PFL: Nemkov vs Bilostenniy Heavyweight World Title 2026 in Dubai

PFL Dubai: Nemkov vs Bilostenniy brings a heavyweight world title fight to Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on Saturday 14 November 2026, as reigning PFL Heavyweight Champion Vadim Nemkov defends his belt against No. 3-ranked Sergei Bilostenniy. Doors open at 5pm.

It is the fourth Professional Fighters League event in Dubai, and the first in the city since the PFL’s merger with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), according to the league. The card airs live in the US on the ESPN app and across the Middle East and North Africa on STARZPLAY.

The main event: Nemkov vs Bilostenniy

This is a title fight with a twist: both men fight under the Team Fedor banner, linked to heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko, and they have shared training camps in the past. Now they meet in the cage with the PFL heavyweight belt on the line.

Vadim Nemkov (20-2)

Nemkov is a protégé of Fedor Emelianenko and one of the most decorated fighters in the sport. A four-time Combat Sambo world champion who has gone unbeaten for the past decade, he is a former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion who moved up to heavyweight in 2024 and won PFL heavyweight gold in December 2025. The PFL ranks him No. 2 pound-for-pound. Half of his wins have come by knockout or TKO and six by submission, and all three of his heavyweight fights have ended in a choke.

Sergei Bilostenniy (15-4)

Bilostenniy is 4-1 since joining the PFL and arrives on back-to-back finishes. His highlight reel includes a spinning head kick knockout and a heel hook, and his PFL wins include stoppages of Karl Williams, Tyrell Fortune and former PFL champion Renan Ferreira. He trains at a Team Fedor-affiliated gym in Moscow.

The match-up pits Nemkov’s grappling and submission threat against a challenger who has shown he can finish fights both on the feet and on the mat. With the two having trained together, neither will be short of information about the other.

Why Dubai matters to the PFL

Dubai has become a regular stop for the league. Speaking when the card was announced, Dubai Sports Council vice chairman Khalfan Juma Belhoul said the event would boost the region’s sports tourism and give PFL MENA fighters a platform on the global stage. Fittingly, the co-main event features a former PFL MENA champion.

The rest of the card

Two more bouts have been confirmed so far, according to MMA news site Cageside Press.

• Patrick Habirora vs Omar El Dafrawy (welterweight, co-main event): Belgium’s unbeaten Habirora (9-0), nicknamed The Belgian Bomber, is 25, turned pro in 2024 after 26 amateur fights and is known for a 20-second stoppage of former UFC champion Benson Henderson. Egypt’s El Dafrawy (16-6), ranked No. 5, won the 2024 PFL MENA tournament after a six-fight streak and is on a three-fight win run.
• Oleg Popov vs Pouya Rahmani (heavyweight): Popov (23-2), the division’s No. 1 contender, returns to the PFL against the unbeaten Rahmani (6-0).

More bouts are expected, so follow @PFLMMA for the full card before fight night.

Seats and hospitality

Seats are allocated automatically by best availability, so if you want to sit together, book your group in one order and confirm the seats are together before you pay. Two premium options are available for over-21s:

• VIP Pods: tables of five next to the stage with an elevated view, table service and an all-inclusive food and drink package.
• The Elevate Deck: fast-track entry, a private cocktail table for four, a bottle of house spirits, a five-course set menu and a private bar.

Who it suits

MMA fans get a heavyweight world title fight on their doorstep, with a rising welterweight prospect and a top heavyweight contender on the same card. It also suits sambo and grappling enthusiasts keen to see one of the discipline’s best in action, and groups looking for a big Saturday night out, especially with the hospitality options. Guests under 16 must be with an adult aged 18 or over, and everyone over 12 months old needs a ticket.

Know before you go

• Your QR code appears in the Platinumlist app 48 hours before the event.
• Re-entry is not permitted once your ticket is scanned.
• Coca-Cola Arena is cashless and has no ATMs.
• Outside food and drink are not allowed, but food and drinks are sold inside.
• Smoking and vaping are banned, and cameras may be restricted; check the arena’s prohibited items list.
• Tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled or rescheduled.

Getting to Coca-Cola Arena

Coca-Cola Arena is in City Walk, and public transport is recommended because on-site parking is limited. Take the Metro Red Line to Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa station and walk a few minutes. By car, take Exit 47 from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Al Safa Street and follow the City Walk signs. Most taxi drivers know the venue.

For more live sport, see our sports events guide, browse things to do this weekend or check things to do in November.