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Usman Nurmagomedov and Corey Anderson Crowned New PFL World Champions at “Road to Dubai – The Rematch”

By on October 16, 2025
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The Professional Fighters League (PFL) delivered another historic night of mixed martial arts action as two new world champions were crowned at the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch held at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. The main event saw an intense five-round rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov (20-0, 1 NC) and Paul Hughes (14-3). After 25 minutes of technical warfare, Nurmagomedov emerged victorious via unanimous decision, preserving his undefeated record and solidifying his reign as PFL Lightweight World Champion.

In the co-main event, Corey Anderson (20-6) captured the PFL Light Heavyweight World Title with a dominant unanimous decision win over Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-8-1). Despite a rough start that included accidental eye pokes, Anderson’s superior wrestling and control throughout the later rounds secured his fourth straight victory and third since joining PFL. Meanwhile, in a Bantamweight title eliminator, Sergio Pettis (25-7) stunned fans with a spectacular spinning back elbow knockout of Magomed Magomedov (21-5) at 4:31 of round two — marking Magomedov’s first KO/TKO loss and positioning Pettis for a future title shot.

The event also featured key wins from rising PFL talents. Archie Colgan (13-0) continued his undefeated streak with a unanimous decision over Jay-Jay Wilson (11-2), while Jack Cartwright (13-2) made a successful PFL debut by outpointing Caolan Loughran (10-3). On the early card, Pouya Rahmani, Florim Zendeli, Mirafzal Akhtamov, Takeshi Izumi, Makkasharip Zaynukov, and Jarrah Al-Silawi also picked up impressive victories, showcasing the global depth of the PFL roster.

With thrilling finishes, technical masterclasses, and two new world champions crowned, PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch marked a defining moment in PFL’s expansion into the Middle East. The organization continues to elevate its global footprint while giving fans around the world a night of elite MMA competition and championship-caliber performances.

PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch Results

BoutResultMethod / Details
Usman Nurmagomedov (20-0, 1 NC) vs. Paul Hughes (14-3)Nurmagomedov def. HughesUnanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47)
Corey Anderson (20-6) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-8-1)Anderson def. YagshimuradovUnanimous Decision (49-45, 48-47, 49-45)
Sergio Pettis (25-7) vs. Magomed Magomedov (21-5)Pettis def. MagomedovKO (Spinning Back Elbow) – 4:31 Round 2
Archie Colgan (13-0) vs. Jay-Jay Wilson (11-2)Colgan def. WilsonUnanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Jack Cartwright (13-2) vs. Caolan Loughran (10-3)Cartwright def. LoughranUnanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Early Card Results:

  • Pouya Rahmani def. Slim Trabelsi – TKO (strikes), 2:47 Round 1
  • Florim Zendeli def. Omar El Dafrawy – Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Mirafzal Akhtamov def. Luann Sardinha – Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Takeshi Izumi def. Vinicius Cenci – Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Makkasharip Zaynukov def. John Mitchell – Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Jarrah Al-Silawi def. Gregory Babene – Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
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