Tag: 2024 PFL World Championship

Dakota Ditcheva Explains Hesitancy About PFL Season Return After Title Win Over Taila Santos

After capturing the PFL’s inaugural women’s flyweight title as part of the global roster last week, Dakota Ditcheva isn’t sure about shooting for back-to-back belts in 2025. Ditcheva continued to prove that her high confidence is more than well placed this past weekend, when she figured in perhaps the most highly anticipated matchup at the […]

After capturing the PFL’s inaugural women’s flyweight title as part of the global roster last week, Dakota Ditcheva isn’t sure about shooting for back-to-back belts in 2025.

Ditcheva continued to prove that her high confidence is more than well placed this past weekend, when she figured in perhaps the most highly anticipated matchup at the 2024 PFL World Championship.

Following a title win as part of the promotional’s regional PFL Europe expansion last year, “Dangerous” got her pursuit of global glory off to a strong start with first-round knockouts of Lisa Mauldin and Chelsea Hackett in the regular season.

And after sending Jena Bishop to the same fate in the semifinal, Ditcheva booked a date with her toughest opponent to date, a former UFC title challenger in Taila Santos whom many believe did enough to deserve a victory over Valentina Shevchenko back in 2022.

The British standout, however, made things look easy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dismantling the Brazilian en route to a TKO by way of vicious body shots in round two.

Having had plenty doubt her potential based on a perceived lack of legitimate competition, Ditcheva proved her detractors wrong and then some. She’s now being hailed as among the best 125-pound fighters in the world.

Her next step, though, is unclear.

During an interview with Adam Catterall for talkSPORT MMA, Ditcheva assessed what could await her in 2025, sharing the same sentiment as many in the fanbase that another stint in the PFL’s season format may not make sense for her.

Having beaten the woman widely seen as the division’s best in Santos, Ditcheva appears hesitant to shoot for consecutive titles and is instead pondering a push for super fights in 2025.

“I don’t know, we haven’t spoke about it too much with PFL,” Ditcheva said. “I think it’s difficult because for me, I just beat the top girl that there is out there. So, if you put me back in the tournament, I’m gonna get more stick for fighting the same girls and people that are lower level.

“So, does it make sense to do that with someone that’s like, I feel like I bring in a lot of attention and stuff like that, so I feel maybe a super fight might suit a little bit better, but then, is anyone gonna watch the season without me in it? I don’t know,” Ditcheva continued. “We’ll see what happens.”

Ditcheva’s situation has proven difficult for fighters in the past. Two-time PFL title winner Kayla Harrison was notably left sidelined for much of 2023 after choosing against competing in the promotion’s first women’s featherweight season.

And this year, many Bellator fighters who didn’t cross over to figure in the PFL’s unique format have been left inactive due to event cancellations, with champions Patrício Freire and Patchy Mix among the most notable to express their frustration.

“Dangerous” will be hoping to avoid any such issues next year. Given her rising stardom in the PFL, it stands to reason that the higher-ups will want her back in the SmartCage as soon as possible.

Islam Makhachev Congratulates Teammate On PFL Championship Win

UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev watched on as another teammate claimed 155-pound title glory in a major promotion. Gadzi Rabadanov, a former Eagle FC competitor and Bellator contender, was among those competing with gold on the line at the 2024 PFL World Championship last Friday, where both PFL Global and inaugural PFL MENA belts were […]

UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev watched on as another teammate claimed 155-pound title glory in a major promotion.

Gadzi Rabadanov, a former Eagle FC competitor and Bellator contender, was among those competing with gold on the line at the 2024 PFL World Championship last Friday, where both PFL Global and inaugural PFL MENA belts were dished out.

The Dagestani figured on the main card opposite Brent Primus, whom he earned the right to face in the lightweight final by outpointing Solomon Renfro and Elvin Espinoza in the regular season before knocking out Michael Dufort in the semifinal.

