DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ā The Professional Fighters League, the only MMA promotion with a regular season and playoff format, is set to expand its global footprint and run events next year in Dubai.
The PFL also owns Bellator, which it bought in 2023, and will promote its fighters as well in the Champions Series World Title event scheduled for Jan. 25, 2025, at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubaiās City Walk.
Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his title against Paul Hughes in the main event.
PFL struck a deal with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council to hold fights in United Arab Emirates. As part of the deal, PFL will look to sign Emirati fight prospects.
PFLās purchase of MMA rival Bellator was aided in part by Saudi Arabiaās recent purchase into PFL. The purchase for a relatively modest $100 million by Saudi-backed SRJ Sports Investments ensured mixed-martial arts events would take place in that country.
The agreement allowed the PFL to encroach into the UFCās Middle East territory. The UFC regularly holds events in Abu Dhabi.
On a larger scale, the investment into PFL fit into Saudi Arabiaās overall strategy of having a major presence in the sports world while putting forward the message it is a much more open society, particularly as it relates to womenās rights.
SRJ is under Saudi Arabiaās Public Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund fueled by the kingdomās oil resources thatās made a series of moves into international sports at what appears to be Prince Mohammed bin Salmanās direction. Chief among them was creating the LIV Golf tour and enticing some of the worldās top players with signing bonuses that included some in six figures.
PFL will debut in the United Arab Emirates with a big lightweight headliner.
Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0) meets Paul Hughes (13-1) in the Road to Dubai: Champions Series main event Jan. 25 at Coca-Cola Arena, promotion officials announced Wednesday morning.
The matchup is being labeled Dagestan vs. Ireland 2 ā a reference to Khabib Nurmagomedovās historic rivalry with Conor McGregor. After coming up big as an underdog against A.J. McKee this past October at PFL: Battle of the Giants, Hughes invited McGregor to corner him for a potential fight with Nurmagomedov. Hughes has won his past seven in a row.
Nurmagomedov, 26, retained his lightweight title in a unanimous decision win against Alexander Shabliy in September. Prior to that, Nurmagomedovās title-win over Brent Primus at Bellator 300 was overturned to a no contest by the California State Athletic Commission due to a failed drug test in October.
Paul Hughes looks phenomenal. I was impressed by his win over A.J Mckee.
Highly impressed.
Earlier today (Weds., Nov. 20, 2024), Professional Fighters League (PFL) signed a historic multi-year partnership between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) to stage mixed martial arts (MMA) event in Dubai.
The first -ever event ā which will stream on ESPN+ ā will take place on Sat. January 25, 2025 inside Coca-Cola Arena, and it is set to be headlined by a highly-intriguing Lightweight title fight as undefeated (18-0-1) Bellator champion, Usman Nurmagomedov, will defend against rising sensation, Paul Hughes.
Nurmagomedov most recently defended his belt against Alexander Shabliy this past September via unanimous decision, he second successful defense. As for Hughes, he skyrocketed to a title fight rather quickly. In his Bellator debut, he defeated Bobby King via third-round technical knockout (TKO) in June 2024.
Four months later, the Irish striker pulled off a major upset by stunning former Featherweight champion, A.J. McKee, at PFLās āBattle of the Giantsā event. Now, āBig Newsā is out to attempt to secure an even bigger upset by handing Nurmagomedov his first-ever defeat, while adding to another title to his mantle.
As far as PFLās new deal, the promotion outlined its plan via a press release:
āThe first-of-its-kind partnership will see MMA world champions and the sportās biggest stars from the PFL compete in title fights as Dubai becomes a marquee destination for the best of MMA. All other Champions Series events will now be co-branded as āRoad to Dubaiā, as each show culminates to the finale set in the new fight capital. As part of the PFLās commitment to developing the sport of MMA in Dubai, rising Emirati star fighters will now have a pathway to become future PFL Champions.ā
There are no other confirmed fights at the moment, but keep it tuned to MMAmania.com as more details emerge in the coming weeks.