The
Professional Fighters League’s first event of the year will
feature a lightweight title fight.

The
PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series weigh-ins took place this
morning, which locked in the card. The event will be headlined by
Bellator MMA lightweight champion Usman
Nurmagomedov putting his title on the line against Paul
Hughes. Both men made weight, as did most of the card with the
exception of Kenny
Mokhonoana (147) and Ahmed Sami
(199.6). While the former eclipsed the featherweight cap by one
pound for his fight against Ibragim
Ibragimov, Sami was unable to reach the pre-agreed 195-pound
catchweight with Tarek
Suleiman. The fights will both move forward, with the heavy
fighters fined undisclosed percentages of their purses.

Undefeated as a professional, Nurmagomedov (18-0, 1 NC) is coming
off a successful title defense over Alexandr
Shabliy. Since winning the title over Patricky
Freire in 2022, the Dagestani fighter has defended against
Benson
Henderson and Brent
Primus–although the latter was later overturned due to a
failed drug test–along with Shabliy. Nurmagomedov stepped on the
scale at 154.9 pounds.

Meanwhile, this marks the biggest fight in the career of Hughes
(13-1). „Big News“ is riding an impressive seven-fight win streak
that includes a split-decision win over A.J. McKee and
a TKO stoppage against Bobby King.
The Irish fighter is best known for his successful stint in Cage
Warriors. The challenger officially weighed 155 pounds.

PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series will stream live on Max starting
at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT on Saturday morning.

PFL Road to Dubai Weigh-in Results:

Usman
Nurmagomedov (154.9) vs. Paul Hughes
(155)
Tim
Johnson (264.2) vs. Vadim
Nemkov (242.4)
Nathan
Kelly (145.6) vs. Akhmed
Magomedov (145.7)
Ibragim
Ibragimov (146) vs. Kenny
Mokhonoana (147)*
Cleiver
Fernandes (135.9) vs. Renat
Khavalov (136)
Tarek
Suleiman (194) vs. Ahmed Sami
(199.6)**
Mirafzal
Akhtamov (156) vs. Mike
Thompson (155.4)
Hadi
Omar Al Hussaini (125.3) vs. Ruel
Panales (126)
John
Mitchell (155.2) vs. Souhil
Tahiri (155.8)
Haider
Khan (185.5) vs. Mostafa
Rashed Nada (184.6)

* Mokhonoana missed weight by one pound and has been fined a
percentage of his purse.
** Sami missed weight for his 195-pound catchweight by 3.6
pounds and has been fined a percentage of his purse.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

Internationaler Kampfkunst und Kampfsport Kleinanzeiger