Davis, like Rabadanov, was a former Bellator MMA star, but it was Gadzhi who was looking to repeat as a PFL champ, having won the promotion’s 155lb title last year.

Rabadanov fired a heavy hook inside of a minute into the PFL Charlotte main event, though it wouldn’t connect. Moments later, a connection was made, unfortunately, it was an inside kick landing low on the 2024 PFL Global champ. He didn’t take much recovery time, and they went right back at it.

Holding center, Rabadanov forced Davis to work counters with his back to the cage; Davis was happy enough to oblige, firing an overhand left with about 90 seconds still on the clock. Big windup, but it hit air. Still, Davis did find the mark at times, and Rabadanov was soon showing a bit of damage.

In round two, it was Rabadanov landing an early takedown, on top with lots of time to work. Davis, away from the fence, seemed content to hold Rabadanov in place, trying to stall his progress. Rabadanov would back off, fire a punch, and re-engage, with Davis at least getting to the cage wall. Still, Rabadanov would spent the rest of the round on top.

Round three saw Davis break out some slick elbows, even firing a back elbow on the feet as the round progressed. Rabadanov was walking the Brit down, but for the first time in the fight, Alfie seemed to be feeling himself. He added a kick to the midsection, landing it more than once. Rabadanov stayed patient as Davis circled outside. A closer third round after a clear Rabadanov round in the second. Davis would punctuate the round with a spinning elbow attack.

Gadzhi Rabadanov went back to what had worked in round two in the fourth frame, getting the fight to the ground and trapping Davis there. Davis was stuck on his back for an extended period, and even with Rabadanov doing minimal damage from the top, Davis was doing even less off his back. He had a butterfly guard in place at times, but simply couldn’t create space or scramble out. You could practically hear the tick of the clock as precious seconds dripped away.

Round five opened with the fight either tied, or Rabadanov up 3-1, likely dependent on a very close first frame. The first couple of minutes into the fifth and final round were fairly close, though just past the midway mark, Davis nearly caught Rabadanov with a knee as he shot in for a takedown. Davis might have had a slight edge in striking to that point. Still, in a close round and close fight, Rabadanov was able to land a takedown with about a minute to go. He’d finish the fight on top, and they would head off to the judges.

After a very close fight, all three judges awarded the bout to Alfie Davis, who called for the winner of Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2. Davis then offered to put the belt in next year’s World Tournament if he were to win it.

Official Result: Alfie Davis def. Gadzhi Rabadanov by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)

The post PFL Charlotte: Alfie Davis Wins Lightweight World Tournament in Close Decision Against Gadzhi Rabadanov appeared first on Cageside Press.

The pair were also former training partners, adding a little twist to the women’s flyweight World Tournament final.

Carmouche, with vastly more MMA experience, circled outside early, forcing Bishop to chase her. Two minutes in, Bishop fired an overhand, changed levels, and moved in for a takedown, eating a right hand on her entry. Carmouche, back to the cage, fought off the attempt, and remained standing, at least for the time being, though Jena was able to secure a body lock.

Round two did see the pair go to the ground, but it was Carmouche who got on top. Bishop, a highly decorated jiu-jitsu talent, was not deterred, locking up an arm-bar off her back. Carmouche hoisted her up and slammed her, but Bishop didn’t let to. She transitioned to a triangle, and added elbows on top of that! Carmouche, however, refused to be put away and would escape, soon attempting a triangle on her own. It was back on the feet where she was able to do damage however, landing a standing elbow before Bishop tied things up with a clinch.

The next trip to the canvas saw Jena Bishop hunting a leg lock, but she didn’t have it. Returning to the feet, Carmouche would start teeing off, though the round was over moments later.

Round three started with a slightly slower pace, but that didn’t matter when Carmouche exploded halfway through the round. Carmouche tagged Bishop, who rolled over backwards off the crushing right hand. Carmouche stayed right on her, dropping hammerfists on the fallen Bishop until the ref waved things off!

With that, Liz Carmouche had the PFL World Tournament women’s flyweight championship, claiming a belt in a second major promotion, though it’s Dakota Ditcheva who will no doubt be in her sights next.

Official Result: Liz Carmouche def. Jena Bishop by TKO, Round 3, 2:56

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An active first round saw both men looking to puzzle out the other, with Alves firing his right hand, and Wetzell working in kicks. Alves was able to hold center through much of the round, keeping Wetzell on the outside. He appeared to have the power advantage, while Wetzell was slightly longer, slightly taller, though Alves would find his way inside by the end of the round.

