RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The 2024 PFL season reached an exciting conclusion at King Saud College on Friday because the Skilled Fighters League topped six international champions on a historic night time in Riyadh.
In the principle occasion, Russia’s Timur Khizriev delivered a masterclass towards 2022 PFL champion Brendan Loughnane to develop into the Featherweight World Champion following a cushty unanimous choice.
The unbeaten 29-year-old managed the battle from begin to end towards his British opponent, dominating the hanging exchanges and grappling to go away Loughnane with a bloody face and fighting exhaustion by the top of the battle. Khizriev’s skilled MMA report is now 18-0 and he will likely be a pressured to be reckoned with after such a complete win over a formidable former champion.
Within the co-main occasion, Dakota Ditcheva made historical past as the primary British girl to win an MMA world title because of a medical two-round destruction of Brazil’s Taila Santos for the Girls’s Flyweight World title.
Ditcheva used her superior peak and attain benefit to usually beat Santos to the strike, and her spectacular leg energy allowed her to withstand the Brazilian’s takedown makes an attempt. Finally the buildup of punishment proved an excessive amount of for Santos and Ditcheva earned the stoppage with a sequence of physique photographs.
On the keys to her spectacular victory, Ditcheva mentioned: “Simply being myself. We all know how sturdy I’m and the way a lot confidence I’ve in myself. I knew I had all of the attributes to beat her, so I simply needed to be myself. Each battle for me is vital, so I by no means underestimate anybody once I’m combating the most effective. However I’m additionally the most effective.”
Talking about her expertise in Saudi Arabia, Ditcheva added: “Clearly that is one thing that may stand out for a really very long time, my first world title. But additionally being a part of this occasion and seeing how a lot it’s all rising, it’s probably the greatest reveals I’ve ever been on. I used to be tremendous fortunate to be a part of it.”
Within the battle earlier than the co-main occasion, American Impa Kasangaway entered the cage as the one defending world champion on the cardboard. Nevertheless, his reign was resulted in beautiful trend as Turkmenistan’s Dovlet Yagshimuradov produced a crisp flurry of punches to seize the Gentle-Heavyweight World Title inside the primary minute.
Within the later of two all-Russian fights, Shamil Musaev was topped the PFL Welterweight World Champion following a third-round knockout of Magomed Umalatov.
A intelligent feint from the 30-year-old created a gap for him to land a robust left hand, which despatched Umalatov to the canvas. A speedy mixture of floor punches then secured the win for Musaev, who prolonged his unbeaten report to twenty fights and one draw.
The second battle of the PFL World Championship card delivered one other victory for Russia as Gadzhi Rabadanov claimed a medical knockout of American Brent Primus to develop into the PFL Light-weight World Champion.
In a show of hanging mastery, Rabadanov dropped Primus twice earlier than touchdown the fight-ending mixture within the third spherical with a robust barrage that had the American surprised earlier than he had hit the canvas. The 31-year-old has now received 10 straight fights and boasts a report of 24-4-2.
Rabadanov paid tribute to the assist he obtained in Saudi Arabia, saying: “That is now the second time I’m right here and I feel I’ll be coming again once more. It looks like they’re my individuals, it looks like house.”
On what’s subsequent for his profession, Rabadanov added: “We’ll see, I don’t know. Proper now, I’m joyful and I don’t take into consideration something – simply my staff, my belt and what’s subsequent, we’ll see.”
The International Season Championship card started in spectacular fashion as Denis Golstov snapped Oleg Popov’s world-leading heavyweight win streak of 17 fights with a first-round submission.
In an all-Russian battle, Golstov erased the ache of final yr, when he fell quick within the remaining, by submitting Popov through triangle choke to develop into the PFL World Heavyweight champion. The victory strikes Golstov’s report to 36-8 and sees the 34-year-old accumulate the $1 million winner’s prize in his fifth PFL season.
Talking within the cage after his victory, Golstov mentioned: “I’m actually joyful as a result of it’s my fifth time once I tried however this yr for me it’s excellent as a result of I really feel my situation is a lot better than previous years. And now I’m prepared and I need a huge battle towards the large guys. Perhaps subsequent yr you’ll be able to see me within the cage once more.”
When requested who he desires to face when he strikes into the Tremendous Fights sequence, Golstov added: “After all, Francis Ngannou.”
The PFL World Championship card befell after the inaugural PFL MENA Championship, which topped 4 new champions, together with Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al-Qahtani, who claimed the Featherweight title within the Predominant Occasion.
2024 PFL Championship International Season Outcomes:
Timur Khizriev (18-0) def. Brendan Loughnane (30-6) through unanimous choice (50-45, 49-46 x2)Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) def. Talia Santos (22-4) through TKO at 4:41 of spherical twoDovletzhan Yagshimuradov (25-7-1) def. Impa Kasanganay (18-5) through KO at :58 of spherical one
Shamil Musaev (20-0-1) def. Magomed Umalatov (17-1) through KO at 1:44 of spherical three
Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-2) def. Brent Primus (15-4) through KO at 2:31 of spherical three
Denis Goltsov (36-8) def. Oleg Popov (19-2) through submission [triangle choke] at 2:55 of spherical one
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Government Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and in addition a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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