And Rabadanov sent the former Bellator champion to the same fate as Dumont in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Nov. 29, dominating through two rounds before brutally face-planting the American to close the show in the third frame.

With the result, the Makhachkala native won gold in a major promotion, took home $1 million in prize money, and marked the latest from Khabib Nurmagomedov’s famed team to earn champion status.

That was no doubt unsurprising to those who’ve trained with him, one being Makhachev. The UFC’s lightweight kingpin has long touted Rabadanov for success, and he praised his teammate’s victory in a social media post this past weekend.

“Congratulations brother @gadzhi_rabadanov. I think in this Grand Prix you’re just beginning to reach your potential… And now a well-deserved rest.”

Rabadanov has joined UFC’s Makhachev and Bellator standout Usman Nurmagomedov as the three lightweight titleholders in the major US-based organizations.

In the past, Nurmagomedov has been tipped by his team to succeed Makhachev as the 155-pound king on MMA’s biggest stage. But with Rabadanov earning global praise for his 10th straight win, perhaps he, too, will pursue success in the Octagon down the line.

‘Could Smoke Topuria’ – Fans React As Unbeaten Timur Khizriev Beats Brendan Loughnane To Win 2024 PFL Featherweight Title

Timur Khizriev put a beating on former PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane to capture this year’s 145-pound gold in the main event of the 2024 PFL World Championship. Khizriev established dominance early with consistent kicks, eventually securing a takedown. On the ground, he pressured and smothered Loughnane, leaving little room for the former champ to […]

Timur Khizriev put a beating on former PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane to capture this year’s 145-pound gold in the main event of the 2024 PFL World Championship.

Khizriev established dominance early with consistent kicks, eventually securing a takedown. On the ground, he pressured and smothered Loughnane, leaving little room for the former champ to do offense.

The Russian continued to outstrike him in the second round, mixing in precise jabs and hard combinations. The British standout found brief success wtih a check hook, but Khizriev’s pressure and accuracy left him a bloodied mess by the round’s end.

The undefeated grappling specialist continued his offense before scoring another takedown. Loughnane continued to batted back to his feet and went toe-to-toe with Khizriev at times, but the Russian’s jab continued to be his key.

This pace continued the championship rounds, with Khizriev’s striking wearing Loughnane out and his grappling pressure proving to lock up his control of the fight.

One judge gave Khizriev a sweep, while the other gave him the fight 49-46.

Timur Khizriev Dominates Brendan Loughnane To Become 2024 PFL Featherweight Champion

Khizriev, the former Wushu Sanda champion, made it to the championship bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with wins over Brett Johns, Enrique Barzola, and Gabriel Braga earlier this year.

Loughnane, meanwhile, became PFL featherweight champion in 2022 but was upset by Jesus Pinedo in 2023. He made it to his second PFL final today with wins over Pedro Carvalho, Justin Gonzales, and Kai Kamaka III during the regular season.

VIDEO: Impa Kasanganay ‘Absolutely Murdered’ In Sub-Minute Finish At 2024 PFL World Championship

Turkmenistan now has an MMA world champion after Dovlet Yagshimuradov needed less than a minute to put away Impa Kasanganay and become the 2024 PFL light heavyweight champion. The two brought the action right away with a pair of exchanges. It was in the second, near the edge of the cage, when Yagshimuragdov rocked the […]

Turkmenistan now has an MMA world champion after Dovlet Yagshimuradov needed less than a minute to put away Impa Kasanganay and become the 2024 PFL light heavyweight champion.

The two brought the action right away with a pair of exchanges. It was in the second, near the edge of the cage, when Yagshimuragdov rocked the former UFC fighter and 2023 PFL champ with a couple of counterpunches.

Yagshimuradov then landed a series of uppercuts to drop Kasanganay and put away his hopes of back-to-back titles.

