42-years old, three years removed from his last fight after retiring. Yet for some inexplicable reason, “Smooth” chose to return to action for the Professional Fighters League in a main event pairing with the unbeaten young up-and-comer Patrick Habirora.

The welterweight fight played out very much like a Henderson fan’s worst nightmare. After trading a pair of strikes— Habirora a right hand, Henderson a kick— a left from Habirora connected out of nowhere, and Benson Henderson hit the dirt. With “Bendo” face down, Belgium’s own Habirora jumped on, adding a couple of strikes in a fight that felt like Henderson had been run over by a speeding truck.

It lasted all of 20 seconds. Ultimately, it felt very much like what it was: an unnecessary main event, another example of MMA feeding its veterans to its young.

In Henderson’s case, that story has already been played out, after he wrapped up his career with a title fight loss to Usman Nurmagomedov in Bellator. At least in that instance, Henderson had picked up a couple of wins, and was in the promotion’s lightweight grand prix. Three years later, all that was learned was something most fight fans already know: father time is undefeated in the end.

Patrick Habirora, improving to 9-0 with the victory at the ING Arena, was all class afterwards, using his platform to send a positive message. “This is a sport. Benson and I maybe later on tonight will be sharing a drink together. We are not adversaries in this world full of wars and conflict. We need to use this to say, you must respect your others, you must respect everyone.”

He went on to call out Mike Perry, who recently picked up a win over Nate Diaz at the inaugural MVP MMA event last weekend. “I heard there was talk about Mike Perry. Hey, Mike Perry, if you’re coming to PFL, let’s go!”

Whether Perry, also under contract with BKFC, would be interested in signing with the PFL remains to be seen — but his stock is likely the highest it has been in years.

Official Result: Patrick Habirora def. Benson Henderson by KO, Round 1, 0:20

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The night’s main event found a hometown favorite in the unbeaten Patrick Habirora taking on a UFC and WEC great, Benson Henderson. A former champ in both promotions as well as a contender/title challenger in Bellator MMA, “Smooth” was returning from retirement for the fight, competing for the first time since March 2023, when he lost to Usman Nurmagomedov in a title fight that was part of the Bellator lightweight grand prix.

Henderson isn’t expected to become a contender at age 42, but Saturday did mark the opportunity to get back in the win column rather than retiring off a loss. For Habirora, meanwhile, it was a big step up in competition and name value.

Kickboxing Joe Schilling also returned to action on the PFL Brussels card, having last fought in MMA in 2019. He was moving to light heavyweight to take on Donegi Abena. A pair of UFC veterans served as the night’s co-main event with Taylor Lapilus facing Jake Hadley.

Where to Watch PFL Brussels

Saturday, May 23, 2026 sees the Professional Fighters League at the ING Arena in Brussels, Belgium for PFL Brussels: Habirora vs. Henderson. In the U.S. the card streams on the ESPN App. Full results can be found below.

PFL Belgium: Habirora vs. Henderson Results

Main Card

Patrick Habirora def. Benson Henderson by KO, Round 1, 0:20
Taylor Lapilus def. Jake Hadley by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Boris Atangana def. Jared Gooden by KO, Round 1, 1:05
Naoki Inoue def. Marcirley Alves by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Asaël Adjoudj def. Keisuke Sasu by KO, Round 2, 2:22

Preliminary Card

Gustavo Oliveira def. Baris Adiguzel by submission (guillotine choke), Round 2, 1:10
Donegi Abena def. Joe Schilling by TKO (retirement), Round 1, 0:37
Movsar Ibragimov def. Shane Campbell by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:28
Khamzat Abaev def. Luca Poclit by KO, Round 1, 2:56
Adam Meskini def. Keweny Lopes by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Ashley Reece def. Rustam Serbiev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

The post PFL Brussels: Habirora vs. Henderson Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Facing the #3-ranked Storley was the #6-ranked fighter in the division, Florim Zendeli. An Albanian fighting out of Germany, Zendeli was a perfect 4-0 with the promotion and had won the 2024 PFL Europe championship. Storley, meanwhile, went to the final of last year’s welterweight World Tournament, falling short to Thad Jean in the end.

Where to Watch PFL Sioux Falls

Saturday, May 2, 2026 finds the Professional Fighters League at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for PFL Sioux Falls: Storley vs. Zendeli. The main card airs live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes in the US starting at 10PM ET, 7PM PT following prelims on the ESPN App. Full results can be found below.

