Alfie Davis Shocks and Conquers the PFL Lightweight World Tournament
British lightweight fighter Alfie Davis starred in a stunning victory by winning the 2025 PFL Lightweight World Tournament, defeating Gadzhi Rabadanov last Friday.
Davis (20-5-1) defeated Rabadanov (26-5-2) by unanimous decision of the judges, with scores of 48-47. This fight, in the 155-pound category, was the main event of the PFL World Tournament held at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.
I want the winner of the fight between Hughes and Nurmagomedov, and then I want to put that belt in the [World Tournament 2026] next year.
Alfie Davis
After his triumph, 22-year-old Davis expressed his desire to face the winner of the PFL lightweight title fight, scheduled for October, between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes.
The current PFL format separates the World Tournament from the lightweight championship, meaning Davis won the tournament and the $500,000 prize, but is not considered the promotion’s champion nor is guaranteed a title shot. Davis seeks not only to fight for the belt, but also to bring it to the tournament, as he considers the current structure confusing.
Davis’ performance on Friday was outstanding, given that Rabadanov was the favorite to win. Davis successfully defended Rabadanov’s takedowns, keeping the fight standing at crucial moments. Furthermore, he prevented the Russian from causing damage in the top position whenever he managed to take him down.
Liz Carmouche Crowned Champion in Women’s Flyweight
In the co-main event, 41-year-old Liz Carmouche (25-8) claimed her first PFL title by knocking out Jena Bishop (9-3) with a left hook in the third round. Carmouche, a former Bellator MMA champion, reached the playoffs of the 2024 PFL season, where she was defeated by Taila Santos.
Carmouche is the most prominent figure in PFL’s 125-pound roster who has yet to fight rising star Dakota Ditcheva (15-0). Ditcheva won the 2024 PFL tournament and has a 1-0 record this year, after defeating Sumiko Inaba in July. Ditcheva signed a contract extension with PFL before her victory over Inaba, and Carmouche used her post-fight interview to request a fight between the two. Currently, Ditcheva is recovering from a hand injury sustained in her last fight.
Marcirley Alves Wins in the Bantamweight Final
In a third final of the PFL World Tournament, Marcirley Alves (15-4) defeated Justin Wetzell (12-3) by unanimous decision in the bantamweight category.
