The 2024 PFL World Championships proved a showcase of Russian MMA, with Russian fighters winning each of the four world championship finals they competed in to claim a clean sweep in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The main event of the evening saw undefeated Russian Timur Khizriev deliver a dominant performance to defeat 2022 featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane by unanimous decision and capture the 145-pound title.
Timur Khizriev remains undefeated #andNOW is the 2024 PFL Featherweight World Champion!#PFLWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/4co9SjSqNU
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 29, 2024
In a strong opening round, Khizriev let his strikes go before taking advantage of an ill-timed spinning back-kick from Loughnane to take him to the canvas. The Russian stayed active from the top and landed some solid ground strikes, but Lounghnane seemed unruffled as he returned to his corner at the end of the round.
Khizriev continued that strong start in the opening moments of Round 2, and briefly seemed to freeze Loughnane with a huge uppercut that appeared to stun the Mancunian. Khizriev continued to be the busier man in the stand-up exchanges as he beat the Brit to the punch and found his mark, first with a shot that left a cut on Loughnane’s nose, then with a strong short right hand to the temple.
Loughnane’s first big success came in the last minute of the round as he briefly dropped Khizriev to one knee with a perfectly-timed jab that caught the Russian coming in. But, by the end of the round, it was Loughnane whose face was covered in claret, while Khizriev seemed relatively unmarked.
Timur Khizriev left no doubt en route to claiming the 2024 Featherweight World Title! #PFLWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/xWOuRwwU3M
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 29, 2024
Round 3 started with Khizriev shooting for a takedown and, while Loughnane did well to defend, a big knee from Khizriev left its mark. And, with the Englishman seemingly hampered by an issue with his right leg, Loughnane was clearly struggling with his mobility. Another big uppercut from Khizriev sent Loughnane’s mouthguard flying, and another failed spinning back-kick attempt resulted in another takedown for the Russian.
Round 4 saw Loughnane start to find his range more consistently, but Khizriev continued to land with strong, clean, heavy shots as the pair battled to the final round. And while Loughnane attempted to push the pace, Khizriev was one step ahead as he ran out the clear decision winner after a huge display of all-round MMA skills.
Ditcheva delivers again to capture flyweight world title
Ditcheva blasted her way to the PFL Europe women’s flyweight title in 2023, and the MMA world watched with interest as the English starlet claimed a stunning second-round stoppage victory to capture the women’s flyweight world title in spectacular fashion.
Former UFC women’s flyweight title challenger Taila Santos had never been finished in her mixed martial arts career, and was expected to pose a stern test of Ditcheva’s all-round MMA game. But despite Santos’ attempts to take her to the mat, Ditcheva showcased stout takedown defence to keep the fight on the feet. And, when they finally separated, Ditcheva pieced up the Brazilian with an array of strikes from all angles.
Santos showed her toughness as Ditcheva landed almost at will from striking range. And, with Ditcheva growing in confidence with each strike that landed, the European star stepped into close range and punished Santos to the body.
BODY SHOT FINISH! DAKOTA DITCHEVA IS THE 2024 PFL WOMENS FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION! #ANDNOW#PFLWorldChampionship
LIVE NOW ON ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/cU8qbGIiSe— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 29, 2024
A huge body shot folded up the Brazilian, and a pair of heavy follow-up body shots forced the stoppage as she proved her doubters wrong with yet another devastating display of MMA striking to complete the journey from untested PFL Europe prospect, to PFL Europe champion to PFL world champion.
Yagshimuradov steamrolls 2023 champ Kasanganay to take 2024 light heavyweight title
The light heavyweight title tussle between Impa Kasanganay and Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov was expected by many to deliver a knock-down, drag-out scrap. But, when the action got underway, all it needed was one knockdown, as Yagshimuradov blasted his way to a first-round TKO finish and the 205-pound championship.
Yagshimuradov pushed forward from the opening bell, and it didn’t take long for “The Wolfhound” to find his range as he quickly established the optimal striking distance and connected with thumping, hard shots. Kasanganay attempted to stay compact and fire back with punches of his own, but Yagshimuradov was in no mood to step back. Instead, he loaded up and unloaded a heavy-handed barrage of shots to rock, then stop Kasanganay in the opening exchanges of the fight.
ITS OVER!!! Dovlet Yagshimuradov takes the 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight World Title to Turkmenistan!#PFLWorldChampionship
LIVE NOW ON ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/AkXnGGFXID— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 29, 2024
It took just 58 seconds for Yagshimuradov to capture a world title for himself and Turkmenistan as he claimed the biggest victory of his 33-fight career.
