Top Reasons to Catch PFL Champions Series 1 ‘Road to Dubai’

Usman Nurmagomedov risks much in his first Professional Fighters League assignment.

The 26-year-old Russian will put his Bellator MMA lightweight crown and undefeated record on the line when he faces Paul Hughes in the PFL Champions Series 1 headliner on Saturday at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nurmagomedov rose to power in Bellator with victories over Mike Hamel, Luis Muro, Patrik Pietila, Christopher Gonzalez, Patricky Freire and Benson Henderson. He last suited up at Bellator Champions Series 4, where he retained his 155-pound title with a five-round unanimous decision over Alexandr Shabliy on Sept. 7. On the other side of the equation, Hughes has emerged as one of the sport’s most promising young stars. The former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder steps back into the spotlight with the wind of a seven-fight winning streak at his back. Hughes, 27, last competed on Oct. 19, when he wound up on the right side of a split decision against A.J. McKee at PFL Super Fights “Battle of the Giants.”

The marquee matchup between Nurmagomedov and Hughes is but one reason to catch PFL Champions Series 1 “Road to Dubai.” Here are three others:

Against All Odds

Tim Johnson has grown accustomed to playing the role of the underdog. In fact, it could be argued he has made a career out of it. The burly 39-year-old Minnesota native faces yet another uphill climb when he tackles former Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov in the three-round heavyweight co-main event. Johnson enters the cage with wins in three of his past four bouts. The Xtreme Couture rep last saw action on Aug. 2, when he bowed to first-round punches from Denis Goltsov in their 2024 PFL heavyweight tournament semifinal. Nemkov, meanwhile, has pieced together a stellar 12-0 record with one no contest across his past 13 outings. The Fedor Emelianenko disciple last competed at PFL Super Fights “PFL vs. Bellator Champs,” where he put Bruno Cappelozza to sleep with an arm-triangle choke in the second round of their Feb. 24 encounter.

Fightin’ Irish

All the momentum appears to be on Nathan Kelly’s side. The SBG Ireland standout carries an 11-fight winning streak into his three-round featherweight showcase opposite the once-beaten Akhmed Magomedov at 145 pounds. Kelly, 27, has finished nine of his 11 opponents during his current tear and made Jose Sanchez his most recent victim at Bellator Champions Series 3, where he disposed of the Spaniard with a ninja choke a little less than four minutes into their June 22 clash. He has not lost a fight in more than six years. On the other side of the docket, Magomedov returns to the cage from close to a two-year layoff. The 28-year-old KHK MMA Team export finds himself on the rebound following his first setback as a pro—a three-round unanimous decision defeat to Henry Corrales at Bellator 290 on Feb. 4, 2023.

Progress Report

Ibragim Ibragimov looks like a future star in the 145-pound weight class, though the jury remains out on whether or not he can meet such lofty expectations. The 20-year-old Russian prospect pits his all-terrain skills and 8-0 record against Kenny Mokhonoana in a three-round featherweight attraction. Ibragimov operates out of the same Manchester Top Team camp that produced Lerone Murphy, Lewis McGrillen-Evans and a number of other successful European mixed martial artists. He has stopped six of his first eight opponents: three by knockout or technical knockout and three by submission. Ibragimov last strapped on the gloves in October, when he was awarded a unanimous verdict over Nacho Camps in their three-round battle at PFL Super Fights “Battle of the Giants.” Mokhonoana, meanwhile, has not fought in nearly 500 days. All five of his victories have resulted in finishes, four of them inside one round. Mokhonoana last set foot in the cage at Bellator 299, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Josh O’Connor on Sept. 23, 2023.