Tag: Jay Jay Wilson

  • Jay Jay Wilson Gets Major, Sub-Minute KO Of Darragh Kelly

    Jay Jay Wilson Gets Major, Sub-Minute KO Of Darragh Kelly

    A highly vocal and entertained Belfast crowd was left silent after the PFL Belfast main event, thanks to Jay Jay Wilson’s quick finish of the now-previously-undefeated Darragh Kelly.

    Right away, both men came out firing quick strikes, throwing combinations. But things came crashing down quickly and suddenly for Kelly, courtesy of a body kick by Wilson.

    Wilson followed that up with a left hand that dropped Kelly, along with follow-up shots that put Kelly out cold.

    Jay Jay Wilson KOs Darragh Kelly In Under One Minute

    Wilson is now 12-2, and he has improved to 2-1 since coming over to the PFL from Bellator. Before tonight, Wilson had most recently fought in October, losing a decision to Archie Colgan.

    Kelly took this fight on short notice, filling in for an injured Paul Hughes. This marked Kelly’s first loss in his professional MMA career. Kelly previously fought in September, submitting Bakhtiyar Abdulaev.

  • PFL Belfast Results: Kelly vs Wilson Live Updates & Highlights

    PFL Belfast Results: Kelly vs Wilson Live Updates & Highlights

    PFL Belfast results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The main event will feature a lightweight bout between Darragh Kelly and Jay Jay Wilson. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Darragh Kelly vs. Jay Jay Wilson – Lightweight Main Event

    Kelly has spent most of his professional career thus far with Bellator and the PFL, entering tonight’s bout with a 9-0 record. He last fought in September, scoring a first-round submission of Bakhtiyar Abdulaev.

    Kelly enters this fight as a substitute for Paul Hughes, who was injured and forced to withdraw from this bout.

    Wilson fought exclusively with Bellator during his pro career until the promotion was acquired and folded by the PFL. The 11-2 fighter enters this fight off a decision loss to Archie Colgan at the PFL Champions Series card this past October.

    The co-main event will see Rhys McKee take on Alex Lohore.

    This is McKee’s first fight since departing the UFC. He has lost three of his last four, most recently losing to Axel Sola at UFC Paris in September.

    The 26-11 Lohore makes his PFL debut tonight. A veteran of Cage Warriors, OKTAGON MMA, and Brave CF, Lohore’s last MMA fight came 11 months ago, scoring a late finish of Mansur Abdurzakov in Brave. Lohore also fought in Karate Comat in March, losing to Ilyas Khamzin in a middleweight title fight.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from PFL Belfast!

    How to Watch PFL Belfast

    • Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
    • Venue: SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
    • Streaming: ESPN Unlimited (full card), ESPN2 (main card), ESPN+ (prelims)
    • Prelims: 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT
    • Main Card: 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT

    PFL Belfast Quick Results

    • Main Event: Darragh Kelly vs. Jay Jay Wilson — Jay Jay Wilson def. Darragh Kelly via KO (Rd. 1, 0:37)
    • Co-Main Event: Rhys McKee vs. Alex Lohore — Rhys McKee def. Alex Lohore via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Tyson Pedro vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov — Dovlet Yagshimuradov def. Tyson Pedro via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    PFL Belfast Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 2:30 PM ET)

    Women’s Flyweight: Chelsea Hackett vs. Andrea Vazquez

    Result: Chelsea Hackett def. Andrea Vazquez via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Bantamweight: Eoghan Masoliver vs. Shane Mullen

    Result: Eoghan Masoliver def. Shane Mullen via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 1, 1:55)

    Bantamweight: Sean Gauci vs. Liam Gittins

    Result: Sean Gauci def. Liam Gittins via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

    Welterweight: David Martinez vs. Giannis Bachar

    Result: David Martinez def. Giannis Bachar via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 0:53)

