Nurmagomedov To Headline MMA Event At UBS Arena

BELMONT PARK, NY — Long Island mixed martial arts fans will have the chance to see a night of fights at UBS Arena this July, as the Professional Fighters League comes to Long Island for a night of fights headlined by undefeated PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov defending his title against third-ranked contender Archie “King” Colgan, the fighting league announced Tuesday.

The PFL called Nurmagomedov “the king of the 155 lbs division,” noting that he’s the top ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the company with an undefeated 21-0 record. Colgan, on the other hand, is an undefeated college wrestler with an undefeated record of his own, at 13-0.

“PFL New York will be the culmination of three consecutive main event World Title fights, and on July 31, the world will see elite MMA at its finest,” PFL CEO John Martin said. “In one corner you have the Lightweight Champion, Usman Nurmagomedov, who has been a class above every man to stand opposite him...And now we have a challenger everyone says could be the kryptonite, Archie Colgan, an NCAA Division I wrestler who many believe is yet to lose a round. Does a legacy continue, or a legacy start? We’ll find out, and I can’t wait.”

In a co-main event on the July 31 card, undefeated flyweight competitor Dakota “Dangerous” Ditcheva will take on Denise “Miss Dynamite” Kielholtz, the PFL announced. PFL officials say this fight will be a return to competition for Ditcheva, who saw two separate hand injuries put a year-long stop to her 15-0 fighting career. Ditcheva is ranked third in the flyweight division, while Kielholtz is ranked sixth.

Ditcheva and Kielholtz were scheduled to go head-to-head in February, before Ditcheva’s second hand injury, setting up the rescheduled bout for the UBS Arena card.

“Where better to bring one of the faces of PFL than New York. 12 finishes in 15 fights is an astounding knockout rate for her weight class, and she’s must-see TV every time she steps in the cage,” Martin said of Ditcheva. “But she won’t have it easy in her return, Kielholtz has world championship level kickboxing and a black belt in Judo, meaning high risk for Dakota, and an opportunity to disrupt for Denise.”

Pre-sale tickets are already on sale, while general sale tickets will go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m., with more of the undercard still to be announced. For those Long Islanders unable to score tickets to the UBS show, the event willa ir on ESPN July 31, beginning at 7 p.m. with prelims on the ESPN app.