The 2024 Professional Fighters League (PFL) Championship night, held at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, crowned ten new champions across the Global and inaugural MENA seasons. The action-packed event, in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation, showcased elite-level competition broadcast live on ESPN+ and DAZN.
Global Season Highlights
•Main Event: Timur Khizriev (18-0) dominated Brendan Loughnane (30-6) to claim the PFL Featherweight title via unanimous decision. Khizriev’s elite grappling overwhelmed the 2023 champion.
•Co-Main Event: Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) continued her unbeaten streak, finishing former UFC contender Talia Santos (22-4) in Round 2 to win the Women’s Flyweight title.
•Light Heavyweight Upset: Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (25-7-1) stunned 2023 champion Impa Kasanganay (18-5) with a first-round knockout in just 58 seconds.
•Welterweight Showdown: Shamil Musaev (20-0-1) handed Magomed Umalatov (17-1) his first career loss with a second-round TKO to secure the belt.
•Lightweight Gold: Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2) knocked out Brent Primus (15-4) in Round 3, adding another championship to his team led by Khabib Nurmagomedov.
•Heavyweight Glory: Denis Goltsov (36-8) submitted Oleg Popov (19-2) in the first round, finally claiming the heavyweight title after multiple attempts.
MENA Season Champions
•Featherweight: Abdullah Al-Qahtani (10-2) electrified the hometown crowd with a first-round TKO of Marouane Bellagouit (6-1).
•Welterweight: Omar El Dafrawy (13-6) stunned Mohammad Alaqraa (7-1) with a vicious left hook, earning a second-round TKO.
•Bantamweight: Ali Taleb (12-1) delivered a brutal first-round KO against Rachid El Hazoume (15-4) to claim the title.
•Lightweight: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (7-2) earned a unanimous decision victory over Georges Eid (10-5), becoming the first PFL MENA Lightweight Champion.
•Women’s Featherweight: Hattan Alsaif (3-0) showcased her striking power, stopping Lilia Osmani (0-1) with a knee to remain undefeated.
Showcase Bouts
•Mansour Barnaoui submitted Alfie Davis with a rear-naked choke in Round 3.
•Slim Trabelsi edged Abraham Bably in a gritty heavyweight split-decision win.
•Gabriel Braga outstruck Jeremy Kennedy for a unanimous decision victory.
•Asael Adjoudj secured a dramatic guillotine choke finish over Jose Perez in the third round.
•Costello van Steenis opened the night with a spectacular head-kick KO of Joao Dantas in under a minute.
The PFL’s expansion into the MENA region marked a historic step, with fighters delivering unforgettable performances that cemented their places in MMA history.
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