    Catchweight (165 lbs.): Pedro Carvalho vs. Sergio Cossio

    Result: Pedro Carvalho def. Sergio Cossio via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Bantamweight: Ciaran Clarke vs. Dean Garnett

    Result: Dean Garnett def. Ciaran Clarke via KO (Rd. 1, 1:52)

    Welterweight: Omran Chaaban vs. Chequina Noso Pedro

    Result: Omran Chaaban def. Chequina Noso Pedro via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:16)

    Bantamweight: Caolan Loughran vs. Alan Philpott

    Result: Caolan Loughran def. Alan Philpott via submission (face crank) (Rd. 1, 1:11)

    Welterweight: Chris Mixan vs. Eoin Sheridan

    Result: Eoin Sheridan def. Chris Mixan via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Main Card (ESPN2, 7 PM ET)

    Light Heavyweight: Tyson Pedro vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov

    Result: Dovlet Yagshimuradov def. Tyson Pedro via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Welterweight: Rhys McKee vs. Alex Lohore

    Result: Rhys McKee def. Alex Lohore via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Lightweight: Darragh Kelly vs. Jay Jay Wilson

    Result: Jay Jay Wilson def. Darragh Kelly via KO (Rd. 1, 0:37)

  • Paul Hughes vs. Jay Jay Wilson Headlines PFL Belfast on April 16

    Paul Hughes vs. Jay Jay Wilson Headlines PFL Belfast on April 16

    Paul “Big News” Hughes (14-3) will headline PFL Belfast on April 16 from the SSE Arena in Northern Ireland, facing New Zealand’s Jay Jay “The Mฤori Kid” Wilson (11-2) in a lightweight main event, the league announced Monday.

    The bout marks Hughes’ first appearance since losing a unanimous decision to PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov at PFL Champions Series 3 in Dubai last October.

    It will be the second consecutive time Hughes has headlined an event at the SSE Arena, having famously stopped Bruno Miranda in 42 seconds at PFL’s debut Belfast card in May 2025.

    Hughes Calls Belfast Return ‘A Redemption Arc’

    Hughes, ranked No. 4 in the PFL lightweight division, is framing the fight as the beginning of a climb back toward a third meeting with Nurmagomedov. The County Derry native says finishing Wilson is a requirement, not just a preference.

    “It’s not good enough to have a good performance, I need to finish you and put myself in the mix again,” Hughes said. “This is the beginning of my redemption arc โ€” it starts with Jay Jay.”

    PFL Belfast Poster

    PFL CEO John Martin confirmed the matchup to ESPN, noting that Hughes specifically requested a return to Belfast. “Hughes is looking to get back on track, and Jay Jay will have an opportunity to play spoiler in Paul’s backyard,” Martin said. “I think that makes for a super fun fight.”

    Wilson Seeking Upset To Boost Title Contention

    Wilson enters as a significant underdog fighting on enemy soil, but the 28-year-old Kiwi has never been stopped across 13 professional bouts. He is coming off a decision loss to undefeated contender Archie Colgan on the same PFL Dubai card where Hughes fell to Nurmagomedov. Prior to that, Wilson withdrew from the PFL lightweight tournament semifinals due to a broken jaw.

    A win over Hughes on his home turf would immediately push Wilson into PFL lightweight title contention. Nurmagomedov most recently defended his title against Alfie Davis at PFL Dubai in February, with Colgan expected to be next in line for a championship shot.

    PFL Belfast Broadcast & Tickets

    PFL Belfast airs live in the United States on ESPN2, the ESPN App, and ESPN Deportes. The main card begins at 7 PM ET, with the preliminary card streaming on the ESPN App (ESPN Unlimited) at 2:30 PM ET. Doors at the SSE Arena open at 7 PM local time, with the main event scheduled after midnight BST.

    Pre-sale tickets are available Tuesday, February 24 at 12 PM GMT, with general sale beginning Wednesday, February 25 at 12 PM GMT via pfl.info/belfast. The full undercard is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.