mokhonoana came in at 147 pounds, one pound over the featherweight fight limit and Sami came in at 199.6 pounds, 0.6 lb over the 199 pounds limit. Their bouts proceeded at catchweight with Mokhonoana and Sami both fined a percent of their purse which went to their opponents Ibragim Ibragimov and Tarek Suleiman respectively. ^[16]

Results

Fight card (MAX / DAZN)
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Lightweight	Usman Nurmagomedov (c)	def.	Paul Hughes	Decision (majority) (47–47, 48–46, 48–46)	5	5:00	[a]
Heavyweight	Vadim Nemkov	def.	Timothy Johnson	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	3:08
Featherweight	Akhmed Magomedov	def.	Nathan Kelly	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	4:22
Featherweight	Ibragim Ibragimov	def.	Kenny Mokhonoana	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)	3	5:00	[b]
Bantamweight	Renat Khavalov	def.	Cleiver Fernandes	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Preliminary card (MAX / DAZN)
Catchweight (199 lb)	Ahmed Sami	def.	Tarek Suleiman	TKO (retirement)	1	5:00	[c]
Lightweight	Mirafzal Akhtamov	def.	Mike Thompson	Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke)	2	2:50
Flyweight	Hadi Omar Al Hussaini	def.	Ruel Pañales	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 30–27)	3	5:00
Lightweight	John Mitchell	def.	Souhil Tahïri	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)	3	5:00
Middleweight	Haider Khan	def.	Mostafa Rashed Nada	TKO (arm injury)	1	3:18
Amateur bouts
Featherweight	Talal AlQallaf	def.	Saeed AlHosani	Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–28, 30–27)	3	3:00

1. For the Bellator Lightweight World Championship. Nurmagomedov was deducted 1 point in round 3 due to a groin kick.
2. Mokhonoana missed weight (147 lb).
3. Sami missed weight (199.6 lb).

^[17]

See also

• Martial Arts portal

• 2025 in Professional Fighters League
• List of PFL events
• List of current PFL fighters

References

1. Lee, Alexander K. (2024-11-20). "Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes set for Jan. 25 PFL event in Dubai". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
2. Guillen, Adam (2024-11-20). "Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes title fight headlines 'Dagestan vs Irelamd 2' Champions Series event on Jan. 25". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
3. Riddle, Mathew (2024-11-20). "Bellator Announces Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes for Dubai Title Clash". Sports Illustrated MMA News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
4. Iskenderov, Parviz (23 July 2024). "Patchy Mix vs Leandro Higo tops Bellator Champions Series Paris in November". FIGHTMAG.
5. "Bellator Championship Series: Paris event for Nov. 16 canceled". MMA Junkie. 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
6. "Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes for Bellator title set for Jan. 25 in Dubai". MMA Junkie. 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
7. Cruz, Guilherme (2024-11-29). "Vadim Nemkov vs. Ante Delija to co-headline PFL's Champions Series Dubai card". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
8. "With Ante Delija out, Vadim Nemkov to fight Corey Anderson at Bellator Champions Series event". MMA Junkie. 2024-12-11. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
9. Anderson, Jay (2022-04-15). "Bellator 277: Clash of Heads Leads to No Contest in Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
10. Dewar, Val (2022-11-19). "Bellator 288: Vadim Nemkov Wins Grand Prix, Million Dollars with Decision Over Corey Anderson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
11. Staff (2024-12-15). "Corey Anderson Says Nemkov Trilogy Off: "I'm Too Tough of a Fight"". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
12. "Ex-Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov to face Tim Johnson at PFL's Road to Dubai on Jan. 25". MMA Junkie. 2025-01-06. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
13. Dimond, Kyle (2024-12-12). "Two More Ireland vs. Dagestan Fights Added To Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes PFL Card". MMA News | UFC News Since 2002. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
14. Beaupre, Drew (2025-01-07). "Vadim Nemkov Added to Road to Dubai Champions Series, Nathan Kelly Gets New Opponent". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
15. Sherdog.com. "PFL Road to Dubai Loses Yakub Sulimanov vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi". Sherdog. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
16. "PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series weigh-in results: Nurmagomedov, Hughes on weight for title fight". MMA Junkie. 2025-01-24. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
17. "PFL Champions Series - Road to Dubai". Professional Fighters League. Retrieved 2025-01-15.