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The Professional Fighters League returns to Long Island Friday night with an undefeated champion, an unbeaten challenger and one of its biggest cards of the year.
PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his title against No. 3-ranked Archie “King” Colgan in the main event of PFL New York at UBS Arena.
The event marks the PFL’s first card at UBS Arena and its first on Long Island since a 2019 event at Nassau Coliseum.
“World-class, high-level fight,” Colgan told Greater Long Island during Wednesday’s media day at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale. “I have a very good opponent. I’m aware of that. He has a very good opponent.”
Colgan expects a new name to emerge atop the division.
“A new star will be born on Friday night,” he said.
Colgan, a former NCAA Division I wrestler, enters the title fight with a 13-0 record.
Nurmagomedov, the cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, is 21-0 with one no contest and is ranked as the PFL’s top pound-for-pound fighter.
“I had fights with wrestlers, I had fights with strikers, and I beat them all,” Nurmagomedov said Wednesday. “I think it’s going to be a good fight, but I’m going to win.”
Colgan will be cornered by UFC champion Justin Gaethje, his longtime teammate.
“[Archie’s] a world-class athlete, twice as strong as me,” Gaethje told GLI. “He’s one of the best representations of American wrestling and athletics.”
The co-main event features undefeated women’s flyweight Dakota Ditcheva against Denise Kielholtz.
Ditcheva is 15-0 with 12 finishes and returns after suffering injuries to both hands over the past year. Kielholtz, a former Bellator Kickboxing world champion and judo black belt, enters with a 9-5 record.
The card will also feature a Long Island connection.
Brooklyn’s Levan Khabalaev, who trains at Ray Longo’s MMA in Garden City, will face Chamy Delva in a lightweight bout. Khabalaev is 4-0, while Delva enters with a 7-1 record. Longo has produced several UFC champions, including Aljamain Sterling, Matt Serra, Chris Weidman and Merab Dvalishvili.
Full the full fight card click here
PFL executives said Long Island’s sports culture, proximity to New York City and strong fan base made UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders, a natural fit.
“Bringing one of our biggest championship cards to Long Island was a natural fit,” the organization told GLI.
PFL officials said a strong turnout could lead to more events at the arena.
“If fans come out and support the event the way we believe they will, we’d certainly love the opportunity to bring more PFL events back to UBS Arena and Long Island in the future,” the organization said.
During fight week, the PFL announced a merger with Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions. ESPN reported that the PFL will operate under the MVP umbrella, with CEO John Martin remaining in his role.
If you go
What: PFL New York
When: Friday, July 31 | tickets
Where: UBS Arena, Elmont
Main card: 7 p.m. on ESPN
Main event: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Archie Colgan
Co-main event: Dakota Ditcheva vs. Denise Kielholtz
Top: Archie “King” Colgan (left) and Usman Nurmagomedov (right) at the PFL press conference at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale, N.Y. (Credit: PFL)
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