The calf kicks of Wetzell continued in round two, and at times threatened to take Alves off his feet. In all other aspects of the striking battle, however, Alves appeared to be ahead. With about 90 seconds to go, Alves landed a right to the body, which had Wetzell feinting a takedown, though he quickly pulled back. For the most part, wrestling had been a non-factor through the opening 10 minutes.

Round three played out in similar fashion, with Alves almost certainly up 3-0, likely 30-27, by the end of it. Wetzell continued with his calf kicks, but was looking tired after 15 minutes. To put a stamp on the third round, Alves landed a well-timed takedown just seconds ahead of the horn.

Wetzell went back to his calf kicks, landing a pair, early in the fourth. Taking a page from Alves’ book, he landed a key takedown, not at the end of the round but just a minute in, giving him time to work. Or, it would have given him time, had Alves not quickly escaped. After some more back-and-forth they’d finish the round grappling up against the fence.

The final frame saw Wetzell come close to turning the tables, landing a knee then pouncing with a D’arce choke. Alves somehow survived both the knee and the choke, escaping back to his feet. Wetzell tried another knee strike but wound up slipping to his back momentarily. They’d end up going the distance, with Marcirley Alves rarely in danger outside of the fifth round.

Marcirley Alves, who stepped into the PFL World Tournament on a single day’s notice to face Leandro Higo, is your bantamweight tournament winner! Another feelgood story for the PFL, which has produced a couple of those this year.

Official Result: Marcirley Alves def. Justin Wetzell by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)

The post PFL Charlotte: Marcirley Alves Survives Late Surge by Justin Wetzell, Wins Tournament Title appeared first on Cageside Press.

Gadzhi Rabadanov, the 2024 PFL Global champion, was looking to win a second straight tournament when he took on fellow Bellator MMA veteran Alfie Davis. The co-main event, meanwhile, featured Liz Carmouche, the multi-time UFC title challenger and Bellator champ, facing BJJ star Jena Bishop.

Where to Watch the PFL World Tournament Finals

Friday, August 15, 2025 sees the Professional Fighters League visiting the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. PFL Charlotte airs live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S., and DAZN elsewhere. Full results can be found below. The preliminary card starts at 6:30PM ET, 3:30PM PT followed by the main card at 9PM ET, 6PM PT.

PFL Charlotte: Rabadanov vs. Davis Results

Lightweight: Alfie Davis def. Gadzhi Rabadanov by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) – World Tournament Lightweight Final
Women’s Flyweight: Liz Carmouche def. Jena Bishop by TKO, Round 3, 2:56 – World Tournament Women’s Flyweight Final
Bantamweight: Marcirley Alves def. Justin Wetzell by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) – World Tournament Bantamweight Final
Lightweight: Robert Watley def. Mads Burnell by TKO, Round 3, 2:43

Preliminary card

Women’s Flyweight: Juliana Velasquez def. Ekaterina Shakalova by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Adryan Grundy by knockout, Round 3, 3:23
Women’s Flyweight: Sabrina de Sousa def. Saray Orozco by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov def. Vilson Ndregjoni by TKO, Round 1, 2:49
Welterweight: Chris Mixan def. Kendly St. Louis by TKO, Round 1, 4:36
Catchweight (150): Damion Nelson def. Isaiah Diggs by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

The post PFL Charlotte: Rabadanov vs. Davis Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Of course, England’s Davis (19-5-1) is confident as well, and he believes both fighters brimming with self-belief should help the PFL Charlotte main event deliver.

“It’s gonna lend to a good fight. We’re both confident, we both feel like we’ve got the skill set to beat each other,” stated Davis on Wednesday. “So I think that when we meet in the middle, that’s going to make a great fight.”

Davis is excited to show off his striking against an opponent he has called the “runt” of his team, though he walked that comment back somewhat.

“I’m excited to show all of my striking skills, because he’s got powerful hands, but he’s limited in everything else that he can do. I’m excited to show the whole array of striking – the knees, the elbows, the kicks, and just how the eight limbs are going to fare against just his hands.”

As noted, Davis has backed off the “runt” comment, though he still believes Rabadanov is not the best fighter on his team, one that includes coach Khabib Nurmagoemdov, former UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, and PFL Champions Series lightweight champ Usman Nurmagomedov.

