Usman Nurmagomedov Defends the World Title Against Archie Colgan

PFL New York brings two undefeated lightweights together with the Lightweight World Title on the line. The PFL returns to New York on Friday, July 31 with reigning champion Usman Nurmagomedov defending his belt against #3-ranked Archie "King" Colgan in the main event. Usman fights to protect his legacy. Archie fights to build his own legacy. One night in New York will decide the future of their legacy.

MAIN EVENT: NURMAGOMEDOV vs COLGAN

The PFL Lightweight World Title has been under the control of Usman Nurmagomedov and he has held the belt as the standard-bearer of the 155-pound division. Usman carries the weight of one of the most legendary last names in MMA, and on July 31st he puts that legacy in front of an undefeated challenger. Archie Colgan arrives with elite Division I wrestling pedigree and an undefeated record that has earned him every step of this opportunity. One legacy continues or one legacy starts.

Usman Nurmagomedov enters New York as the undefeated PFL Lightweight World Champion and the PFL's pound-for-pound number one. The Dagestani product has a wrestling and grappling base built on the same Nurmagomedov foundation his cousin Khabib used to dominate the sport, paired with precise striking and ring intelligence that has shut down every opponent he has faced in the cage. He arrives at PFL New York with title defenses that have shown he can finish on the feet, dominate on the ground, and control every minute of a five-round fight. He most recently defended against 2025 PFL Lightweight Tournament Champion Alfie Davis at PFL Dubai in February. The standard he has set in the 155-pound division is the one Colgan is fighting to reach.

Watch: USMAN RETURNS! → Usman Nurmagomedov v Alfie Davis | Full Fight | PFL Dubai 

Archie "King" Colgan enters New York as the undefeated #3-ranked PFL lightweight contender and the most credentialed wrestling threat Nurmagomedov has faced in his career. The Wyoming native was a Big 12 champion at the University of Wyoming, a two-time NCAA Tournament qualifier, and racked up 112 collegiate wins before turning to mixed martial arts. He built his MMA career in Bellator with an undefeated run before joining the PFL roster, and earned the title shot with a string of wins against credentialed competition including a unanimous decision over Jay Jay Wilson. He arrives in New York with the resume of a fighter who is ready to challenge for the World Title.

Watch: Blow For Blow! → Archie Colgan v Mansour Barnoui | Full Fight | PFL WT 6 2025 

This matchup runs on the question of who imposes their wrestling first while mixing in their striking. Nurmagomedov wants the dominant grappling positions that have defined his title reign, mixing takedowns with top control that turns rounds into clinics. Colgan looks to impose his wrestling, working off elite Division I credentials to keep the fight where his pressure and conditioning give him the edge. Nurmagomedov has the championship experience to excel in the late rounds and Colgan brings an undefeated record and a wrestling pedigree to take Nurmagomedov to places no challenger has taken him.

Nurmagomedov is fighting to protect something bigger than the belt around his waist. The legacy of the Nurmagomedov name. The standard he has set across an undefeated career. Every defense is the next test of a legacy he has been carrying his entire life. Colgan is fighting to write the first chapter of his own. A win in New York puts the Nurmagomedov name on his record and the Lightweight World Title in his hands. The kind of result that turns a top contender into the face of the 155 division. The winner walks out the PFL Lightweight World Champion.

PFL New York lands at UBS Arena on Friday, July 31. The main card airs live on ESPN in the United States at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available now at pfl.info/ny.