PFL Dubai: Fighters To Watch Out For
The PFL return to the United Arab Emirates once again for another PFL Dubai event and the organisations first event of 2026. The card is full of excellent talents not just the big names at the top of the bill, below are a few fighters to keep an eye on as they could put in top performances this weekend.
The event is headlined by a couple of title fights but unfortunately their poster girl Dakota Ditcheva was forced to withdraw from her bout against Denise Kielholtz due to injury. The main event features the unbeaten lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov defending his belt against Englishman Alfie Davis whom upset the odds to win the PFL 155lbs tournament last year.
Two more undefeated Russians feature in the co main event competing for the vacant welterweight belt at PFL Dubai. Neither Shamil Musaev or Ramazan Kuramagomedov competed in 2025 so will want to get more cage time this year. Musaev won the PFL Tournament in 2024 and Kuramagomedov defeated Jason Jackson for the Bellator title in 2024.
Fighters To Watch at PFL Dubai
The rest of the card is made up with some top prospects with a strong presence of Russian fighters as expected with an event out in Dubai.
The best fighter not featured in a title fight is Abdoul Abdouraguimov, at 19-1 the Russian born frenchman has been regarded as a top prospect outside of the UFC for many years. A lot of fans were surprised when PFL snatched up the signing of the Ares FC double champion in 2023. ‘Lazy King’ has spent quite some time out of the cage and will return after 14 months this weekend after some contractual disputes last year. His opponent is Kendly St Louis whom has stepped in to replace Magomed Umalatov after the Russian withdrew for undisclosed reasons.
On the prelims highly rated prospect Amru Magomedov makes his PFL debut against Kolton Englund. The UAE Warriors champion Magomedov is 9-0 with seven finishes across his professional career. Mentored and coached by MMA Icon Khabib Nurmagomedov the sky is the limit for the 26 year old lightweight. However, Englund is no pushover and comes into the bout on red hot form with a six fight win streak.
British Light Heavyweight Luke Trainer makes his PFL debut after making a career in Bellator as one of the top English prospects outside of the UFC. Trainer is always hunting to end the fight he boasts a record of 9-1 with eight of those wins coming via finish. The Englishman faces his fiercest test to date and one of the most recognisable names on the card, Rob Wilkinson.
The Australian has competed for many years in the PFL after his brief stint in the UFC where he most famously fought and lost to the legendary Israel Adesanya on the Nigerian’s rise through the middleweight division. Since joining PFL he has won six of his nine bouts winning the 205lbs tournament back in 2022.
Who do you think will shine brightest at PFL Dubai?
