PFL ‘Road to Dubai’ Weigh-in Results: Lightweight Title Fight Set
𝗗𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡 𝗩𝗦 𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝟮 🇷🇺🇮🇪
The time for talk is over!
Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes had a intense face-off in front of the Dubai crowd! #RoadToDubai | Sat Jan 25 | Coca-Cola Arena | Dubai, UAE | 11AM ET | Streaming on @SportsonMax pic.twitter.com/tLgu1MttXZ — PFL (@PFLMMA) January 24, 2025Advertisement
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.
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