Outside Source
Shamil Musaev can say a lot with a few words, hence the nickname “The Silent Assassin.”
Undefeated through 21 career bouts, he will face Russian compatriot Ramazan Kuramagomedov for the inaugural Professional Fighters League welterweight championship in the PFL Dubai “Nurmagomedov vs. Davis” co-main event on Saturday at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It marks Musaev’s first appearance since he won the PFL welterweight tournament in November 2024.
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With 2026 being the first year under new CEO John Martin, the PFL made plenty of changes to its format, the most notable being the remove of its tournament and season-based schedule. A new rankings system should allow for the best to face the best. Musaev understands the change but admits he will miss the activity the previous format brought the table.
“This is going to be different for me, for sure,” he told Sherdog.com. “With the tournament, you knew when and how many times you could potentially be fighting for the year, but now things are not going to be so clear. I’m excited for the challenge and to see what is in store for my future.”
The opportunity to compete in Dubai and to do so in a co-headliner was not lost on Musaev, who has never fought in the United Arab Emirates’ most populous city.
“To fight in Dubai is awesome,” he said. “I’m very glad to be fighting in Dubai. In my opinion, Dubai is the best location for the big fights.”
Two World Title Fights headline PFL Road to Dubai! Tune in LIVE Saturday, Feb. 7 at 12 p.m. ET.
The Goal: ‘Stay at the Top’
Musaev sees himself winning the PFL welterweight title, then fighting twice more this year. However, a formidable task awaits. Kuramagomedov last competed on June 22, 2024, when he laid claim to the Bellator MMA welterweight crown with a five-round unanimous decision over Jason Jackson at Bellator Champions Series 3. The win moved him to a perfect 13-0. A showdown between Kuramagomedov and Musaev ranks as one of the most competitive bouts the PFL can make at the moment, and it signals a strong direction for the promotion.
“An ideal performance and schedule for me this year looks like this: I will become a champion against Kuramagomedov, and then, I plan to defend the belt twice,” Musaev said. “That would be the most ideal situation for me this year.”
A victory over Kuramagomedov would serve as a short-term gain as part of a long-term strategy. Musaev wants to stay engaged and test himself against the best of the best on the PFL roster.
“The goal for me in the PFL is to stay at the top,” he said. “I plan to be a champion [and] perform in great fights against great opponents, and while the new format is a decision of the league, I’m hoping to just stay active and busy. I like the grand prix because I was active and busy, and I hope to keep that with the new format.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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