Nathan Kelly to face Khasan Magomedsharipov at PFL’s Champion Series Dubai card

Image credt: PFL / Bellator MMA

A featherweight fight between Ireland’s Nathan Kelly (11-2) and Dagestan’s Khasan Magomedsharipov (10-0) has been added to PFL’s Champion Series Dubai card on Saturday 25th January. Multiple sources confirmed the matchup, which will take place in Coca-Cola Arena, with SevereMMA.com.

The event will be the first Champions Series event to be held in Dubai, and it will be headlined by a lightweight world title fight between Dagestani Bellator Champion Usman Nurmagomedov and Ireland’s Paul “Big News” Hughes.

Kelly has completely turned his career around since dropping his first two pro fights over 6 years ago. The SBG Ireland fighter is high on an 11-fight win streak, with 9 first-round finishes during that stretch. Kelly is also a perfect 7-0 inside the Bellator/PFL cage and has finished his last three opponents inside the opening frame. Most recently, Kelly submitted Jose Sanchez (13-2-1) via Ninja Choke.

Magomedsharipov boasts a perfect 10-0 professional record, and is undefeated in MMA. Brother of the famed former UFC fighter, Zabit, the Dagestani fighter has 7 finishes as a pro and is 5-0 in the Bellator cage. Most recently, Magomedsharipov won via Unanimous Decision against Tyler Mathison (6-3).

Kelly and Magomedsharipov are no strangers too each other, having shared two cards in Dublin together (Bellator 275 in 2022 and most recently Bellator Champion Series in June 2024). Additionally, it will be the second Ireland vs Dagestan matchup on the card, with Hughes and Nurmagomedov squaring off in the main event for lightweight gold.

Champions Series Dubai Card:

Lightweight World Title Bout: Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0) vs. Paul Hughes (13-1)
Heavyweight Main Card Bout: Vadim Nemkov (18-2) vs. Ante Delija (24-6) 
Featherweight Bout: Khasan Magomedsharipov (10-0) vs. Nathan Kelly (11-2)