Still, Rabadanov is very, very good, Davis acknowledged.

“People rate him as one of the best in the world, so if I beat him, then I’m undoubtedly one of the best lightweights in the world. And that’s what I’ve believed for a while, it’s just about doing it under the lights, and I feel like this is an opportunity for me to do it under the lights and gain that respect that I deserve.”

Davis also spoke about what being part of the PFL has meant for him. He arrived, as many others did, through the promotion’s acquisition of rival Bellator MMA.

“The PFL has changed my life to be honest with you. Before even the tournament, I was with Bellator, and I had a decent career and some okay money, but being able to have three fights in a year, and just financially what that means to me, and just being able to be in the peak of my career. Because at the minute, I’m in the peak of my career and sometimes people get shelved at the peak of their career. But I’m having three fights by the end of August, and hopefully having one more by the end of the year.”

“I’m really living out the peak of my career. I hope to [continue to] do that in the next few years, and that will really set me sailing into having a really good MMA career,” Davis finished.

Watch Alfie Davis’ PFL Charlotte media day appearance above. The event takes place this Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The post PFL Charlotte: Alfie Davis Believes Beating Rabadanov Makes Him One of the Best Lightweights in the World appeared first on Cageside Press.

Carmouche (24-8) has gone from Strikeforce to Invicta to the UFC to Bellator and now the PFL, and at 41 is one of the most recognizable names on the women’s side of MMA. During this week’s PFL Charlotte media day, she spoke about being invested in the future of the PFL, in part because of their willingness to give female fighters equal opportunities.

“It’s really important in trying to cultivate an opportunity for women to succeed, and to do it in a male dominated support, to show them that success, dreams, all that is possible with hard work,” stated Carmouche. “I see PFL being able to help women achieve that. Investing in the future of women, treating them equally with men. There aren’t very many organizations that are doing that, and there’s even less where women can make a living doing this. I’m all about PFL and what they’re doing with women.”

It’s worth noting that some of the PFL’s biggest stars past and present, from Kayla Harrison to Larissa Pacheco to Dakota Ditcheva, have been women.

Jena Bishop has far less experience than Carmouche in MMA proper, but the former UFC title challenger and Bellator MMA champion noted that the tables turn when you factor in her opponent’s jiu-jitsu background.

“What Jena can say over me is that she’s been a black belt almost as long as I’ve been training and fighting professional,” noted Carmouche. “As much as she’s gotten into the game of mixed martial arts later, not in terms of one of the aspects of of martial arts. In that, she has more ground that I do, and it’s just kind of putting those pieces together of MMA that she’s bringing into it.”

Watch Liz Carmouche’s PFL Charlotte media day appearance above. The event takes place this Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The post Liz Carmouche “All About PFL and What They’re Doing with Women” appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I’m very excited, but same goal,” he said ahead of his PFL Lightweight World Tournament final with Alfie Davis. “Don’t like his face, and I’ll do this.”

What sort of statement will he make should he follow up his 2024 PFL Global tournament win by being victorious in the World Tournament? “If I take this belt again, it will be a big message to the MMA world, who I am. Who is Gadzhi Rabadanov. For my legacy, the legacy of my team, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s school,” stated Rabadanov, speaking during the PFL Charlotte media day. “It will be very good. I can’t wait.”

Speaking of his team, Rabadanov admitted that at times, he sees them more than anyone. “Sometimes I see these guys more than my family. It’s crazy. A lot of time together.”

It’s been a wild ride for Rabadanov, who at one point was pondering retirement. Then, the Dagestani caught on in Bellator, and found greater success after that promotion was acquired by the PFL.

“It’s crazy. Five, six years ago. Now, what a position I have. I want to say again for everybody who’s going to watch, never give up. Never give up. All the world’s yours if you believe.”

Opponent Alfie Davis says he has a knee ready if Rabadanov tries to take him down. That left Gadzhi Rabadanov incredulous. “When’s the last time he knocks out somebody with a knee? What he’s talking about? He’s crazy. I smash him.”

As to why his fighting style is superior to Davis, Rabadanov said that “I’m a universal fighter. I can dictate my rules in this fight, you know? What’s he do? Nothing. I smash this guy.”