PFL Sioux Falls: Storley vs. Zendeli Weigh-In Results

Main Card

Welterweight: Logan Storley def. Florim Zendeli by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)
160-Pound Catchweight: Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Alex Chizov by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Light Heavyweight: Simeon Powell def. Emiliano Sordi by TKO, Round 3, 3:05
Heavyweight: Sergei Bilosteeniy def. Renan Ferreira by TKO, Round 3, 1:56
137-Pound Catchweight: Magomed Magomedov def. Leandro Higo by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

Preliminary Card

Light Heavyweight: Rasul Magomedov def. Rafael Xavier by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
134-Pound Women’s Catchweight: Sabrinna de Sousa def. Cheyanne Bowers by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Sang Won Kim def. Humberto Bandenay by TKO, Round 2, 2:56
Women’s Flyweight: Taila Santos def. Qihui Yan by TKO, Round 1, 2:02
Lightweight: Angel Alvarez def. Bryce Logan by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweight: Brett Bye def. Taylor Michels by TKO, Round 1, 3:40
Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Karl Williams by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

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Alongside Kelly vs. Wilson on Thursday’s card, a handful of notable names including Rhys McKee in the co-main event, and Tyson Pedro. Pedro, fighting Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, competes for the first time since March of 2024, at the end of his UFC stint, after which he retired. That retirement ends Thursday.

Where to Watch PFL Belfast

PFL Belfast takes place on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The card airs live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes (prelims are available via the ESPN App). Full results from the event can be found below, starting at 3PM ET, 12PM PT.

PFL Belfast: Kelly vs. Wilson Results

Main Card

Lightweight: Jay Jay Wilson def. Darragh Kelly by knockout, Round 1, 0:37
176lb Catchweight: Rhys McKee def. Alex Lohore def. Tyson Pedro by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Light Heavyweight: Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Tyson Pedro by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Preliminary Card

Welterweight: Eoin Sheridan def. Chris Mixan by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Caolan Loughran def. Alan Philpott by submission (face crank), Round 1, 1:11
Welterweight: Omran Chaaban def. Chequina Noso Pedro by TKO, Round 2, 4:16
Bantamweight: Dean Garnett def. Ciaran Clarke by KO, Round 1, 1:52
166lb Catchweight: Pedro Carvalho def. Sergio Cossio by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
176lb Catchweight: David Martinez def. Giannis Bachar by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 0:53
Bantamweight: Sean Gauci def. Liam Gittins by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Bantamweight: Eoghan Masoliver def. Shane Mullen by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:55
Women’s flyweight: Chelsea Hackett def. Andrea Vazquez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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The undefeated McKee, a former LFA champ, did not get the memo. The Kill Cliff FC fighter started strong, relying on his wrestling to get Pettis down in the opening round, eventually getting to the back and raining down ground n’ pound.

Wrestling was the story again in round two, and while Pettis showed plenty of skill and dexterity of his back, he simply couldn’t find a way to get his offense going in more than fits and starts. In the third, it was McKee all over Pettis, getting him belly down, flattening him out, and dropping lefts and rights as Pettis covered up. Pettis was able to survive the round, but lost the war overall, or the fight anyhow. The #1-ranked bantamweight fell to the unranked newcomer by unanimous decision.

A similar fate met #2-ranked Raufeon Stots in the PFL Chicago main event. Paired up with the unbeaten Renat Khavalov, a prodigy of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Stots had a rough night at the office. Like Pettis, he went the distance, like Pettis, he dropped a unanimous decision.

The wins, and who earned them, puts the PFL’s bantamweight division in an interesting spot. Marcirley Alves, who won the PFL bantamweight World Tournament last year, is soon to take on Naoki Inoue in a crossover fight with RIZIN. The PFL has no sitting bantamweight champ, with the title vacant, and any of McKee, Khavalov, and perhaps the winner of Alves vs. Inoue could be in play.

The post PFL Chicago Sees Undefeated McKee, Khavalov Score Big Wins Over Pettis, Stots appeared first on Cageside Press.

In the main event, #1-ranked bantamweight Sergio Pettis welcomed promotional newcomer Mitch McKee to the promotion. A former LFA champ, the unbeaten McKee was getting a massive test right out of the gate.

