What To Know
- With a lightweight title defense, a second belt on the line, and confirmed appearances throughout fight week, the focus remains on the fights themselves.
- PFL Dubai centers on confirmed matchups and established fighters, with attention fixed on the lightweight title and the personalities surrounding it.
- The Professional Fighters League brings a championship-focused event to the Coca-Cola Arena, placing titles, familiar names, and current storylines on one card.
Saturday, February 7 is fully booked on the combat sports calendar. The Professional Fighters League brings a championship-focused event to the Coca-Cola Arena, placing titles, familiar names, and current storylines on one card. PFL Dubai centers on confirmed matchups and established fighters, with attention fixed on the lightweight title and the personalities surrounding it.
A Lightweight Title Defense Takes Center Stage
The main event features undefeated champion Usman Nurmagomedov defending the PFL lightweight belt against British contender Alfie Davis. Nurmagomedov enters the bout holding a perfect professional record and the championship. Davis arrives with experience across major promotions and a clear opportunity in front of him.
PFL confirmed that two title fights headline the event, giving the card a championship focus rather than a tournament structure. The organization paused its seasonal format for this night, placing full attention on belt defenses and established contenders.
The Nurmagomedov Name Stays in Focus
Fight week discussion increased following comments from Khabib Nurmagomedov, who spoke publicly about his cousin’s development as a champion. His remarks circulated widely during the lead-up to Saturday’s bout. Usman Nurmagomedov remains unbeaten, holds the title, and continues his run without changes to the confirmed matchup or conditions.
Heavyweight Talk Comes From the Card Itself
Heavyweight Pouya Rahmani, who resides in Dubai, enters PFL Dubai following public statements aimed at Francis Ngannou. Rahmani questioned Ngannou’s current motivation and also addressed his own scheduled opponent, UFC veteran Karl Williams.
Rahmani also shared that his longtime coach was killed during protests in Iran. He stated that the upcoming fight carries personal significance connected to that loss. The bout itself remains unchanged, with both fighters confirmed for the card.
Dakota Ditcheva Withdraws Due to Injury
PFL confirmed that Dakota Ditcheva withdrew from the event after sustaining an injury. Ditcheva holds an unbeaten professional record and was scheduled to face Denise Kielholtz. Her withdrawal removes a high-profile matchup, though the remainder of the fight card proceeds as planned.
Open Workout Brings Public Access Ahead of Fight Night
Ahead of Saturday’s event, PFL hosted its first open workout in Dubai at Global Village on February 4. Fighters scheduled for the card appeared on the main stage, with Dan Hardy hosting the session. The workout was open to the public and drew attention throughout fight week.
PFL Dubai places championship bouts, recognized names, and current storylines on one card without altering the matchups fans expect. With a lightweight title defense, a second belt on the line, and confirmed appearances throughout fight week, the focus remains on the fights themselves. When the cage door closes at Coca-Cola Arena, the night stands on its scheduled matchups and official outcomes.
