Kuramagomedov Wins PFL Welterweight Gold, Then Says He Is Done

Ramazan Kuramagomedov became the PFL welterweight champion at PFL: Road to Dubai, then announced after the fight that it would be his last. He beat Shamil Musaev by unanimous decision, 48-46 on all three scorecards, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

The vacant title was on the line in the co-main event. Kuramagomedov was the final Bellator MMA welterweight champion, a distinction he earned after the PFL bought the rival promotion. Musaev had won the PFL welterweight tournament in 2024, missed all of 2025 and was fighting for the first time in over a year. Both men are from Russia, and both were unbeaten going in.

Fence work and a foul

Kuramagomedov landed the first significant strike, a right hand about a minute in, then spent much of the night pushing Musaev against the fence. Round two was tight until he opened up late with a forceful takedown. In round three he finally turned the corner on the fence, landed a takedown and took Musaev's back, setting a body triangle and then a tighter choke. Musaev gutted it out and reversed with under 30 seconds left.

The fourth round was the one that could have swung the fight. Kuramagomedov had tired and ended up on his knees, covering up, when Musaev landed a blatant illegal knee. Referee "Big" John McCarthy took a point from Musaev. Musaev came out in the fifth like a man possessed, got Kuramagomedov down and reached knee on belly, but Kuramagomedov got back to his feet and drove him into the fence. He needed only to survive the last two minutes, and he did, taking a few elbows while pursuing a takedown.

The announcement

It was the first professional loss for Musaev. Afterward Kuramagomedov told the crowd it would be his last bout, saying he had been thinking about retirement before the fight. "This fight I think I have 29, almost 30 [fights, including amateur etc]. I think it's enough." He left the door open to a return with one word: "maybe."

Source: Cageside Press