Earlier in the night, Raufeon Stots found himself in another big bantamweight fight, against undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov pupil Renat Khavalov. With Stots ranked #2, the winners of these fights might find themselves in a title shot in the near future. The belt remains vacant, while World Tournament winner Marcirley Alves will be going over to RIZIN to face Naoki Inoue soon.

UFC veterans including Ariane Araujo, Shanna Young, Alexandr Romanov, and Rodrigo Nascimento were all in action as well.

Where to Watch PFL Chicago

PFL Chicago takes place on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. The card airs live on ESPN2 and the ESPN App. Full results can be found below. Prelims kick off at 6PM ET, 3PM PT.

PFL Chicago: Pettis vs. McKee Results

Main Card

Mitch McKee def. Sergio Pettis by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Renat Khavalov def. Raufeon Stots by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Viviane Araujo def. Shanna Young by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Gabriel Braga def. Cheyden Leialoha by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Preliminary Card

Jena Bishop def. Borena Tsertsvadze by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:21
Omar El Dafrawy def. James Vake by KO (punch), Round 1, 1:12
Paulina Wisniewska def. Kana Watanabe by TKO (ground n’ pound), Round 2, 3:15
Alexandr Romanov def. Rodrigo Nascimento by submission (guillotine choke), Round 2, 3:10
Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Dash Harris by TKO, Round 1, 0:46
Valanti Atsas def. Nate Jennerman by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

The post PFL Chicago: Pettis vs. McKee Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

One of those comes under the PFL Africa banner, once chaired by the recently departed Francis Ngannou. The season was set to launch on Friday, with bantamweights Nkosi “King” Ndebele and Michele “The Arrow” Clemente of Italy headlining the card.

Four opening round bouts of the PFL Africa welterweight tournament also adorned the card.

Where to Watch PFL Africa

Friday, April 10, 2025 sees the Professional Fighters League head to the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, for PFL Africa: Pretoria. The card streams live on SuperSport and Canal+ in Africa, and on the PFL App in the U.S. Full results from the event can be found below. The action gets underway at 12PM ET, 9AM PT. 

PFL Africa: Pretoria Results

Bantamweight: Nkosi Ndebele def. Michele Clemente by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight: Justin Clarke def. Abdoulaye Kane by TKO (Punches), Round 1, 2:12
Welterweight: Peace Nguphane def. Yabna N’Tchala by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) — welterweight tournament opening round
Welterweight: Shido Boris Esperança def. Emilios Dassi by TKO (Elbows and Punches), Round 1, 3:17 — welterweight tournament opening round
Welterweight: Rivaldo Pereira def. Kunle Lawal by TKO (body shot and elbows), Round 1, 2:09 — welterweight tournament opening round
Women’s Catchweight (118lbs): Juliet Ukah def. Jane Osigwe by split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)
Welterweight: David Samuel def. Abdelrahman Mohammad by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:03 — welterweight tournament opening round
Lightweight: Abdoul Razac Sankara vs. Áureo Cruz ends in a No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke), Round 2, 0:18
Featherweight: Shadrack Dju Yemba def. Jean-Jacques Lubaya by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Asiashu Tshitamba def. Shannon van Tonder by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Women’s Catchweight (117lbs): Felista-Mutheu Mugo def. Annet Kiiza by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

The post PFL Africa: Pretoria Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

That included middleweight Impa Kasanganay, a former PFL Global season champ, putting away former Bellator standout Dalton Rosta. The knockout came in the opening round, Kasanganay knocking down Rosta then uncorking several powerful punches on the local fighter before the ref could step in.

An emphatic victory for Kasanganay, who puts himself in a great position. Ranked #3 at middleweight, Impa is behind only Fabian Edwards, who just lost a title shot against champ Costello van Steenis, and Johnny Eblen.

Eblen, of course, was anchoring the PFL Pittsburgh main event, opposite UFC vet Bryan Battle, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 29.

Eblen immediately landed a takedown in the PFL Pittsburgh headliner, inside of 30 seconds. Then a second, hoisting Battle up and slamming him down. Then a third! These were violent, offensively-minded takdowns, and when a fourth came, Eblen looked to land punches on the side of the head. When Battle got back up, there was a knee waiting for him, and Eblen remained all over him.

Battle was getting his head rattled and his chin tested. Any time he was on the feet, he was eating knees. Any time he was on the ground, he was eating punches, though Eblen was warned to watch the back of the head. On what felt like the tenth takedown, Eblen took the back, got the body triangle in place, and slipped under the neck. The rear-naked choke was in tight, and Battle had no choice but to tap.

