PFL Road to Dubai delivered a championship double feature on Saturday, February 7, at the Coca-Cola Arena, as one dominant titleholder strengthened his legacy and another fighter carved his name into history.

The global showcase marked a pivotal moment for the promotion, featuring an unbeaten lightweight king defending his throne and a new welterweight champion rising through grit and pressure. From technical submissions to high-impact finishes, the night underscored PFL’s growing international footprint.

Nurmagomedov tightens grip on lightweight division

Usman Nurmagomedov once again showed why he is widely considered the top pound-for-pound talent on the PFL roster. Improving to 21-0 with one no contest, the undefeated champion overwhelmed No. 2-ranked Alfie “The Axe Man” Davis before securing a fourth-round submission in the main event of PFL Road to Dubai.

After methodically breaking Davis down over three rounds, Nurmagomedov locked in a tight arm-triangle choke at the 4:41 mark of Round 4. The finish sealed his fifth successful defense of the 155-pound championship he originally captured in 2022 and reaffirmed his dominance in one of MMA’s most competitive divisions.

Davis showed toughness and flashes of resistance, but Nurmagomedov’s grappling control and composure under pressure proved decisive. Each exchange seemed to tilt further in the champion’s favor, as he dictated tempo and positioning with surgical precision.

With the victory, Nurmagomedov not only retained his belt but further cemented his reputation as the standard at lightweight. The division continues to chase him, but no contender has yet found the formula to solve his suffocating style.

Kuramagomedov claims welterweight gold amid injury revelation

In the co-main event, Ramazan Kuramagomedov completed his unbeaten march to the top by capturing the inaugural PFL Welterweight World Championship. The No. 2-ranked contender defeated top-ranked Shamil Musaev via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the contest 48-46.

Kuramagomedov applied relentless forward pressure from the opening round, constantly closing distance and forcing Musaev into uncomfortable exchanges. His championship-round experience allowed him to control the pace in the later frames, denying Musaev the rhythm he typically relies on to build momentum.

The bout’s intensity was matched by post-fight drama, as Kuramagomedov revealed inside the cage that he may have suffered a broken arm during the fight. He even hinted at the possibility of retirement, introducing uncertainty into what should have been a purely celebratory moment for the newly crowned champion.

Elsewhere on the main card, Abdoul “Lazy King” Abdouraguimov extended his winning streak to 10 straight with a split decision victory over Kendly St. Louis. Cartwheeling into the cage and mixing creative submission attempts with sharp striking, the French contender kept his opponent off balance throughout a tightly contested bout.

Featherweight newcomer Salamat Isbulaev maintained his perfect 10-0 record and preserved his 100 percent finish rate with a devastating first-round TKO over former champion Jesus Pinedo. After scoring a takedown and transitioning to the crucifix position, Isbulaev unleashed a barrage of elbows that forced the referee to step in at 4:57.

Opening the main card, heavyweight prospect Pouya Rahmani improved to 6-0 by submitting Karl Williams with a dominant arm-triangle choke in the second round. The win further established Rahmani as a dangerous emerging force in the division.

Full PFL Road to Dubai results

Usman Nurmagomedov def. Alfie Davis via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:41 of Round 4 – retains PFL Lightweight World Championship

Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Shamil Musaev via unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46) – wins PFL Welterweight World Championship

Abdoul Abdouraguimov def. Kendly St. Louis via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)

Salamat Isbulaev def. Jesus Pinedo via TKO at 4:57 of Round 1

Pouya Rahmani def. Karl Williams via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:44 of Round 2

Preliminary Card

Amru Magomedov def. Kolton Englund via TKO at :37 of Round 1

Taylor Lapilus def. Kasum Kasumov via TKO at :45 of Round 3

Renat Khavalov def. Edgars Skrivers via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Amin Ayoub via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Denise Kielholtz def. Antonia Silvaneide via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)

Luke Trainer def. Rob Wilkinson via submission (guillotine) at 3:48 of Round 1

Khabib Nabiev def. Ahmed Sami via TKO at 2:26 of Round 2

Jhony Gregory def. Haider Khan via submission (guillotine) at 1:17 of Round 1