Top Reasons to Catch PFL Champions Series 3

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The second time would be the charm if all goes according to plan for Paul Hughes.

“Big News” will challenge the unbeaten Usman Nurmagomedov for the Professional Fighters League lightweight title when their hotly anticipated rematch headlines PFL Champions Series 3 on Friday at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Hughes, 28, has recorded eight wins across his past nine outings, a majority decision defeat to Nurmagomedov in January his only misstep. The Irishman last competed at 2025 PFL Europe 1, where he needed just 42 seconds to bury Bruno Miranda with punches on May 10. It was the seventh first-round finish of Hughes’ career. Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, carries a perfect 19-0 record. The 27-year-old Russian has secured 14 of his 19 pro victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Most observers regard Nurmagomedov as the top lightweight operating outside the auspices of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

In addition to the Nurmagomedov-Hughes sequel on the marquee, here are three other reasons to catch PFL Champions Series 3:

Chapter Two

Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov still has a sour taste in his mouth more than three years later. The seasoned Turkmenistan native sets his sights on reigning PFL light heavyweight champion Corey Anderson in the five-round co-main event, where they lock horns for a second time at 205 pounds. Anderson won their first meeting in April 2021 and did so in decisive fashion, disposing of the American Top Team rep with third-round punches and elbows under the Bellator MMA banner. Yagshimuradov, 36, enters the rematch on the strength of a seven-fight winning streak. “Turkic Power” last saw action on Nov. 29, when he punched out Impa Kasanganay just 58 seconds into their 2024 PFL light heavyweight tournament final. On the other side of the ledger, Anderson has strung together three straight victories. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 19 winner last fought at PFL Champions Series 2, where he moved up to heavyweight and waylaid Denis Goltsov with a volley of elbows in the second round of their encounter on July 19. It was Anderson’s first stoppage win since 2021.

All About Potential

Two of the PFL’s most promising lightweights are set to tangle when the undefeated Archie Colgan puts the once-beaten Jay-Jay Wilson to the test in a three-round showcase at 155 pounds. Colgan wrestled collegiately at the University of Wyoming, where he was a two-time NCAA qualifier and compiled a stellar 111-41 record for the Cowboys. The Denver native transitioned to mixed martial artist a little more than four years ago and quickly emerged as a prospect on the rise. Colgan, 30, cleared his most significant hurdle to date on June 20, when he outpointed Mansour Barnaoui to a unanimous decision at 2025 PFL World Tournament 6. Wilson, meanwhile, finds himself on a three-fight winning streak. A 28-year-old native of New Zealand, “The Maori Kid” last strapped on the gloves at 2025 PFL World Tournament 3, where he dispatched former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Mads Burnell with elbows and punches in the third round of their April 18 pairing.

Turning Point

Sergio Pettis hopes to rekindle the magic that once made him one of the sport’s premier bantamweights. The longtime Roufusport standout confronts another significant obstacle when he battles Magomed “Tiger” Magomedov in a featured attraction that could have far-reaching consequences for both men. Pettis, 32, has won seven of his past nine fights. The ex-Bellator and Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion last appeared at 2025 PFL World Tournament 7, where he rebounded from back-to-back defeats to Patrick “Patchy” Mix and Kyoji Horiguchi with a three-round unanimous decision over former teammate Raufeon Stots on June 27. Pettis has gone the distance 20 times in his 31-fight career and sports a 16-4 record in those bouts. On the other side of the equation, Magomedov has alternated wins and losses in each of his past six assignments. The onetime Absolute Championship Berkut titleholder last fought on June 20, when he took a unanimous decision from Sarvarjon Khamidov at 2025 PFL World Tournament 6. Magomedov has delivered nearly half (10) of his 21 career victories by submission.