Usman Nurmagomedov secured a submission victory over Alfie Davies tonight at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, extending his undefeated streak to 21-0. The relative of famed UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov entered the fight with a flawless 20-0 record and gained significant recognition last year through two competitive bouts against Ireland’s Paul Hughes.
Davies, a confident British up-and-comer who earned this title shot by winning the 2025 world tournament, faced a tough challenge. Nurmagomedov’s teammate Gazi Rabadanov had also recently snapped a lengthy win streak to set up this high-profile showdown.
Defending his PFL championship for the third time in just over a year, Nurmagomedov fought in front of a star-studded audience that included Anthony Joshua, Hasbulla, and Mario Balotelli. While the matchup looked like a classic striker versus grappler contest, Usman is unique among the Nurmagomedov family—he has a boxing rather than wrestling or sambo background.
Throughout the fight, the Russian confidently battled the flashy Davies, finally submitting him with a triangle choke in the closing seconds of the first round. The next rounds saw wild exchanges of strikes from both sides, with Davies, who had never been knocked out in 26 previous professional bouts, fiercely trading shots. A brief pause came early in round three after an accidental low blow, but soon thereafter, Nurmagomedov took Davies down, gained back control, and ultimately finished the fight by choking out his opponent.
Fan Take: This victory not only cements Usman Nurmagomedov as a rising superstar with immense potential but also signals the growing depth and talent in the global MMA scene. For fight fans, his continued dominance means we’re witnessing the evolution of a new generation of fighters ready to carry the sport forward.
