What is the story about?
The
PFL is back in the Middle East this week, and the heavyweight title is on the line in the main event between a pair of teammates and frequent training partners.
Here’s how to watch PFL Dubai with lineups, fight info and more.
Broadcast and streaming info
PFL Dubai takes place Saturday at Coca-Cola Arena in the United Arab Emirates.
The main card streams on ESPN+ at 1 p.m. ET. The prelims stream on the ESPN app at 9 a.m ET.
Main event: Vadim Nemkov
- Record: 20-2
- Opponent: Sergey Bilostenniy (15-4)
- Division: Heavyweight
- Key wins: Renan Ferreira, Tim Johnson, Bruno Cappelozza, Yoel Romero, Corey Anderson, Phil Davis, Ryan Bader, Philippe Lins
- Misc: It’s been more than 10 years since the 34-year-old Russian has lost a fight. Then, it was consecutive bouts against future UFC light heavyweight champ Jiri Prochazka and Karl Albrektsson under the Rizin banner. He has three straight submission wins in the PFL, including his win over Ferreira in just four minutes last December to win the heavyweight title. But now his test is against a teammate and frequent sparring partner from the famed team they’re on with Fedor Emelianenko.
Main event: Sergey Bilostenniy
- Record: 15-4
- Opponent: Vadim Nemkov (20-2)
- Division: Heavyweight
- Key wins: Renan Ferreira, Karl Williams, Tyrell Fortune, Blagoy Ivanov
- Misc: Bilostenniy has back-to-back wins by stoppage after a loss to Valentin Moldavsky in May 2025. Because of the conflict of fighting a teammate in Nemkov, he moved his camp – while Nemkov stayed home in Stary Oskol, Russia, for his normal training situation. How will that affect Bilostenniy?
Co-main event: Patrick Habirora
- Record: 9-0
- Opponent: Omar El Dafrawy (16-6)
- Division: Welterweight
- Key wins: Benson Henderson, Kevin Jousset, Danny Roberts
- Misc: Habirora had his coming-out party in May in front of his home Belgian fans in Brussels when he needed just 20 seconds to take out former UFC and WEC champion Henderson. Eight of his nine wins have been by knockout. The lone decision win of his career came in 2024 in his second fight – and the first time he was under the PFL banner.
Co-main event: Omar El Dafrawy
- Record: 16-6
- Opponent: Patrick Habirora (9-0)
- Division: Welterweight
- Key wins: Jonathan Piersma, James Vake
- Misc: After a loss 13 months ago to Florim Zendeli, his lone loss under the PFL umbrella, El Dafrawy has back-to-back wins – including a 72-second knockout of Vake in Chicago earlier this year.
PFL Dubai lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 1 p.m. ET)
- Vadim Nemkov vs. Sergey Bilostenniy
- Patrick Habirora vs. Omar El Dafrawy
- Oleg Popov vs. Pouya Rahmani
- Joji Goto vs. Sergio Pettis
- David Martinez vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN app, 9 a.m. ET)
- Adam Borics vs. Khasan Magomedsharipov
- Asael Adjoudj vs. Movlid Khaybulaev
- Ernesto Rodriguez vs. Rhys McKee
- Shem Rock vs. Connor Hughes
- Alexei Pergande vs. Akhmed Magomedov
- Lewis McGrillen vs. Nawras Abzakh
- Khamzat Abaev vs. Leon Hill
- Aleksandra Savicheva vs. Jacinta Austin
- Khabib Nabiev vs. Styve Ngono
- Denis Goltsov vs. Maxwell Djantou Nana
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: How to watch PFL Dubai: Fighter profiles, lineup, start time, odds, more
