Alfie Davis won the PFL 9 World Championships Lightweight Tournament title with a unanimous decision over Gadzhi Rabadanov in the main event at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 15, 2025. Liz Carmouche claimed victory in the co-main event, knocking out Jena Bishop in the first round to secure the Women’s Flyweight World title. The event also saw Marcirley Alves earn the Bantamweight title with a decision over Justin Wetzell. Hosted at Bojangles Coliseum, the PFL’s first Charlotte event aired live on ESPN and DAZN.
PFL 9 World Championships results
Davis, a +700 underdog, outscored Rabadanov 48-47 on all three judges’ cards over five rounds, ending Rabadanov’s 12-fight win streak. PFL CEO Donn Davis called it a “10-1 upset” on X on August 16, 2025. Davis used precise striking and takedown defense to counter Rabadanov’s grappling, earning the $500,000 prize and his first PFL title.
THINGS ARE HEATING UP IN CHARLOTTE 🔥
[ #PFLWorldTournament | LIVE NOW ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/P5wppo8iXQ
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025
Against. All. Odds. Alfie Davis is your 2025 PFL Lightweight World Tournament CHAMPION 🏆
[ #PFLWorldTournament | LIVE NOW ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/Cnyqkkhrpe
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025
THE AXE MAN DID IT BY UNANIMOUS DECISION 😱 WHAT A NIGHT FOR ALFIE DAVIS!
[ #PFLWorldTournament | LIVE NOW ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/8IdQbxKPu8
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025
Carmouche stopped Bishop with a right-hand knockout at 3:18 of the first round. The win marked her second PFL Women’s Flyweight World title and her first knockout since 2010. Alves outworked Wetzell in a close Bantamweight final, winning by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) to claim the 135-pound belt.
The Night That Was PFL Charlotte 🏆🔥
PFL World Tournament Final: Charlotte | Full Fight Highlights #PFLWorldTournament pic.twitter.com/sR23TsAVUy
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025
MARCIRLEY ALVES IS A WORLD CHAMPION 🏆 WHAT A FIGHT
[ #PFLWorldTournament | LIVE NOW ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/aR28T3KPs3
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 16, 2025
Other fights included Mads Burnell defeating Robert Watley by decision and Juliana Velasquez narrowly beating Ekaterina Shakalova in a Women’s Flyweight showcase.
Biaggio Ali Walsh defeated Adryan Grundy by decision in a Lightweight showcase. Renat Khavalov stopped Vilson Ndregjoni with a knee and punches at 2:49 of the first round, and Chris Mixan knocked out Kendly St. Louis at 4:36 of the first round, though the stoppage was debated. Sabrina de Sousa beat Saray Orozco by decision, and Damion Nelson defeated Isaiah Diggs by split decision.
Alfie Davis (20-5-1 MMA, 6-2-1 PFL), a 33-year-old from London, England, joined PFL in 2021 after a Bellator stint. He went 3-1-1 in the 2023 season, losing to Clay Collard in the semifinals. His 2025 run included a decision over Brent Primus and a knockout of Myktybek Orolbai, leading to his title win over Rabadanov at PFL 9 World Championships. Trained by Alexis Demetriades, Davis focuses on crisp striking and footwork.
Gadzhi Rabadanov (26-5-2 MMA, 6-1 PFL), a 31-year-old from Dagestan, Russia, won the 2024 PFL Lightweight title with a 5-0 season, including a knockout of Kevin Lee at PFL 6 on June 20, 2025. A Khabib Nurmagomedov protégé, his grappling-heavy style carried a 12-fight win streak until Davis’ upset at PFL 9 World Championships. His only prior PFL loss was a 2022 decision to Chris Wade.
Liz Carmouche (25-8 MMA, 6-1 PFL), a 41-year-old from San Diego, California, is a former Bellator Flyweight champion and UFC title challenger. She won the 2022 PFL Women’s Flyweight World title but lost to Dakota Ditcheva in the 2024 final. Her 2025 season included a decision over Taila Santos, leading to her knockout of Bishop at PFL 9 World Championships. Carmouche has 13 finishes (seven knockouts, six submissions).
Jena Bishop (9-3 MMA, 3-2 PFL), a 38-year-old from San Diego, California, joined PFL in 2023 after a 5-0 Bellator run. A jiu-jitsu black belt, she submitted Chelsea Hackett in 2025 to reach the PFL 9 World Championships final but fell to Carmouche’s striking. Marcirley Alves (15-4 MMA, 4-1 PFL), a 31-year-old from Brazil, and Justin Wetzell (12-3 MMA, 3-2 PFL), a 32-year-old from Colorado, entered as alternates, with Alves’ durability securing the Bantamweight title.
