| PFL Champions Series 3: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Professional Fighters League | |||
| Date | October 3, 2025 | |||
| Venue | Coca-Cola Arena | |||
| City | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
PFL Champions Series 3: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Professional Fighters League that will take place on October 3, 2025, at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[1][2][3]
Background
[edit]The event will mark the promotion's second visit to Dubai and first since PFL Champions Series 1 in January 2025.[4]
A PFL Lightweight World Championship rematch between current champion Usman Nurmagomedov and former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion Paul Hughes is scheduled to headline the event.[5] The pairing previously met at PFL Champions Series 1 in January 2025, which Nurmagomedov defended the title by majority decision.[6]
The co-main event is scheduled to take place a PFL Light Heavyweight World Championship bout between current champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn light heavyweight winner) Corey Anderson and 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament winner Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.[7] The pairing previously met in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix at Bellator 257 in April 2021, which Anderson advanced to semifinal by technical knockout in round three.[8]
Fight card
[edit]| Main card (ESPN+) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight | Usman Nurmagomedov (c) | vs. | Paul Hughes | [a] | |||
| Light Heavyweight | Corey Anderson (c) | vs. | Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov | [b] | |||
| Lightweight | Archie Colgan | vs. | Jay-Jay Wilson | ||||
| Bantamweight | Lewis McGrillen | vs. | Caolán Loughran | ||||
| Bantamweight | Magomed Magomedov | vs. | Sergio Pettis | ||||
| Preliminary card (ESPN+) | |||||||
| Heavyweight | Pouya Rahmani | vs. | Slim Trabelsi | ||||
| Catchweight (165 lb) | Artem Lobov | vs. | Zubaira Tukhugov | ||||
| Welterweight | Omar El Dafrawy | vs. | Florim Zendeli | ||||
| Lightweight | Asaël Adjoudj | vs. | Mirafzal Akhtamov | ||||
| Lightweight | Takeshi Izumi | vs. | Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci | ||||
| Lightweight | Makkasharip Zaynukov | vs. | John Mitchell | ||||
| Middleweight | Jarrah Al-Silawi | vs. | Gregory Babene | ||||
- ^ For the PFL Lightweight World Championship.
- ^ For the PFL Light Heavyweight World Championship.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Two World Title Fights Headline PFL's Return to Dubai on Oct. 3". Professional Fighters League. 2025-08-13. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
- ^ Martin, Damon (2025-08-13). "Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2, additional fights announced for PFL Dubai in October". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
- ^ Guillen, Adam (2025-08-13). "Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 leads PFL championship doubleheader in Dubai on Oct. 3, Artem Lobov returns". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
- ^ Wheaton, Timothy (2025-08-13). "Dubai to Host PFL Champions Series on October 3 Featuring Two World Title Rematches – Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2". MMA News | UFC News Since 2002. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
- ^ King, Nolan. "Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2 booked for PFL Dubai". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2025-01-25). "Usman Nurmagomedov Squeaks Past Paul Hughes In PFL Road to Dubai Thriller". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
- ^ Gonzalez, Gabriel (2025-08-13). "PFL Announces Usman vs Hughes 2, Anderson vs Yagshimuradov". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-04-16). "Bellator 257 Results: Corey Anderson Earns Grand Prix Semifinal Berth with TKO of Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-08-13.