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Tag: PFL Belfast

  • 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.

  • Rhys McKee Drops Alex Lohore, Earns One-Sided Decision In Belfast

    Rhys McKee Drops Alex Lohore, Earns One-Sided Decision In Belfast

    In his first fight with the PFL, Rhys McKee made an incredible entrance in front of a native crowd, filled with live music, before going on to defeat Alex Lohore in the PFL Belfast co-main event.

    Lohore started things out with a focus on calf kicks, doing damage to McKee’s leg. While McKee looked to fight back, Lohore continued to pressure, eventually scoring a pair of takedowns later in round one. McKee got up both times but couldn’t find a way out of Lohore’s grasp until the end of the round.

    McKee worked his jab well early in round two, and he appeared to be getting the better of Lohore in terms of striking. Lohore placed McKee against the fence again, but McKee had an easier time defending and getting into a grip control battle with Lohore.

    Then, McKee dropped Lohore with a right hand seconds into the final round. McKee followed Lohore to the ground and controlled the action there, at one point threatening a D’Arce choke. Lohore got back to his feet and tried to get his striking going, but it was too little and too late.

    McKee ended up sweeping the scorecards.

    This marked McKee’s PFL debut, his first fight since parting ways with the UFC. The BAMMA and Cage Warriors veteran went 1-5 in two combined stints with the UFC during the 2020s.

    Lohore, a veteran of OKTAGON and Brave CF, also made his PFL debut tonight. He last fought in May, defeating Mansur Abdurzakov. He also fought in Karate Comat, losing a middleweight title fight to Ilyas Khamzin last month.

  • Dean Garnett Puts Ciaran Clarke’s Lights Out With Spinning Elbow

    Dean Garnett Puts Ciaran Clarke’s Lights Out With Spinning Elbow

    After coming up just short of a PFL Europe title last year, Dean Garnett returned to the win column in highlight fashion, scoring a spinning back elbow knockout of Ciaran Clarke.

    Garnett looked to take control early, going into the center and working a mix of leg kicks and body strikes. Clarke, meanwhile, focused on his own body strikes, looking to answer Garnett’s attacks.

    Near the fence, Clarke looked to get inside. Garnett responded by landing a highlight spinning back elbow that cracked and dropped him.

    Dean Garnett KOs Ciaran Clarke At PFL Belfast

    Garnett competed in the 2025 PFL Europe season, defeating Tuomas Gronvall and Jan Cieplowski before losing to Baris Adiguzel.

    This marked Clarke’s PFL debut, as well as his first professional MMA loss. He was 10-0 entering this fight, having spent all of his time as a pro with Bellator before the promotion’s purchase and folding by the PFL. He had most recently fought Gronvall, winning by decision.

  • 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)

  • ‘An Absolute Superstar’ – Fans React To Paul Hughes Starching Bruno Miranda In PFL Belfast Main Event

    ‘An Absolute Superstar’ – Fans React To Paul Hughes Starching Bruno Miranda In PFL Belfast Main Event

    “Big News” is the big news coming out of PFL Europe’s event in Belfast.

    Paul Hughes fulfilled his dream of competing at the SSE Arena in Belfast and made an impact while doing so, finishing Bruno Miranda in less than a minute in the evening’s featured bout.

    Miranda opened the fight with a series of kicks, mainly focusing on the legs of Hughes. But all it took was one counter for the fight to turn things on a dime and end quickly. Hughes caught a kick and landed a left hook that dropped Miranda. Hughes followed up with a barrage of ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in, awarding the fight to Hughes after just 42 seconds.

    Paul Hughes Ends PFL Belfast Main Event In 42 Seconds, Calls Out Usman Nurmagomedov For Rematch

    https://twitter.com/ProchazkaSzn/status/1921309712055783802

    Hughes signed with the PFL in 2024, debuting at the Bellator Champions Series event in June 2024, finishing Bobby King. Hughes then scored a major victory over A.J. McKee at the Battle of the Giants card in October before challenging Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator lightweight title in the main card of PFL’s Road to Dubai event in January — a fight Hughes lost via a controversial decision.

    Hughes called out Nurmagomedov for a re-match following the win.

    Miranda has now lost three of his last four. Miranda made the semi-finals of the 2023 PFL lightweight season, losing to Olivier Aubin-Mercier.

  • VIDEO: Connor Hughes Sends Sebastien Di Franco To The Shadow Realm With One-Punch KO At PFL Belfast

    VIDEO: Connor Hughes Sends Sebastien Di Franco To The Shadow Realm With One-Punch KO At PFL Belfast

    While it’s Paul Hughes who is competing in the headline slot of PFL Belfast, another Hughes, Connor, may have stolen the show with a brutal finish.

    Hughes scored a second-round knockout of Sebastien Di Franco in a featured bout of the event, which featured the first round of the PFL Europe lightweight tournament.

