The Professional Fighters League hosted PFL Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday morning, featuring an explosive preliminary card before the main events began.
Connor Hughes Defeats Shem Rock
The standout preliminary bout featured Connor Hughes against UFC veteran Shem Rock, who was stepping into the cage for his first appearance since his UFC departure in March 2026. The match ended quickly for Rock, who suffered a brutal knockout just 64 seconds into the contest. Hughes dropped Rock face-first onto the canvas in the center of the cage with a precise left check hook and right hand combination after Rock rushed forward with his hands down.
PFL Dubai Preliminary Card Results
The preliminary card delivered a series of decisive finishes prior to the main card headlined by heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov and challenger Sergey Bilostenniy. In other preliminary action, Saygid Izagakhmaev defeated David Martinez via a third-round rear-naked choke submission at 4:27, and Akhmed Magomedov secured a unanimous decision victory over Alexei Pergande with scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27. Adam Borics earned a first-round triangle choke submission against Khasan Magomedsharipov at 4:17, while Denis Goltsov stopped Maxwell Djantou Nana via first-round TKO at 3:41. Ernesto Rodriguez defeated Rhys McKee with a first-round TKO at 2:28, Khabib Nabiev overcame Styve Ngono via third-round TKO at 0:46, and Aleksandra Savicheva took a unanimous decision win against Jacinta Austin with scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28.
The main card for the event was broadcast on ESPN Unlimited.
