The Professional Fighters League kicked off 2026 in a big way on Saturday, with two title fights headlined by PFL: Road to Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE.
In the first, the co-main event of the evening found the vacant welterweight title bordering between Ramazan Kuramagomedov and Shamil Musaev. Kuramagomedov was the last Bellator MMA welterweight champion, a distinction he earned after the PFL purchased the rival promotion.
Musaev had won the PFL welterweight tournament in 2024 but missed all of 2025, fighting for the first time in over a year.
Both men were from Russia and both were undefeated before PFL: Road to Dubai, although that was clearly about to change.
Kuramagomedov claimed the first significant right hand strike about a minute later, leading to a tussle along the fence. Musaev stood with his back against the fence and found himself eating hammer fists and knees up to his thigh. With one underhook in, Kuramagomedov was in the driver’s seat, but what he apparently couldn’t do was get the fight to the mat. Instead, Musaev defended, landed a knee, came off the fence and fired another knee… then connected low.
That led to a pause in the action, but only briefly, as Kuramagomedov signaled to referee “Big” John McCarthy that he could continue. Back on the road, he hit a leg kick and bullied Musaev back to the fence.
The second round was fairly tight, with Kuramagomedov opening late in the frame with just over a minute on the clock. There he delivered a powerful takedown, although Musaev was immediately back to his feet. A fight ensued along the fence, with the referee issuing a warning for holding the fence. Musaev also showed damage, after a knee opened a gash in the forehead.
Musaev appeared to want to move forward early in the third, but was quickly forced onto his back foot. Musaev then changed levels under a punch, which ultimately grazed him and left him scrambling. Once 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 watch, but with more than three minutes on the clock he was in the background. Kuramagomedov landed elbows as Musaev tried to return to the fence. For his part, Kuramagomedov seemed comfortable with that, no doubt considering the success he’s had wrestling against the cage.
When they got there, Musaev gave up his back, eventually allowing Kuramagomedov to land a choke and a body triangle. The choke wasn’t all the way in, but the body triangle was. A second choke attempt was much tighter, but Musaev took it out, turned in and was able to reverse, putting himself on top with just under 30 seconds left. Not enough time to retake the ground, but certainly a morale boost.
More fencing from Kuramagomedov early in the fourth round, but Musaev was able to peel him off and escape. The problem was that Musaev didn’t survive, but he wasn’t doing well. Not much offense, with Kuramagomedov in control more often than not. 90 seconds later and an entry slam for Kuramagomedov. Musaev was driven into the fence again, though he was barely able to fend off the ensuing takedown attempt and even land a knee of his own.
Finally, towards the end of the round, Kuramagomedov was under fire. Being a little tired, he fell to his knees while Musaev fired punches from the back. Kuramagomedov covered up, worked to a three-point stance and then ate a huge illegal knee. Although the foul was partially blocked, it was egregious and Big John picked up a point for the foul. What might have been Shamil Musaev’s best round was now a wash.
If there had been any doubt about whether Musaev needed a finish to win gold on Saturday, the points deduction in round four answered that question. And as a result, he came out like a man possessed, putting the fight down, putting Kuramagomedov on his back and sitting on his knee on his stomach. However, he could not stop Ramazan; instead, Kuramagomedov got back to his feet, reversed his position and drove Musaev into the fence. That led to a smooth struggle that almost saw Musaev back away, but Kuramagomedov regained control within seconds.
Time was now a factor for Musaev, while Kuramagomedov only had to survive for two minutes. He would do that, aim for a takedown in the final minute, eat a few elbows, but otherwise go free.
The worst MMA 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 is the first loss of his professional career, but one that can be built on.
In a shocking post-fight announcement, Kuramagomedov said it would be his last. The Russian star said he was thinking about retirement ahead of the fight. “This fight I think I have 29, almost 30 [fights, including amateur etc]. I think it’s enough.” He left the door open for a return and said ‘maybe’.
Official result: Ramazan Kuramagomedov final. Shamil Musaev by unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46)
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