The Professional Fighters League kicked off its 2026 in a big way on Saturday, with two title fights headlining PFL: Road to Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE.
In the first, the night’s co-main event found the vacant welterweight title on the line between Ramazan Kuramagomedov and Shamil Musaev. Kuramagomedov was the final Bellator MMA welterweight champ, a distinction he earned after the PFL had purchased the rival promotion.
Musaev had won the PFL’s 2024 welterweight tournament, but missed all of 2025 and was fighting for the first time in over a year.
Both men hailed from Russia, and both were undefeated prior to PFL: Road to Dubai, though that was clearly set to change.
Kuramagomedov claimed the first significant strike with a right hand about a minute in, leading to a grappling exchange along the fence. Musaev had his back to the fence and found himself eating hammer fists and knees to the thigh. With one underhook in, Kuramagomedov was in the driver’s seat, but what he couldn’t seem to do was get the fight to the mat. Instead, Musaev defended, landed a knee, came off the fence, and fired another knee… only to connect low.
That led to a break in the action, but just a short one, as Kuramagomedov signaled to ref “Big” John McCarthy that he was able to continue. Back underway, he landed a leg kick and bullied Musaev back to the fence.
Round two was fairly tight, with Kuramagomedov opening up late in the frame, with a little over a minute on the clock. There, he landed a forceful takedown, though Musaev was right back up. A battle along the fence ensued, with the ref issuing a warning for holding the fence. Musaev was also showing damage, after a knee opened up a cut on the forehead.
Musaev looked to press forward early in the third, but was soon forced onto his back foot. Musaev then changed levels under a punch, which wound up grazing him and left him scrambling. Again, Kuramagomedov was able to take the fight to the fence, and this time, he turned the corner and landed a takedown. Musaev was able to keep guard, but with over three minutes on the clock, he was in a back spot. Kuramagomedov landed elbows, as Musaev worked to shrimp back to the fence. For his part, Kuramagomedov appeared comfortable with that, no doubt given the success he’d had grappling against the cage.
When they did get there, Musaev gave up his back, which allowed Kuramagomedov to eventually get a choke, and a body triangle, in place. The choke wasn’t fully in, but the body triangle was. A second choke attempt was was much tighter, but Musaev gutted it out, turned to the inside, and was able to reverse, finding himself on top with just under 30 seconds left in the round. Not enough time to steal back the ground, but a morale boost for certain.
More fence work from Kuramagomedov early in round four, but Musaev was able to peel him off and escape. The problem was, while Musaev was surviving, he wasn’t thriving. Little in the way of offense, with Kuramagomedov being in control more often than not. 90 seconds in, and a punch on entry connected for Kuramagomedov. Musaev found himself driven into the fence again, though he was, just barely, able to fight off the ensuing takedown attempt, and even land a knee of his own.
Finally, towards the end of the round, Kuramagomedov found himself under fire. Having tired a little, he wound up on his knees, Musaev firing punches from the back. Kuramagomedov covered up, worked to a three point stance, then ate a massive illegal knee. While partially blocked, the foul was blatant, and Big John took a point for the infraction. What might have been the best round for Shamil Musaev was now a wash.
If there had been any question as to whether Musaev needed a finish to win gold on Saturday, the point deduction in round four answered it. And he came out like a man possessed as a result, getting the fight down, putting Kuramagomedov on his back, and getting to knee on belly. He couldn’t keep Ramazan down, however; instead, Kuramagomedov regained his feet, reversing position and driving Musaev into the fence. That led to a slick grappling exchange that saw Musaev almost reverse, but Kuramagomedov regain control within seconds.
Time was now a factor for Musaev, while all Kuramagomedov had to do was survive two minutes. He would, pursuing a takedown in the final minute, eating a few elbows but otherwise in the clear.
The worst of MMA’s judges couldn’t have seen it any other way, and Ramazan Kuramagomedov left Dubai the new PFL welterweight champion after five hard-fought rounds. For Musaev, it’s the first loss of his professional career, but one that can be built on.
In a shock announcement after the fight, Kuramagomedov said it would be his last. The Russian star said he was thinking about retirement prior to the fight. “This fight I think I have 29, almost 30 [fights, including amateur etc]. I think it’s enough.” He did leave the door open for a return, saying “maybe.”
Official Result: Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Shamil Musaev by unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46)
