Alfie Davis prevents repeat, pulls off upset decision to become 2025 PFL World Tournament Lightweight Champion

Fighting out of the London Shootfighters, Alfie Davis had a strong 8-1-1 performance in Bellator after picking up regional gold. Davis has impressed in two PFL fights thus far, thanks to his wins over Clay Collard and Brent Primus. Now, Davis is one fight away from going 3-for-3 and scoring a PFL title in the process.

Gadzhi Rabadanov is one of the world champions present on the prestigious Team Nurmagomedov, training alongside the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Umar Nurmagomedov. Rabadanov ran through the competition last year, including a win over former Bellator World Champion Brent Primus to claim the 2024 PFL Lightweight World Title. Now, Rabadanov is one fight away from repeating after finishes of Marc Diakiese and Kevin Lee.

Who will end the night in Charlotte by holding up the 2025 PFL World Tournament Lightweight Title?

Round 1

Davis throws a head kick that gets blocked. Davis circles on the outside. Not much going on in the first 40 seconds. Low kick by Davis. Rabadanov with a big swing with the right hand, but he misses. Left hand by Davis. Right hand by Rabadanov. Davis accidentally hits Rabadanov low. Davis with an axe kick, but it gets blocked and nearly gets Davis off his feet. Davis searches for the counter left. Another Davis kick is blocked. Low kick by Davis. Left hand by Davis. Low kick by Davis. Rabadanov misses with the left hand.

Davis misses a left hand and a left side kick. Left hand by Rabadanov to the body. Davis with a low kick. Left hands both miss. Rabadanov with a combination. Davis with a high kick that narrowly misses. Right hand by Davis that lands over the top. Left hand by Rabadanov. Low kick by Rabadanov. Round kick to the body by Davis. Both miss a left. One-two by Rabadanov. Rabadanov clinches Davis up against the fence.

Round 2

Low kick by Davis. Another low kick by Davis. Rabadanov with a right hand and he looks for the single-leg takedown – and he gets it. Davis throws up his guard. Rabadanov lands some body shots in close. A couple of right hands to the body by Rabadanov. Davis with a close guard, trying to tie up the arms of Rabadanov. Left hand upstairs by Rabadanov. Rabadanov works into side control, but Davis quickly sits himself up. Davis moves himself to the fence, but Rabadanov is still on him.

Rabadanov moves into half guard and lands a few right hands. Rabadanov tries to pass into mount, but Davis’ guard is giving him issues. Rabadanov works his way carefully into a three-quarter mount, but Davis quickly changes it to half guard again. In the last minute, Rabadanov tries to get back into a three-quarter mount, and he’s trying to use his pressure to get off an Ezekiel choke. He isn’t able to get it but does end the round on top, dominating most of the round from the top position.

THINGS ARE HEATING UP IN CHARLOTTE 🔥

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025

Round 3

Davis moves around the outside to start the round. Right hand by Rabadanov as he tries to press Davis back to the fence. Body kick by Davis. Front kick by Davis. Left hand by Rabadanov narrowly misses. Right uppercut and a straight left lands powerfully for Davis. Rabadanov misses an overhand right. Low kick by Davis. Left hand to the body by Rabadanov. Round kick to the body by Davis. Davis misses the knee. Right hand and a left for Rabadanov. Strong combination by Davis, which included a spinning wheel kick that just misses.

Rabadanov is coming forward now. Left hand to the body by Rabadanov. Knee by Davis lands on the chest. Strong rising elbows by Davis. Spinning elbow by Davis misses. Davis continues to move on the outside. Knee again by Davis. Rabadanov catches Davis with a right hand. Low kick by Davis. Davis misses a left overhand and a side kick. Body kick by Davis. Davis’ footwork potentially giving issues for Rabadanov. Strong elbow by Davis before the end of the round.

Round 4

Front kick misses for Rabadanov. Low kick by Davis. Right hand by Rabadanov. Left hand by Davis. Rabadanov shoots in and takes Davis down near the fence. Well-timed takedown! Rabadanov locks up one of Davis’ legs and steps over, trying to smother with pressure. Rabadanov gets a knee on the belly. Half-guard now for Rabadanov. Right hand by Rabadanov. Rabadanov tries to get around Davis’ guard, but it’s unsuccessful. Davis makes his guard higher. Rabadanov lands shots to the sides.

Davis tries to use the guard to escape, but Rabadanov puts a stop to that. Rabadanov is using the right hand to land on Rabadanov. Davis appears to be trying to hold and force a stand-up, but he’s not getting that. Davis is trying to find a way to get against the fence and use it to walk up. Rabadanov trying to find his way into mount. Smothering pressure from Rabadanov is pretty much the theme of this round.

Round 5

Low kick by Davis. Strong knee by Davis that backs Rabadanov up slightly. Front kick by Davis. Uppercut misses for Davis. Knee and a punch combo misses for Davis. Low kick by Davis. Right hand lands for Davis. Left hand by Davis. Knee to the body lands for Davis to stop a punch from Rabadanov. Left hand by Davis. Left hand by Davis. Another left hand by Davis. Rabadanov with a takedown attempt, and while he gets Davis to the fence, he can’t get him down. Right hand by Rabadanov.

Rabadanov goes in for a takedown, but Davis lands a knee! Rabadanov’s takedown goes through, but Davis is in control and the fight gets back to the feet quickly. Right hand lands for Davis. Left hand lands for Davis. Another left for Davis. Rabadanov scores a takedown with about 80 seconds left in the fight. Right hand by Rabadanov, and he’s in half-guard again. Rabadanov gets into side control. Back into half-guard. Davis tries to grab a hold and limit Rabadanov’s offense. Davis squeezes on the neck as Rabadanov pours on some pressure to the body before the horn.

THE AXE MAN DID IT BY UNANIMOUS DECISION 😱 WHAT A NIGHT FOR ALFIE DAVIS!

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025

OFFICIAL RESULT

Alfie Davis defeats Gadzhi Rabadanov by unanimous decision (48-47x3) to win the 2025 PFL World Tournament Lightweight Title.