This summer, PFL is making a comeback to New York, and they’re bringing an impressive lineup.
Usman Nurmagomedov, ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound list, will defend his lightweight championship against the unbeaten Archie Colgan. In addition, Dakota Dicheva, the top women’s flyweight and 2024 PFL season champion, will return to the ring to face Dennis Kielholz on July 31 at UBS Arena, as confirmed by PFL CEO John Martin.
“We’re thrilled to have two pound-for-pound champions at this event,” Martin shared, referring to the fight in his Long Island hometown that wraps up a three-week string of PFL events featuring championship bouts. “…When you’ve got fighters like Usman and Dakota, you’re looking at elite cards — I mean, really, compared to any other promotion out there.”
Nurmagomedov, with a record of 21-0 and 15 finishes, is set to defend his PFL gold medal for a second time since his transition from Bellator champion to PFL after its acquisition of Bellator. His last fight ended with a win over Alfie Davies by technical submission on February 7th.
Colgan, holding a 13-0 record with 6 finishes, moved to an impressive 2-0 in PFL after a victory over Jay-Jay Wilson last October. It seemed like a natural progression, given that Nurmagomedov, a cousin of UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov, is ahead of highly ranked Davis and close colleagues, with Colgan sitting at No. 3.
“To me, Archie was the most logical choice,” Martin stated. “He’s been building up his reputation, getting tougher opponents as he goes, and he’s proven himself each time.”
The co-main event features Ditcheva against Kielholz, a matchup that had been planned for the night Nurmagomedov fought Davis in Dubai. Ditcheva had to step back due to an injury.
Though she ranks sixth in the New York Post Sports MMA World Rankings, ahead of other PFL competitors, the fight against Kielholz won’t determine who becomes the inaugural PFL women’s flyweight champion.
The expectation is that the winner of the Ditcheva-Kielholz fight will later face one of the winners from the June 27 event in San Diego, which includes key divisional clashes with Carmouche vs. Vivian Araujo and Ariane da Silva vs. Jena Bishop.
Coach Martin mentioned that Ditcheva’s return fight with Kielholz means she’s fully ready to compete again, despite this bout not granting her a championship opportunity as originally intended.
“After her injury, we discussed the best path forward. We felt she owed it to Dennis to take the fight,” Martin explained.
Ditcheva (15-0, 13 finishes) hasn’t fought since a decision win against Sumiko Inaba last July and is undefeated in PFL, though she didn’t finish an opponent this time.
Kielholz (9-5), who is a decade older than Ditcheva, has remained active after making her promotional debut in Dubai, where she achieved a decision victory against replacement Antonia Silvanaide.
Before the New York event, PFL will host a middleweight title rematch on July 18 in Austin, Texas, between champion Costello Van Steens and former champion Johnny Eblen. The July 25 card in Washington will see Thad Jean facing Shamil Musayev for the vacant welterweight title.
This marks PFL’s first event in New York since August 2023, when it operated in a seasonal format, holding semifinal events at Madison Square Garden.
With Martin in charge since late 2025, the PFL has shifted to more standard events not tied to seasonal competitions or tournaments.