Dovlet Yagshimuradov Finishes Impa Kasanganay In 58 Seconds, Captures PFL Light Heavyweight Championship

Yagshimuradov joined the PFL earlier this year after the promotion’s purchase of Bellator. He reached today’s title fight in Riyadh after wins over Jakob Nedoh, Simon Biyong, and 2022 PFL champion Rob Wilkinson.

Kasanganay, meanwhile, was one of MMA’s top underdog stories of 2023, going from sleeping in his car to defeating Josh Silveira to become PFL light heavyweight champion.

After a competitive loss to Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen this past February, Kasanganay reached the 205-pound final for the second year in a row with wins over Alex Polizzi, Nedoh, and Silveira.

VIDEO: Shamil Musaev Wins Battle Of Undefeated Russians With Nasty Left Hook, Nets PFL Welterweight Title

Shamil Musaev is the 2024 PFL welterweight champion after coming out on top in the battle of the undefeated Russian competitors. He improved to 20-0-1 by stopping Magomed Umalatov in the third round with a devastating left hook. As expected, the fight at Friday’s event in Riyadh was incredibly strategic and both men weren’t willing […]

Shamil Musaev is the 2024 PFL welterweight champion after coming out on top in the battle of the undefeated Russian competitors. He improved to 20-0-1 by stopping Magomed Umalatov in the third round with a devastating left hook.

As expected, the fight at Friday’s event in Riyadh was incredibly strategic and both men weren’t willing to risk over-asserting themselves. With that, there was a lot of feeling out and reads in-between the action.

Umalatov appeared to be building into the fight following a slow start, but everything that Musaev did, he did it well in order to keep his opponent guessing.

Whether it was his quick strikes and exits or his world-class takedown defense, the champion started ahead of Umalatov and maintained that lead throughout before landing the ruthless shot that secured him his third finish of the year.

Watch another great finish from the 2024 PFL World Championship in Saudi Arabia that was perfectly set up by a feint from the promotion’s latest welterweight king below.

The grappling exchanges were always going to be fascinating between these two, and though we only got a few of them, they lived up to the expectations.

The usually stoic Musaev even cracked a smile when being awarded the welterweight title and the $1 million cheque after handing Umalatov the first loss of his 18-fight pro career.

‘Million Dollar Faceplant’ – Fans React As Gadzhi Rabadanov Becomes Latest From Team Khabib To Win Gold At PFL World Championship

Dagestan now has another world champion in MMA after Gadzhi Rabadanov pulled off a strong finish of Brent Primus to become this year’s lightweight title winner at the 2024 PFL World Championship in Saudi Arabia. Rabadanov and Primus traded strikes early, with the former landing low kicks and his American counterpart responding with elbows and […]

Dagestan now has another world champion in MMA after Gadzhi Rabadanov pulled off a strong finish of Brent Primus to become this year’s lightweight title winner at the 2024 PFL World Championship in Saudi Arabia.

Rabadanov and Primus traded strikes early, with the former landing low kicks and his American counterpart responding with elbows and submission attempts when the fight went to the ground.

Primus notably looked for a guillotine, and even a rare gogoplata. The Dagestani defended the attempts well, delivering ground-and-pound as the ex-Bellator champ looked for openings.

Rabadanov dropped Primus in the second round with a strong right hand. Despite the veteran’s attempts at the rubber guard and more submission attempts, the Russian controlled the fight on the mat and landed some notable ground strikes.

The teammate of reigning UFC champion Islam Makhachev and former kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov then put Primus away early in the third with a powerful one-two that faceplanted him.

Gadzhi Rabadanov Wins PFL Lightweight Title With Third-Round Finish

A former Combat Sambo world champion, Rabadanov joined the PFL following its acquisition of Bellator. He reached today’s title fight after wins over Solomon Renfro, Elvin Espinoza, and Michael Dufort this season.

Primus, meanwhile, earned wins over Bruno Miranda, Renfro, and Clay Collard to reach the Riyadh-held event on Nov. 29.