Sergei Bilostenniy Dethrones Vadim Nemkov to Claim PFL Heavyweight Championship in DubaiPFL Dubai Results
The PFL Heavyweight Championship was on the line at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, as the promotion brought its heavyweight division into the spotlight with a championship clash between two familiar faces.
Preview- Former teammates turned opponents, as reigning champion Vadim Nemkov put his title on the line against Sergei Bilostenniy. Nemkov entered the contest looking to make the first successful defense of his championship, while Bilostenniy had the opportunity to dethrone the champion and establish himself as the new king of the PFL heavyweight division.
With familiarity on both sides and championship stakes at the highest level, the matchup presented an intriguing clash between former training partners with a shared history and a common goal of reaching the top of the division.
Recap
The heavyweight title changed hands in Dubai.
The PFL has a new heavyweight champion. Sergei Bilostenniy dethroned his former teammate Vadim Nemkov at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
It looked like it would be a quick night of work for Nemkov after he easily took Bilostenniy down in the opening round. Nemkov advanced to mount and attacked with an armbar. However, once Bilostenniy escaped the position, he made sure the fight never returned to the mat.
Bilostenniy pressured forward, opening a gash beneath Nemkov’s left eye and causing significant swelling with a steady barrage of hammering punches. It was an economical, strategic, and ultimately championship-winning performance from Bilostenniy.
Belgian prospect Patrick Habirora added another highlight to his growing reel and potentially secured himself a shot at a world title in the co-main event.
Habirora heard the criticism following his win over Benson Henderson, with many pointing to the former UFC champion’s age and decline. This time, the 25-year-old traveled into enemy territory and showcased another dimension of his game.
After being taken down by Omar El Dafrawy, Habirora scrambled back to his feet while threading his left arm underneath El Dafrawy’s neck. He connected his hands, fully locked in a high-elbow guillotine, and ran El Dafrawy across the cage before releasing his unconscious opponent.
Oleg Popov collected a dominant decision victory, handing Pouya Rahmani the first loss of his professional career. Popov utilized his size and weight advantage to put Rahmani on his back, where he landed heavy strikes for the majority of the 15-minute affair.
The bantamweight division has a new exciting entrant in Rizin veteran Joji Goto, who outworked Sergio Pettis to earn a unanimous decision victory. Goto matched Pettis in the clinch, remained active on the feet, and cemented his victory with his grappling in the third round.
Lewis McGrillen opened the main card with a last-second finish of Nawras Abzakh. McGrillen came out of the gate aggressively, forcing Abzakh into exchanges in the pocket. In the closing moments of the first round, McGrillen followed a left hook with a left knee that sent Abzakh to the canvas just before the bell. Abzakh was unable to return to his feet, prompting the stoppage between rounds.
The eight-fight preliminary card featured six finishes. One that particularly stood out was Connor Hughes putting Shem Rock out cold with a left hook-right hook combination that spun Rock into a face-first fall to the canvas.
PFL Dubai delivered an exciting night of action, featuring eight finishes and the crowning of a new heavyweight world champion.
Main Card – 1 p.m. ETStream Fights
- Heavyweight Championship: Sergei Bilostenniy (16-4) def. Vadim Nemkov (21-2) by (49-46, 48-47 x2) Unanimous Decision
- Welterweight: Patrick Habirora (10-0) def. Omar El Dafrawy (16-7) by Technical Submission (High Elbow Guillotine Choke) 3:11 R1
- Heavyweight: Oleg Popov (24-2) def. Pouya Rahmani (6-1) by (30-27, 30-26, 30-25) Unanimous Decision
- Bantamweight: Joji Goto (22-9-1) def. Sergio Pettis (25-9) by (30-27 x3) Unanimous Decision
- Bantamweight: Lewis McGrillen (14-2) def. Nawras Abzakh (15-7) by TKO (Step in Left Knee) 5:00 R1
Preliminary Card – 9 a.m. ET
- Lightweight: Connor Hughes (13-3) def. Shem Rock (12-4-1) by KO (Left Hook – Right Hook) 1:04 R1
- Welterweight: Saygid Izagakhmaev (23-4) def. David Martinez (18-6) by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 4:27 R3
- Lightweight: Alexei Pergande (8-0) def Akhmed Magomedov (12-2) by (30-27, 29-28 x2) Unanimous Decision
- Featherweight: Adam Borics (20-4) def. Khasan Magomedsharipov (11-1) by Submission (Triangle Choke) 4:17 R1
- Heavyweight: Denis Goltsov (38-9) dee. Maxwell Djantou Nana (9-3) by TKO (Jab & Ground Strikes) 3:41 R1
- Welterweight: Ernesto Rodriguez (12-2) def. Rhys McKee (15-8-1) by TKO (Right Overhand & Ground Strikes) 2:28 R1
- Light Heavyweight: Khabib Nabiev (13-0) def. Styve Ngono (8-2) by TKO (Ground Strikes) 0:45 R3
- Women’s Strawweight: Aleksandra Savicheva (9-2) def. Jacinta Austin (9-3) by (29-28, 30-27 x2) Unanimous Decision
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