PFL Dubai results: Sergei Bilostenniy stuns Vadim Nemkov to seize heavyweight title

Sergei Bilostenniy eased to victory in the main event of PFL Dubai on Saturday, dethroning champion and heavy favorite Vadim Nemkov to claim the PFL heavyweight title.

Bilostenniy (16-4) found himself in dire straits in the first two minutes when Nemkov (20-3) took him down, moved to mount and threatened with a belly-down armbar. Beyond that, though, the challenger’s physical advantages began to dictate the action, keeping former light heavyweight Nemkov perpetually on the back foot as Bilostenniy marched him down. 

By the final round, Nemkov appeared to be overmatched. His takedowns had proved ineffective outside of one early onslaught, and although his strikes were more numerous than his 31-year-old opponent’s, the crimson mask he wore told it’s own story. 

When the bout ended, Bilostenniy bounded over the cage in celebration and Nemkov shook his head as if both were expecting the unanimous decision being declared in the Bilostenniy’s favor, which it was by scores of 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47.

If the rumors are true, and Patrick Habirora (10-0) is on the short list to be PFL’s new poster boy for Dubai events, he provided perfect proof of concept with his first-round submission win over Omar El Dafrawy in Saturday’s co-main event. 

“The Belgian Bomber” dominated the striking exchanges and gave a great account of his grappling when El Dafrawy (16-7) shot in for a takedown. Although his behind was briefly on the mat, Habirora locked up a high-elbow guillotine on his way back to his feet. He only released it to allow his opponent’s limp body to crash onto the canvas in a fashion that bore a stark resemblance to Jon Jones’ 2011 finish of Lyoto Machida. 

Habirora appealed to newly appointed PFL CEO Nakisa Bidarian for a shot at welterweight champion Thad Jean in his post-fight interview.

“Nakisa, boss, next is the belt!” he shouted. “Let’s go!” 

Elsewhere on the card, hometown hero Pouya Rahmani’s desire to fight Francis Ngannou hit a 250-pound speed bump as he was outclassed by Fedor Emelianenko’s student, Oleg Popov (24-2), in their heavyweight clash. The undefeated Dubai native forecasted a demolition job of the Russian veteran, but failed to string together any meaningful offense outside of a bone-shaking hook that landed in the first round. 

Visibly exhausted after dropping the opening frame, Rahmani (6-1) became a passenger over the remaining 10 minutes as Popov worked through a “misery-inducing” display, as described by PFL commentator Sean O’Connell. 

Chelsea midfield maestro Cole Palmer was on-site to watch fellow Mancunian Lewis McGrillen (14-2) record a signature knockout over Nawras Abzakh (15-7) in the opening bout of the main card. 

McGrillen had to stave off several takedown attempts from the PFL MENA champion before buckling Abzakh with a leaping knee in the final seconds of the round. After the bell rang, Abzakh failed to return to his corner, prompting the referee to wave off the fight. McGrillen hit Palmer’s signature “cold” goal celebration to mark the occasion. 

In the featured bout of the preliminary card, former UFC fighter Shem Rock (12-4-1) suffered a violent knockout at the hands of fellow Liverpudlian, Connor Hughes (13-3), in his promotional debut.

The Next Generation fighter was forced to shave his head in order to make the lightweight limit, but it was all for nought, with Rock’s famed teammate Paddy Pimblett watching on as he was rendered unconscious by a brutal Hughes combination. 

Earlier in the night, one-time Bellator title challenger Adam Borics (21-4) put the first blemish on Khasan Magomedshapirov’s record after being dropped in the early exchanges of their featherweight bout.

After dominating the majority of the round, Magomedshapirov (11-1) found himself locked in a triangle before submitting to the Hungarian standout. 

PFL Dubai full results and highlights:

Heavyweight championship: Sergei Bilostenniy def. Vadim Nemkov via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)

Welterweight: Patrick Habirora def. Omar El Dafrawy via submission (guillotine) at 3:11 of R1 | Watch finish

Heavyweight: Pouya Rahmani def. Oleg Popov via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-27)

Bantamweight: Joji Goto def. Sergio Pettis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bantamweight: Lewis McGrillen def. Nawras Abzakh via KO (retirement) at 5:00 of R1 | Watch finish

Lightweight: Connor Hughes def. Shem Rock via KO (punch) at 1:04 of R2 | Watch finish

Welterweight: Saygid Izagakhmaev def. David Martinez via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:27 of R3

Lightweight: Akhmed Magomedov def. Alexei Pergande via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Featherweight: Adam Borics def. Khasan Magomedsharipov via submission (triangle choke) at 4:17 of R1 | Watch finish

Heavyweight: Denis Goltsov def. Maxwell Djantou Nana via TKO (right hook and punches) at 3:41 of R1 | Watch finish

Welterweight: Ernesto Rodriguez via. Rhys McKee via TKO (punches) at 2:28 of R1 | Watch finish

Light heavyweight: Khabib Nabiev def. Styve Ngono via TKO (punches) at :46 of R3 | Watch finish

Women’s strawweight: Aleksandra Savicheva def. Jacinta Austin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27,  29-28)