Dubai will host the Champions Series World Title event following a groundbreaking multi-year partnership between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
The inaugural Champions Series event will take place on January 18, 2025 at the Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, Dubai, headlined by the return of the ‘Pride of Dagestan’, undefeated Bellator Lightweight World Champion Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0). He will attempt to defend his title against Irishman Paul “Big News” Hughes (13-1), who scored the biggest win of his MMA career at the PFL “Battle of the Giants” by defeating AJ McKee.
The first-of-its-kind partnership will see MMA world champions and the sport’s biggest stars from the Professional Fighters League compete in title fights as Dubai becomes the destination for the best in MMA. As part of the PFL’s commitment to growing of MMA in Dubai, rising Emirati fighters will now have the opportunity to become future PFL champions.
