
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has finalized the lineup for PFL Europe Nantes, set for Friday, September 26, at the Zenith Nantes Metropole in France. The event will stream live on DAZN in France, the UK, and Ireland, and on the PFL app in the United States.
Abdouraguimov vs Jousset headlines in Nantes
In the welterweight main event, hometown favorite Abdoul “Lazy King” Abdouraguimov (19-1) will compete in Nantes for the first time. Riding a nine-fight win streak, Abdouraguimov is known for his high-level grappling and unorthodox personality inside and outside the cage. He will face Kevin “Air” Jousset (10-4), a former two-division champion in Hex Fight Series and a decorated judo black belt, in a clash of styles that promises fireworks.
The lightweight co-main event features one of France’s rising stars, Amin “Fierceness” Ayoub (25-5), who makes his PFL debut against Belgium’s Donovan “Vegas” Desmae (19-10). Ayoub, with 15 career finishes, will be tested by Desmae’s grit and determination as he seeks to add another big win for Belgian MMA.
Tournament semi-finals set
The night also hosts the semi-finals of the PFL Europe Bantamweight and Lightweight Tournaments, with fighters from seven nations vying for a place in the Championship and a $100,000 prize.
In the Bantamweight bracket, Baris “The Problem” Adiguzel (8-1) takes on Portugal’s Gustavo “Heart” Oliveira (11-2), whose spinning back elbow knockout in Brussels gained worldwide attention. Another semi-final features Liverpool’s Dean Garnett (13-3-1) against Poland’s unbeaten Jan Ciepłowski (9-0), who impressed with a debut flurry that secured his spot.
On the Lightweight side, Connor Hughes (11-2) of Liverpool faces Spain’s Gino van Steenis (6-1) after a devastating KO win in Belfast. Italy’s Claudio Pacella (6-2) meets Latvia’s Aleksandr Chizov (11-3), who is coming off a first-round knockout in his tournament opener.
Showcase bouts complete the card
Additional showcase bouts round out the Nantes card:
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Darragh Kelly (8-0) vs. Jason Ponet (25-19-1) – Lightweight
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Haider Khan (10-1) vs. Sofiane Aïssaoui (11-6) – Middleweight
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Jade Jorand (4-3) vs. Sammy-Jo Luxton (2-1) – Women’s Strawweight
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Sebastien Di Franco (10-4) vs. Mark Ewen (6-2) – Lightweight
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Maria Guedez Jr (0-0) vs. Kiya O’Sullivan (0-0) – Women’s Strawweight debut
With Abdouraguimov headlining in his home city and tournament semi-finals adding high stakes, PFL Europe Nantes promises an explosive night for French MMA fans.