Watch Gadzhi Rabadanov’s PFL Charlotte media day appearance above. The event takes place this Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The post PFL Charlotte’s Gadzhi Rabadanov: “World Is Yours If You Believe” appeared first on Cageside Press.

Bishop (9-2) was not happy during parts of her past PFL season, questioning some of the promotion’s matchmaking in particular. Things have changed in the ongoing World Tournament, which has employed a grand prix format.

Speaking to Cageside Press a few weeks back, after booking her date with Carmouche care of a submission win over Ekaterina Shakalova, Bishop noted that “everything’s been good this year. A lot of the things changed with the format of the tournament. I think that’s a little bit better, and just me understanding how things work with them [the PFL], and everybody’s kind of adjusted to the changes, and a little bit more settled after last year.”

So much was unknown following the merger between Bellator and the PFL, added Bishop. “I think it’s just in a little bit better spot. For me, I just need to have clarity, and I have plenty of that. This year’s been pretty good.”

Now, she heads into a fight with Carmouche, a woman who has more high-level MMA experience than just about anyone. Carmouche, of course, fought Ronda Rousey in the first ever women’s UFC fight. She faced Valentina Shevchenko for flyweight gold, and won Bellator’s 125lb title. Bishop, however, has her own experience, as a highly decorated jiu-jitsu artist.

“I think just, there’s nothing that you can do to gain that experience in jiu-jitsu, and getting to that skill level, without having the years that I’ve had, and the tournament experience, and going up against the highest level of competition. So MMA is definitely a different thing, but my style of jiu-jitsu translates really well to MMA. So I think that that definitely gives me an edge,” she said during Wednesday’s PFL Charlotte media day.

As for taking on a veteran like Carmouche, “it’s a cool opportunity just to go up against somebody that’s been doing it so long, that’s been, just kind of like started at the highest level of women’s MMA,” Bishop stated. “She brought it into the UFC, one of the first there. It’s a great opportunity for me I think.”

For anyone viewing Jena Bishop as an underdog, well, you won’t be hurting her feelings any time soon.

“I feel like I’m indifferent. Like I don’t care. I’m just here to fight. I try to not pay attention to what anyone else says, because honestly it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is the opinions of the people that are closest to me. I know what they think, so everything else is like noise.”

Watch our interview, and Jena Bishop’s PFL Charlotte media day appearance, above. The event takes place this Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The post Jena Bishop Indifferent About Being Underdog at PFL Charlotte appeared first on Cageside Press.

It’s really no surprise to see former Bellator flyweight champ Liz Carmouche here. Carmouche was a favorite to make the finals in last year’s PFL Global season, but was eliminated in the semifinals by Taila Santos. Dakota Ditcheva would go on to win the season; with Ditcheva now the PFL’s biggest star, it seems Carmouche and Jena Bishop are fighting for a shot at the champ.

Gadzhi Rabadanov won the 2024 PFL Global lightweight season, and he’s looking to double up as a PFL World Tournament champion when he takes on Alfie Davis in an all-Bellator main event. On a 12-fight win streak and with four straight finishes, Rabadanov is looking deadlier than ever.

Weigh-ins for PFL Charlotte take place Thursday; results can be found below.

PFL Charlotte: Rabadanov vs. Davis Weigh-In Results

Main card

Lightweight: Gadzhi Rabadanov (154.8) vs. Alfie Davis (154.2) – World Tournament Lightweight Final
Women’s Flyweight: Liz Carmouche (125) vs. Jena Bishop (124.8) – World Tournament Women’s Flyweight Final
Bantamweight: Marcirley Alves (134.8) vs. Justin Wetzell (134.8) – World Tournament Bantamweight Final
Lightweight: Mads Burnell (154.8) vs. Robert Watley (156)

Preliminary card

Women’s Flyweight: Juliana Velasquez (125.6) vs. Ekaterina Shakalova (125.2)
Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh (155.2) vs. Adryan Grundy (155.4)
Women’s Flyweight: Sabrina de Sousa (125.8) vs. Saray Orozco (125.4)
Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov (136) vs. Vilson Ndregjoni (135.8)
Welterweight: Kendly St. Louis (169.2) vs. Chris Mixan (170.2)
Featherweight: Damion Nelson (149)* vs. Isaiah Diggs (146)

* Nelson missed weight by 3lbs, bout moves forward at a 150lb catchweight

The post PFL Charlotte: Rabadanov vs. Davis Weigh-In Results appeared first on Cageside Press.