A prominent wrestler and ground specialist, Brent Primus captured the Bellator Lightweight Championship in 2017 with a victory over Michael Chandler. After going 10-3 (1 NC) in the promotion, Primus joined the PFL following its acquisition of Bellator. Now, through wins over Bruno Miranda, Solomon Renfro, and Clay Collard, Primus now finds himself one win away from adding a PFL title to his mantle.

 

A training partner to Khabib and Usman Nurmagomedov, Gadzhi Rabadanov is a Combat Sambo specialist who can overwhelm with the Dagestani style of wrestling well known in the sport today. Rabadanov has won nine straight and made noise on the regional circuit before joining the PFL. With wins over Renfro, Elvin Espinoza, and Michael Dufort, he now has to take on his toughest test yet in a former Bellator Champion to gain the PFL gold.

 

Who will capture this year’s PFL Lightweight World Championship?

 

 

Round 1

 

The two circling one another. Low kick from Rabadanov. The two throw, but Primus backs him up with more powerful shots. Low kick from Rabadanov again. Combination from Rabadanov, but Primus has his guard up. Rabadanov goes for a takedown, but Primus reverses it into a guillotine attempt! Primus has the rubber guard up. Primus working, landing elbows to the top of Rabadanov’s head. Primus could be looking for an omoplata or gogoplata here. Rabadanov gets his head free, however. Primus tries for it again, trying to get a foot under Rabadanov’s chin.

 

Rabadanov frees himself from the guard again and transitions into half-guard, delivering a little ground-and-pound. Primus looking to get butterfly hooks in. Primus appears to be really searching for his gogoplata. Rabadanov sees it happening and stops the attempt, landing some more ground-and-pound. Primus keeping his guard up and landing elbows to the head from the bottom.

 

 

Round 2

 

A couple of low kicks from Rabadanov to start. Rabadanov moving around the outside. Right hand lands for Primus. Low kick misses for Primus. Left hand from Primus. Primus shakes off a takedown attempt. Primus holds the center and is trying to force Rabadanov’s back to the fence. Low kicks from Rabadanov again. Left hook glances off Rabadanov’s head. Strong right hand finishes a combination that drops Primus! Rabadanov jumps into the guard of Primus. Primus tries for the rubber guard again, still looking for a submission.

 

 

Primus looking for a kimura, searching for wrist control, but Rabadanov moving over into side control to try and prevent that. Rabadanov breaks free from the grasp and fires off some kicks toward a grounded Primus. Primus tries to grab a leg and look for a leg lock. Rabadanov gets his knee across Primus’s waist. Solid elbow from Rabadanov. Another elbow and a right hand from Rabadanov up top.

 

 

Round 3

 

An exchange in the center to start, with Rabadanov having the speedier strikes. Strong right hand gives Rabadanov another knockdown! Rabadanov thinks about it but keeps his distance, not going into Primus’s guard. Rabadanov backing up but remaining in control. Primus has a small mousse around one of his cheeks. Front kick by Rabadanov. One-two from Primus, but Rabadanov with a counter. Primus landing a couple of right hands here. Rabadanov with a right hand. Another hard right from Rabadanov.

 

 

A strong one-two from Rabadanov and Primus goes FACE DOWN TO THE MAT!

 

 

Gadzhi Rabadanov with the finish, and he is now the 2024 PFL Lightweight World Champion!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

Gadzhi Rabadanov defeats Brent Primus by 3rd round KO (2:31) to become the 2024 PFL Lightweight World Champion.

Rabadanov moves his career record to 24-4-2 with his 8th career knockout

Rabadanov knocks out two straight opponents to win the title

Rabadanov wins his 10th straight fight

Rabadanov trains with Usman Nurmagomedov and Khabib