Nemkov defends PFL heavyweight title against Bilostenniy in 15-fight Dubai card

Vadim Nemkov will put the PFL heavyweight title on the line against Sergey Bilostenniy on 14 November at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, headlining a 15-fight card the Professional Fighters League has billed as its fourth event in the city and its first since the promotion’s merger with Most Valuable Promotions was announced.

Nemkov (20-2, 1 NC) steps into the cage for his first defence of the PFL heavyweight championship against Bilostenniy (15-4), a matchup that gives the Russian veteran a chance to stamp his authority on the division he now leads.

The co-main event carries its own storyline. Unbeaten Belgian welterweight Patrick Habirora (9-0) makes his first appearance outside Europe as a professional when he faces Omar El Dafrawy (16-6), the inaugural PFL MENA welterweight champion, who will be looking to hand Habirora his first career defeat.

The main card rounds out with three further bouts of note. Undefeated heavyweight Pouya Rahmani meets Oleg Popov, Abubakar Nurmagomedov takes on David Martinez at welterweight, and former Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis squares off against Rizin veteran Joji Goto.

The preliminary card stretches to ten fights and includes a featherweight clash between Khasan Magomedsharipov and Adam Borics, a heavyweight contest pitting Denis Goltsov against Maxwell Djantou Nana, and a women’s strawweight bout between Aleksandra Savicheva and Jacinta Austin.

Full card

Main card

Heavyweight title: Vadim Nemkov vs. Sergey Bilostenniy

Welterweight: Patrick Habirora vs. Omar El Dafrawy

Heavyweight: Pouya Rahmani vs. Oleg Popov

Welterweight: Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. David Martinez

Bantamweight: Sergio Pettis vs. Joji Goto

Preliminary card

Lightweight: Shem Rock vs. Connor Hughes

Bantamweight: Lewis McGrillen-Evans vs. Nawras Abzakh

Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj vs. Movlid Khaybulaev

Lightweight: Alexei Pergande vs. Akhmed Magomedov

Featherweight: Khasan Magomedsharipov vs. Adam Borics

Heavyweight: Denis Goltsov vs. Maxwell Djantou Nana

Welterweight: Ernesto Rodriguez vs. Rhys McKee

Light heavyweight: Khabib Nabiev vs. Styve Ngono Essono

Welterweight: Khamzat Abaev vs. Leon Hill

Women’s strawweight: Aleksandra Savicheva vs. Jacinta Austin