Musaev converts first season into million-dollar title
Shamil Musaev capped off a stellar first season in the PFL with a resounding third-round TKO finish to stop fellow countryman Magomed Umalatov and capture the 2024 PFL welterweight world championship.
In a tightly contested battle that saw both men wary of each other’s skills, the action went into the third round, where Musaev got Umalatov to bite on a right-hand feint, then punished him with a thumping left hand that sent him to the canvas.
SHAMIL MUSAEV “THE SILENT ASSASIN” #andNOW 2024 PFL Welterweight World Champ!#PFLWorldChampionship
LIVE NOW ON ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/SzsKwS2VhV— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 29, 2024
Umalatov tried to get out of trouble, but Musaev ensured he wouldn’t return to his feet until the fight was over, as he unloaded a barrage of strikes to his opponent to force the referee to step in at 1:44 mark.
Rabadanov demolishes Primus to claim lightweight title
Russia’s Gadzhi Rabadanov swapped contender status for the PFL lightweight championship as he stopped former Bellator lightweight champion Brent Primus to claim the 2024 title and the million-dollar prize.
Primus looked to close the distance and impose his ground game on Rabadanov, but the Russian ensured he didn’t get into any trouble in the grappling exchanges. And, when the fight was on the feet, Rabadanov showed the gap in class as he lit up Primus with sharp, well-timed strikes.
FACE FIRST KO! #andNOW 2024 PFL Lightweight World Champion Gadzhi Rabadanov!!#PFLWorldChampionship
LIVE NOW ON ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/g6Ddy1VpMq— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 29, 2024
That striking advantage paid off in the second round, when he unloaded a blistering multi-punch combination to finish Primus and score a huge knockout victory.
Goltsov captures heavyweight crown… at the fifth time of asking
In the first PFL world championship bout of the night, it proved to be fifth time lucky for Russian heavyweight Denis Goltsov, who turned an Oleg Popov takedown to his advantage as he rendered his man unconscious with a triangle choke to finally get his hands on the PFL heavyweight championship.
DENIS GOLTSOV DOES IT! HE SNAPS POPOV’S 17-FIGHT WINNING STREAK TO CLAIM THE 2024 PFL HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE!!#PFLWorldChampionship
LIVE NOW ON ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/fm0AQIZiiG— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 29, 2024
After his victory, a relieved-looking Goltsov said that he plans to return to the cage for “big fights” next year, and said that he has set his sights on the reigning PFL heavyweight superfights champion, Francis Ngannou.
Champions crowned in inaugural PFL MENA championship finale
The night also saw the finals of the inaugural season of PFL MENA, with three champions crowned in Saudi Arabia.
Mohsen Mohammadseifi outpointed Georges Eid to capture the lightweight crown, while Omar El Dafrawy stunned Mohammad Alaqraa in the opening minute of Round 2 to claim a dramatic victory and claim the welterweight championship.
Abdullah Al-Qahtani was the final PFL MENA champion crowned on the night, as he stopped Maraouane Ballagouit in the first round to capture the inaugural PFL MENA featherweight championship.
All three winners received championship belts and cheques for $100,000.
PFL World Championships 2024: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Timur Khizriev def. Brendan Loughnane via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) – for PFL featherweight world championship
- Dakota Ditcheva def. Talia Santos via TKO (body shots) – Round 2, 4:41 – for PFL women’s flyweight world championship
- Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Impa Kasanganay via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:58 –for PFL light heavyweight world championship
- Shamil Musaev def. Magomed Umalatov via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:44 – for PFL welterweight world championship
- Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Brent Primus via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 2:31 – for PFL lightweight world championship
- Denis Goltsov def. Oleg Popov via technical submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:55 – for PFL heavyweight world championship
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. Maraouane Ballagouit via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:21 – for PFL MENA featherweight championship
- Omar El Dafrawy def. Mohammad Alaqraa via knockout (hammerfists) – Round 2, 0:57 – for PFL MENA welterweight championship
- Hattan Alsaif def. Lilia Osmani via TKO (knees to the body) – Round 2, 1:37
- Ali Taleb def. Rachid El Hazoume via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:25 – for PFL MENA bantamweight championship
- Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Georges Eid via unanimous decision – for PFL MENA lightweight championship
- Mansour Barnaoui def. Alfie Davis via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:41
- Slim Trabelsi def. Abraham Bably via split decision
- Gabriel Braga def. Jeremy Kennedy via unanimous decision
- Asael Adjoudj def. Jose Perez via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 1:10
- Costello van Steenis def. Joao Dantas via knockout (head kick) – Round 1, 0:48
