Bilostenniy Outpoints Nemkov For PFL Heavyweight Title

Sergey Bilostenniy broke Vadim Nemkov's decade-long winning streak Saturday night at PFL Dubai, claiming the heavyweight championship via unanimous decision at Coca-Cola Arena.

Bilostenniy controlled the pace across five rounds, according to Sherdog, mixing jabs to the face with leg kicks that gradually wore down the former Bellator light heavyweight champion. Nemkov threatened an armbar in the opening round but spent the rest of the fight unable to impose his grappling game as Bilostenniy kept exchanges standing.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to PFL Dubai on Ticketmaster →

Nemkov's Face Busted Up In Title Loss

The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 for Bilostenniy, who improved to 16-4 while handing Nemkov his first loss since 2016. The defeat dropped Nemkov to 20-3.

Elsewhere on the card, Patrick Habirora remained unbeaten at 10-0 with a first-round guillotine finish of Omar El Dafrawy. The Belgian stood up while holding the choke and squeezed until El Dafrawy went unconscious at 3:11. Connor Hughes starched Shaqueme Rock with a left hook-right cross combination just 64 seconds into the second round of their grudge match.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to PFL Dubai on Ticketmaster →

Joji Goto handed longtime UFC veteran Sergio Pettis a lopsided loss at bantamweight, winning 30-27 on all three cards. Goto landed cleaner strikes and dominated top position throughout the three-rounder.

PFL returns with its 2027 season opener expected in the spring.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Sergey Bilostenniy outpoints Vadim Nemkov to become PFL heavyweight champion