A statement first-round victory for Eblen, who shakes off the loss of his title to van Steenis and sets up a possible rematch later this year. With Kasanganay poised to face the winner if he doesn’t take a fight in between.

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Former middleweight champ (in Bellator MMA) Johnny Eblen looked to bounce back from the first loss of his professional career when he took on the debuting Bryan Battle in the night’s main event. Eblen had fallen to Costello van Steenis for the inaugural PFL middleweight title last year. As for Battle, The Ultimate Fighter 29 winner was returning to MMA for the first time since 2024, when he defeated Randy Brown at UFC 310.

Battle’s UFC run was cut short by multiple misses at the scale, leading the promotion to release him following UFC 319, where he came in at 190lbs for a middleweight fight with Nursulton Ruziboev that was eventually cancelled.

Fighting twice for Dirty Boxing last year, it was back to the cage for Battle, in a big test against American Top Team’s Eblen.

The co-main event in Pittsburgh, meanwhile, had former PFL tournament winner Impa Kasanganay back in action against Dalton Rosta.

Where to Watch PFL Pittsburgh

PFL Pittsburgh takes place at the UMPC Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The main card streams live on ESPN2 in the U.S., with the prelims available on the ESPN app. Full results can be found below.

PFL Pittsburgh: Eblen vs. Battle Results

Main card

Middleweight: Johnny Eblen def. Bryan Battle by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:10
Middleweight: Impa Kasanganay def. Dalton Rosta by KO (punches), Round 1, 3:18
Women’s Flyweight: Ariane Lipski da Silva def. Sumiko Inaba by unanimous decision
Featherweight: Alexei Pergande def. Julio Arce by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
Bantamweight: Lazaro Dayron def. Jacob Thrall by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 30–27)

Preliminary card

Catchweight (140lb): Jack Cartwright def. Allan Begosso by split decision (29–28, 27–29, 29–28)
Lightweight: Jakub Kaszuba def. Natan Schulte by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
Lightweight: Dakota Bush def. Robert Watley by TKO, Round 1, 0:34
Welterweight: Ernesto Rodriguez def. Masayuki Kikuiri by majority decision (28–28, 29–28, 29–28)
Women’s Flyweight: Tatiana Postarnakova def. Elora Dana by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Welterweight: Josh Fremd def. Jarrah Al-Silawi by knockout (left hook), Round 3, 3:57
Featherweight: Frederik Dupras def. Ethan Goss by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 2:46

The post PFL Pittsburgh: Eblen vs. Battle Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

In the end, his game plan cost him a world championship.

Edwards, brother of former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, was controlling van Steenis along the fence in the third round, winning positioning grappling battles but leaving himself open to damage from short elbows. The challenger dropped to one knee, a bodylock in place, chasing a takedown that simply didn’t appear to be forthcoming.

Not only was the takedown not to be found, but champ van Steenis now had an opening for downward elbows, smashing away repeatedly until Edwards slumped down onto the canvas.

The fight was a rematch of the pair’s September 2020 encounter at Bellator Milan, where van Steenis also saw his hand raised. That night was a split decision; on Friday, van Steenis left no doubt. Following the fight, which came at home in Spain (van Steenis is Dutch-Spanish), the 33-year old hollered “Viva España” the a roaring crowd in Madrid.

The win adds to the resume of “The Spaniard,” who became the first man to defeat Johnny Eblen to win the PFL middleweight title. Eblen returns to action next week, facing UFC vet Bryan Battle in the main event of PFL Pittsburgh. The winner has a good shot of meeting van Steenis next.

Friday’s PFL Madrid card kicks off a busy patch for the promotion, which is eschewing the tournament format this year. It also saw the return to A.J. McKee, with the former Bellator featherweight champion defeating Adam Borics by decision in the night’s co-main event. Heavyweight Linton Vassell was also successful Friday, notching a TKO finish against short-notice fill-in Jose Augusto.

Yet it was the van Steenis named that reigned supreme in Madrid, and not just Costello. On the night’s preliminary card, brother Gino van Steenis knocked out Mark Ewen with a perfectly placed right hand inside the opening round, for a very impressive highlight reel finish.

Official Result: Costello van Steenis (c) def. Fabian Edwards by knockout, Round 3, 1:48 – for the PFL middleweight championship

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