Usman Nurmagomedov submits Briton Alfie Davis to retain PFL lightweight world title
Nurmagomedov, cousin of UFC legend Khabib, stays undefeated
Russian used unusual choke to put Davis to sleep in round three
Boxer Anthony Joshua at cageside & visits Khabib Nurmagomedov backstage
RESULT: Light-heavyweight Luke Trainer returns from 17-month lay-off to submit Rob Wilkinson in one round
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Two-time heavyweight boxing world champion Anthony Joshua is at tonight's PFL event.
The PFL have posted a video showing Joshua visiting Usman Nurmagomedov's changing room and exchanging pleasantries with coach Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Joshua has taken some time away from the spotlight after the tragic events in Nigeria in December.
Image source, PFLNurmagomedov v Hughes
Paul Battison
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, PFLYou can expect to hear Usman Nurmagomedov's coach Khabib shouting orders consistently throughout the fight tonight with Alfie Davis.
Khabib usually gets very animated during his fighters' bouts and lives and breathes every punch and takedown like he's back inside the cage himself.
You might be wondering what it's like to be coached by someone as passionate and hard-working as Khabib, and an interview with Nurmagomedov in October after his razor-thin win over Paul Hughes gives some insight.
"At first Khabib was so happy and congratulated me," Nurmagomedov told BBC Sport.
"But then he said 'You have to be starting training. Because we don't have time for stopping and chilling. We're here to work'.
"I said 'OK, brother. Give me one week'. He said 'OK, one week'."
Nurmagomedov v Davis
Usman Nurmagomedov claimed his first world title, the Bellator strap, in 2022. He outclassed Patricky 'Pitbull' Freire over five rounds.
He has fought in seven world championship fights since, winning six. His 2023 win over Brent Primus was overturned to a no-contest when he failed a drug test.
Throwback to Nurmagomedov beating Freire to win his maiden world title in 2022
Nurmagomedov v Davis
Nurmagomedov v Davis
Paul Battison
BBC Sport journalist
Don't be surprised if you see some showboating in there from Alfie Davis tonight.
Davis told me earlier this week he never used to dance and taunt his opponents in the cage, but it's something he's developed as he's got more more confident in the latter part of his career.
It can appear brash at times, but Davis doesn't do it to rile his opponents - he does it to reset his mind and body.
"Sometimes you can get a bit gun-shy, or start choking a bit if something isn’t quite going your way, so a little shakeout is a good reset," said Davis.
Image source, Getty ImagesNurmagomedov v Davis
Image source, Getty ImagesAlfie Davis' win against Gadzhi Rabadanov in August was undoubtedly the biggest of his career and saw him secure a "life changing" securing a $500,000 (£369,000) victory prize.
The Londoner has already started to put that money to good use, buying a bigger house for his wife and children.
He also has plans to set up an office in his new home, leaving two spaces on the wall - one for the belt he won for beating Rabadanov, and one for the belt he'll win if he defeats Usman Nurmagomedov.
Davis got an immediate taste of his new celebrity status when he started chatting to an American women at the airport in North Carolina on his way home from his title victory last year.
"It was funny because it was like a scene out of a movie really," Davis told BBC Sport.
"I was just there with this belt and had just won a load of money, it was a celebrity moment."
Tonight's card is already well under way.
The co-main event between Ramazan Kuramagomedov and Shamil Musaev for the vacant welterweight title is just about to start.
We are expecting our two main eventers to walk to the cage between 19:00 and 19:30 GMT
Trainer beats Wilkinson by submission
With Luke Trainer securing a winning return to the cage tonight, it feels like the perfect opportunity to send some of our previous content with the Stevenage fighter your way.
BBC Sport spoke with Trainer back in 2021 when he was fighting under the Bellator banner.
The light-heavyweight has stitched together an impressive record - winning 10 and losing one - as he looks to achieve his dream of becoming a champion, but he is also determined to leave behind a different kind of legacy.
Trainer told BBC Sport how he spends time away from the cage helping his parents foster vulnerable children.
"Winning a fight is great. It's awesome, MMA is my life but the fostering is my purpose," he said.
Trainer is preparing to move out of his family home for the first time and explained why fighting could never be top of his priority list.
Trainer beats Wilkinson by submission
Image source, PFLEarlier tonight, it was a mixed bag for a couple of British fighters.
Manchester middleweight Haider Khan lost via submission in the first round against Brazil's Jhony Gregory.
But Stevenage's Luke Trainer marked his return from a 17-month absence by submitting Rob Wilkinson.
Trainer needed just three minutes and 48 seconds to get the job done. Not a bad night's work at all!
Here's how tonight's main card has played out so far.
Image source, Getty ImagesLondon's Alfie is going for PFL lightweight gold tonight when he attempts to become the first man to defeat champion Usman Nurmagomedov.
Davis earned his shot after winning the PFL lightweight tournament last year.
A huge task awaits Davis. Can he pull off an upset?