Usman Nurmagomedov extended his dominance at the top of the Lightweight division, while Corey Anderson became the new Light Heavyweight king at PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch, held at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. The event delivered high-level action across multiple divisions, with standout performances and decisive results that reshaped the championship landscape.

Nurmagomedov outpoints Hughes in rematch thriller

In the main event, Usman Nurmagomedov (20-0, 1 NC) once again got the better of Paul Hughes (14-3), winning a unanimous decision after 25 hard-fought minutes. Their first meeting had gone the distance, and history repeated itself as Nurmagomedov’s composure and control in the championship rounds gave him the edge on the scorecards. Hughes mounted late offense but couldn’t sway the judges.

The victory not only preserved Nurmagomedov’s undefeated record but also added a new chapter to one of the PFL’s fastest-growing rivalries.

Anderson wrestles his way to Light Heavyweight title

The co-main event saw Corey Anderson (20-6) grind out a unanimous decision win over Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-8-1) to capture the PFL Light Heavyweight World Title. A rematch of their 2021 Bellator Grand Prix clash, the bout began chaotically with two eye pokes, but Anderson took control with relentless wrestling, dominating from top position over the final four rounds to secure his fourth straight victory.

Elsewhere on the card, Sergio Pettis (25-7) delivered a highlight-reel knockout over Magomed Magomedov (21-5) with a spinning back elbow in round two, handing Magomedov the first KO/TKO loss of his career. Pettis immediately called for a title shot against Marcirley Alves, setting the stage for a marquee Bantamweight showdown.

Archie Colgan (13-0) remained undefeated by using his wrestling to earn a unanimous decision over Jay-Jay Wilson (11-2), while Jack Cartwright (13-2) impressed in his PFL debut with a composed win over Caolan Loughran (10-3).

The early card featured Pouya Rahmani’s quick TKO win, Florim Zendeli’s decision triumph, Mirafzal Akhtamov’s split nod, and victories from Takeshi Izumi, Makkasharip Zaynukov, and Jarrah Al-Silawi.