    Hughes busted up Di Franco’s leg badly in the opening frame with a series of leg kicks. Hughes dominated the opening frame with check hooks, left punches, and working combinations. Di Franco had his own fair success with strikes, but he was unable to handle Hughes’ timing and accuracy.

    Di Franco started to get into a groove in the second round, getting his hands going. But one powerful right hand from Hughes changed all that, flooring Di Franco and knocking him out cold.

    Connor Hughes Puts Sebastien Di Franco To Sleep With Walk-Off KO At PFL Belfast

    Hughes has competed in the previous two seasons of PFL Europe, falling in the opening round of the 2023 tournament to Dylan Tuke (making Hughes’ first pro loss) and losing in last year’s final to two-time champion Jakub Kaszuba.

    Hughes now moves on to the 2025 PFL Europe lightweight tournament semifinals, where he will face Gino van Steenis. The younger brother of Costello van Steenis defeated Decky McAleenan.

    Di Franco has now lost three of his last four.

  • VIDEO: Alex Chizov Sleeps Mark Ewen With Single Left Hand At PFL Belfast

    VIDEO: Alex Chizov Sleeps Mark Ewen With Single Left Hand At PFL Belfast

    The PFL World Tournament has produced a number of upsets in its first-round events already, and now PFL Europe’s 2025 season — with only its lightweight fights at tonight’s PFL Belfast card — is not an exception.

    Alex Chizov did not need long to put away Mark Ewen and secure a semifinal spot in the PFL Europe lightweight bracket.

    After some leg kicks from both men, Chizov started to work the right hand. Ewen did not look like he was into second gear yet when Chizov landed a left hand that dropped Ewen. Chizov only got a follow-up shot or two in before the referee quickly stepped in to halt the action, giving Chizov the win in about a minute-and-a-half.

    Alex Chizov KOs Mark Ewen In 93 Seconds At PFL Belfast

    After defeating Omar Hussein in his 2022 PFL debut, “Pretty Boy” Chizov came into tonight’s bout off back-to-back losses against Acoidan Duque and Daniele Scatizzi.

    Chizov will now face Claudio Pacella, who defeated Gavin Hughes in another first-round fight held at PFL Belfast, in the tournament’s semi-finals later this year.

    Ewen is now 1-2 in PFL Europe and has lost two of his last three after starting his professional MMA career 5-0.

  • VIDEO: Eoin Sheridan Brutalizes With Quick KO at PFL Belfast

    VIDEO: Eoin Sheridan Brutalizes With Quick KO at PFL Belfast

    Talk about making a statement in just your second appearance with a promotion – Eoin Sheridan did just that.

    Sheridan didn’t need much for a quick night at the office, scoring a fast-paced knockout of Malichi Edwards during the early card of the PFL Europe event in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    Sheridan cracked Edwards with a right hand mere seconds into the fight, causing him to go right on the attack. Sheridan fired off flurries on a rocked Edwards, trying to finish things quickly. After failing at a takedown and eating punch after punch, Edwards somehow survived and got back to his feet — even after a takedown from Sheridan.

    Eoin Sheridan Puts Away Malichi Edwards In Less Than Two Minutes at PFL Belfast

    Still, he didn’t look completely recovered. And before the two-minute mark of the fight hit, Sheridan landed another one-two that folded Edwards.

    Sheridan made his professional MMA debut in September 2023, defeating Joey Dakin via doctor’s stoppage. He followed that up with his PFL debut in December, scoring a decision over Brice Belghazi.

    Edwards now falls to 4-2 after starting his MMA career 3-0.

  • Paul Hughes’ Opponent For PFL Belfast Homecoming Revealed

    Paul Hughes’ Opponent For PFL Belfast Homecoming Revealed

    PFL star Paul Hughes now has a target in his sights for later this year.

    Hughes (13-2) boosted his stock despite a loss in January when he battled Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator lightweight titleย in the main event of PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai.

    While he was largely dismissed by the Russian standout during the build-up, โ€œBig Newsโ€ pushed him to the limit across five rounds. Some even maintain that the ex-Cage Warriors champion did enough to deserve the victory,ย a sentiment shared by Hughes himself.

    With that in mind, the Northern Irishman was quick to call for an immediate rematch in his native country, and he appeared to have the backing of the PFL higher-ups and many in the community.

    But with Nurmagomedov seemingly planning to sit out until September or October, Hughes has had to settle for just half of his callout coming to fruition.

    After much speculation, the PFL officially confirmed this week that Paul Hughes will headline a PFL Europe event in his country’s capital city, Belfast, on May 10.

    And an opponent has now been attached to Hughes’ return, with “Big News” lined up to share the cage with Bruno Miranda (17-5), a former PFL semifinalist who most recently defeated Patricky Pitbull.

    Paul Hughes will look to return to winning ways at Miranda’s expense and stake his claim for a second showdown with Nurmagomedov before the year’s end.