PFL Champions Series 3: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Professional Fighters League that will take place on October 3, 2025, at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Fight card
Main card (ESPN Unlimited)
Lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov (c) vs. Paul Hughes 155 lbs Lightweight Championship
Light Heavyweight Corey Anderson (c) vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov 205 lbs Light Heavyweight Championship
Bantamweight Magomed Magomedov vs. Sergio Pettis 135 lbs
Lightweight Archie Colgan vs. Jay-Jay Wilson 155 lbs
Catchweight Jack Cartwright vs. Caolán Loughran 140 lbs
Preliminary card (ESPN+)
Heavyweight Pouya Rahmani vs. Slim Trabelsi 265 lbs
Catchweight Artem Lobov vs. Zubaira Tukhugov 165 lbs
Welterweight Omar El Dafrawy vs. Florim Zendeli 170 lbs
Lightweight Luann Sardinha vs. Mirafzal Akhtamov 155 lbs
Lightweight Takeshi Izumi vs. Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci 155 lbs
Lightweight Makkasharip Zaynukov vs. John Mitchell 155 lbs
Middleweight Jarrah Al-Silawi vs. Gregory Babene 185 lbs
Background
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) recently announced that PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch, headlined by a championship double-header, will take place on Friday, October 3, live from the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
The action begins with seven Early Card bouts, highlighted by a Heavyweight showdown between former Iranian National Team wrestler Pouya Rahmani (4-0) and former Tunisian Olympic wrestler Slim Trabelsi (8-0), along with a long-awaited grudge match nearly seven years in the making as Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) finally meets Artem Lobov (14-15-1) in Dubai.
The Main Card features five high-stakes bouts streaming on ESPN Unlimited, headlined by a Lightweight World Title showdown as undefeated champion Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) takes on Ireland’s Paul Hughes (14-2). In the co-main event, former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Corey Anderson (19-6) battles 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1) for the World Title.
The event will mark the promotion's second visit to Dubai and first since PFL Champions Series 1 in January 2025.
A PFL Lightweight World Championship rematch between current champion Usman Nurmagomedov and former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion Paul Hughes is scheduled to headline the event. The pairing previously met at PFL Champions Series 1 in January 2025, which Nurmagomedov defended the title by majority decision.
The co-main event is scheduled to take place a PFL Light Heavyweight World Championship bout between current champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn light heavyweight winner) Corey Anderson and 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament winner Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov. The pairing previously met in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix at Bellator 257 in April 2021, which Anderson advanced to semifinal by technical knockout in round three.
The rematch is set! Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes 2 goes down in Dubai on Friday October 3rd
