Usman Nurmagomedov continues to build on his surname’s legacy.
Saturday at PFL: Road to Dubai, Nurmagomedov (21-0) made it look easy as he put Alfie Davis (20-6-1) to sleep with a modified arm-triangle choke at 4:41 of Round 3.
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The lightweight title bout headlined the event at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Nurmagomedov brought his signature pressure to the fight. Despite Davis’ efforts to stay busy on the feet and fend off takedowns, Nurmagomedov’s relentlessness did not falter – and ultimately propelled him to victory.
Nurmagomedov got a takedown in Round 1, and another in Round 3. The latter proved to be the ultimate undoing for Davis, who could not fend off Nurmagomedov’s grappling. Nurmagomedov sought an arm-triangle and Davis went belly-down. However, Nurmagomedov still had the arm-triangle locked and put Davis to sleep in unusual fashion.
With the win, Nurmagomedov retains his title and holds his spot as one of the faces of the promotion. He’s now 3-0 under the PFL banner after a 7-0 stint in Bellator, during which he held the now-disbanded promotion’s title.
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Saturday’s win was Nurmagomedov’s 15th career finish. Nurmagomedov, 27, is the cousin of the legendary former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Davis, 33, is also a Bellator import. He turned in a tremendous 2025 campaign, as he went 3-0 to clinch the promotion’s lightweight tournament championship.
Full PFL: Road to Dubai results include:
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Usman Nurmagomedov def. Alfie Davis via technical submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 4:41 – to defend lightweight title
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Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Shamil Musaev via unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46) – to win welterweight title
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Abdoul Abdouraguimov def. Kendly St. Louis via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
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Salamat Isbulaev def. Jesus Pinedo via submission (strikes) – Round 1, 4:57
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Pouya Rahmani def. Karl Williams via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:41
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Amru Magomedov def. Kolton England via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:37
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Taylor Lapilus def. Kasum Kasumov via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:47
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Renat Khavalov def. Edgars Skrivers via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Amin Ayoub def. Makkasharip Zaynukov via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
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Denise Kielholtz def. Antonia Silvaneide via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
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Luke Trainer def. Rob Wilkinson via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:48
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Khabib Nabiev def. Ahmed Sami via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 2:26
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Jhony Gregory def. Haider Khan via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:18
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL Dubai results: Usman Nurmagomedov sleeps Alfie Davis in rare fashion
