Darragh Kelly and Jay Jay Wilson are set to headline PFL Belfast

Darragh Kelly and Jay Jay Wilson are set to headline PFL Belfast on April 16 at the SSE Arena in Northern Ireland, and both fighters arrive in Belfast carrying momentum built on a foundation of brutal, highlight-reel performances inside the PFL cage. Before the main event lightweight bout goes down, here are the moments that defined each man's path to Belfast.

Kelly Submits Abdulaev in Round One — PFL Europe 3
Darragh Kelly's stoppage of Bakhtiyar Abdulaev at PFL Europe 3 was the kind of performance that turns heads. Kelly, the undefeated lightweight from Moville, Donegal, wasted no time against Abdulaev, taking the fight to the ground and working his way to back control with explosive clinch pressure. He locked in the rear-naked choke at 2:27 of the first round with a clean, decisive finish that showed exactly why he has not yet been taken the distance as a professional.

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RGFJEw7toY

Kelly Grinds Out the Face Crank — PFL World Tournament 6
Against Mike Hamel at PFL World Tournament 6, Kelly showed a different side of his game; the kind of patient, grinding submission offense that wears opponents down round by round. After mixing body kicks and takedowns through the early rounds, Kelly worked to back control and finished with a face crank at 3:09 of round three. It was not a flashy finish, but it was a complete one, and it demonstrated that Kelly's submission game operates at a high level even when fights go deep.

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z99h6wL_JD4

Wilson's Third-Round TKO Over Burnell — PFL World Tournament 3
Jay Jay Wilson's performance against Mads Burnell at PFL World Tournament 3 was a showcase of his wrestling-based pressure and relentless top game. "The Maori Kid" took the fight to the mat early, controlled top position for extended stretches, and kept grinding until Burnell had nothing left to offer. Wilson secured the TKO at 4:42 of the third round with ground-and-pound from the top, advancing in the lightweight division with a dominant, punishing display.

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1JDMP0UMFg

Wilson vs. Archie Colgan — A Three-Round War at PFL Champions Series
Not every defining performance ends in a finish, and Wilson's three-round battle with Archie Colgan at PFL Champions Series 3 proved that he belongs in competitive fights against elite opposition. Wilson pushed through a hard-fought, technical lightweight matchup that went the distance. The fight showcased his cardio, his grappling, and his willingness to stay in difficult exchanges. It was a loss on the scorecards, but it was the kind of performance that reveals a fighter's character under pressure.

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwOnT89PXkc

Kelly brings an undefeated finishing streak and growing momentum in PFL competition. Wilson brings experience, tested durability, and the kind of wrestling-based pressure that has given lightweights fits across multiple promotions. Thursday night in Belfast, the lightweight picture gets a whole lot clearer. PFL Belfast airs April 16 from the SSE Arena, with the main card starting at 7 PM ET on ESPN2.