Video: PFL’s Gadzhi Rabadanov, Marc Diakiese Have Intense Interaction

There will be no shortage of fireworks heading into the
Professional Fighters League lightweight and middleweight
tournaments this weekend, two of the most anticipated divisions in
this year’s tournament. In one of the premier lightweight
tournament matchups, 2024 PFL lightweight champion Gadzhi
Rabadanov will face
Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Marc
Diakiese, who signed with the promotion last year and made his
debut with a victory over Tim Wilde at
Bellator Champions Series.

Ahead of their first-round matchup this Friday in Orlando, Florida,
the two met face-to-face for the first time and there was a loud
back-and-forth verbal exchange between both sides.

Responding to the champion and telling him to shut up and that
there are “levels to the game,” Diakiese was quick to inform
Rabadanov that for a Russian fighter, he can’t wrestle, and he gets
tired quickly. The interaction would continue in the concourse
after their face-to-face meeting, with Rabadanov getting the last
word, telling Diakiese he will knock him out.

Fighters
only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday,
April 18 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.

The middleweight and lightweight brackets should provide some of
the most exciting action of PFL’s World Tournament. Already through
two events, there have been several upsets and exciting
performances throughout, and this weekend is surely to deliver as
well. Of the eight weight divisions that are in the tournament this
year, Rabadanov is the lone champion from the 2024 regular season
who is competing in the tournament.

Last season, the veteran picked up decision victories against
Solomon
Renfro and Elvin
Espinoza to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Rabadanov would then
go on to get a second-round finish of Michael
Dufort and a third round TKO stoppage on Brent
Primus in the crowning match.

Diakiese is a longtime veteran of the sport and is clearly not
fazed by his opponent’s accolades and the anticipation around their
tilt only intensified with the two coming face-to-face.