Nurmagomedov starts with some stinging kicks, flicking to the head and coming down low to target Davis' legs.

"He's not dynamic," is the shout from Davis' corner.

Nurmagomedov throws up another high kick but Davis reads it and blocks away.

It's a patient start.

A final message from referee Kerry Hatley and a touch of gloves.

Here we go.

Image source, PFL

Alfie Davis is still dancing...

There are more boos for the Londoner as his record is announced but he's loving every second of it and cups his hand to his ear.

Davis ended 2025 as the PFL lightweight tournament winner. Can he kick off 2026 by winning the PFL lightweight world title?

Dan Hardy
PFL chief on DAZN

The quality of mixed martial arts in that Nurmagomedov corner - insane. The level of achievement, insane.

Looks like majority of you are backing the defending champion...

A very different cagewalk from Usman Nurmagomedov.

The Russian looks focused and there's not a dance move in sight.

Among the team walking with Nurmagomedov are coach and cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov and UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.

Image source, PFL

Alfie Davis is still dancing.

He really loves this song - 'Champion' by Buju Banton.

With lyrics like "walk like a champion, talk like a champion," it might be just what Davis needs to get in the right mindset.

Ahhh.

As the music cuts Davis is getting heavily booed by a seemingly pro Usman Nurmagomedov crowd in Dubai.

Challenger Alfie Davis is first to make his walk to the cage.

Davis might be going up against one of the most feared lightweights on the MMA scene but he looks super confident.

The Londoner is strutting and dancing his way through the back corridors before taking a moment at the top of the ramp.

Image source, PFL

Image source, PFL

Image source, Getty Images

Usman Nurmagomedov has a big reputation to uphold the combat world.

He is the cousin of former UFC champion Khabib and affiliated with one of the most dominant mixed martial arts teams in the history of the sport - Eagles MMA.

Khabib, who retired in 2020 after winning all 29 of his fights, has since moved into coaching and will be in Usman's corner tonight.

The 37-year-old has referred to Alfie Davis as a "dangerous fighter", but the Briton is unsure of the intention behind that praise.

"I've had it before - if you're over confident you underperform, so I think Khabib is trying to make Usman not as confident," Davis told BBC Sport.

"Equally, it is good to get praise from Khabib."

Image source, Getty Images

Alfie Davis proved he is capable of an upset when beating Gadzhi Rabadanov to win the PFL lightweight tournament in August.

Russia's Rabadanov was the defending champion and on a 12-fight win streak - dating back to 2020 - but Davis prevailed by unanimous decision.

Davis faces another monumental task tonight when he goes up against the undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title, but he is taking confidence from his last trip to the cage.

"Now I've beaten one of the best guys in the world I can assure myself it's doable," Davis told BBC Sport.

"Usman's 20-0 and everyone thinks I'm going to lose. So I'm like the joker in the pack."

Usman Nurmagomedov came through two close contests with Irishman Paul Hughes in 2025 - winning both by decision - to retain the PFL lightweight world title.

I'm sure Alfie Davis will have been looking back at Nurmagomedov's previous fights to try and find some vulnerability.

Here's a nice little highlights package for you to try and find some.

I was just preparing to go full steam ahead for tonight's main event but I have one more line to bring you from Ramazan Kuramagomedov.

The newly crowned PFL welterweight champion says he could retire after that victory.

Ramazan Kuramagomedov has just come through a bruising battle against Shamil Musaev to win the vacant PFL welterweight world title by unanimous decision.

All three judges scored it 48-46 in Kuramagomedov's favour.

Kuramagomedov has just been speaking in the cage after this victory and thinks he suffered a broken arm in the contest.

Image source, Getty Images

When your second name is Nurmagomedov, chances are you're usually pretty good at MMA, but Alfie Davis doesn't believe Usman is as good as his cousin Khabib, or their team-mate Islam Makhachev.

Khabib is a former UFC lightweight champion and retired in 2020 after winning all 29 of his fights, while Makhachev is a two-division UFC title holder.

Nurmagomedov has won the first 20 fights of his career, but his two decision wins over Paul Hughes last year show he isn't invincible, with some believing the Irishman should have been awarded the victory.

Davis is a big underdog going into the fight, but he isn't phased by the odds in the slightest.

"Just because Usman's part of that team, doesn’t mean he’s going to be as elite like Khabib or Islam," said Davis.

Plenty of stars in attendance tonight. Fighters Dakota Ditcheva and Paul Hughes are cageside, as well as Khabib Nurmagomedov who is on coaching duties tonight.

Some celebs are also there, we've seen footballer Mario Balotelli and social media personality Hasbulla.

Image source, PFL

Image source, Getty Images

Alfie Davis isn't the only Briton competing for a PFL world title in the first quarter of 2026.

Fabian Edwards is set to face middleweight champion Costello van Steenis in Madrid on 20 March.

Birmingham's Edwards earned his shot after knocking out Dalton Rosta to win the PFL's middleweight tournament in August.

The bout will mark Edwards' third attempt to claim a world title after defeats for Bellator gold by Johnny Eblen in 2023 and 2024. Dutchman Van Steenis, who represents Spain, submitted Eblen in July to win the belt.

It will be his first defence since the title was rebranded as the PFL world championship after the organisation acquired Bellator in 2023.

Edwards, 32, and Van Steenis, 33, are both on three-fight win streaks.