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          Alfie Davis takes PFL lightweight final, calls for official title shot

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          Alfie Davis emotional after upset to become lightweight world tournament champion (0:56)

          Alfie Davis and Gadzhi Rabadanov go to the judges' scorecard where Davis wins 48-47 to become the lightweight world tournament champion. (0:56)

          • Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterAug 16, 2025, 01:59 PM
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          British lightweight Alfie Davis won the 2025 PFL lightweight World Tournament with a massive upset of Gadzhi Rabadanov on Friday and then immediately called for a shot at the PFL's lightweight championship.

          Davis (20-5-1) defeated Rabadanov (26-5-2) by decision, via unanimous scores of 48-47. The 155-pound matchup headlined the PFL World Tournament event at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

          In his postfight interview, the 33-year-old Davis said he wants to fight the winner of October's PFL lightweight title fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes.

          "I want the winner of Hughes and Nurmagomedov, and then I want to put that belt in the [2026 World Tournament] next year," Davis said.

          The PFL's current format separates its World Tournament from its lightweight championship, meaning Davis won the tournament and its $500,000 grand prize but is not considered the promotion's champion and isn't guaranteed a title shot.

          Davis said he wants to take the title into the tournament because the current structure is "confusing."

          Whether he gets his wish or not, it was a breakout performance Friday, as Rabadanov was a heavy favorite to win. Davis defended Rabadanov's takedowns well enough to keep the fight standing in crucial spots. He also did well to deny the Russian from scoring damage in top position any time he was able to get him down.

          In the co-main event, 41-year-old women's flyweight Liz Carmouche (25-8) won her first PFL title by knocking out Jena Bishop (9-3) with a left hook in the third round. Carmouche is a former Bellator MMA champion who advanced to the playoffs of the PFL's 2024 season but lost to Taila Santos.

          Carmouche is the most marquee name on PFL's 125-pound roster who has not fought breakout star Dakota Ditcheva (15-0). Ditcheva won the 2024 PFL tournament and is 1-0 this year with a victory over Sumiko Inaba in July. The 27-year-old signed a multifight extension with the PFL prior to her win over Inaba, and Carmouche used her postfight opportunity to call for a fight between them next. Ditcheva is recovering from a hand injury suffered in her last bout.

          In a third PFL World Tournament finals matchup, bantamweight Marcirley Alves (15-4) defeated Justin Wetzell (12-3) via unanimous decision.