PFL 6 in Wichita, Kansas, delivered a night of decisive action, highlighted by a stunning main event where Gadzhi Rabadanov made a profound statement in the lightweight division.
Rabadanov faced Kevin Lee, and from the opening bell, it was clear his strategy was one of relentless, precise pressure. He wasted no time in bringing the fight to Lee, landing strikes with efficiency. A sharp jab early in the round found its mark, visibly affecting Lee. Rabadanov quickly followed up with a potent right hand that further compromised his opponent.
Appearing rattled and struggling to regain his composure under the continuous assault, Lee attempted a desperation takedown. This proved to be a critical error. As Rabadanov defended, Lee went down awkwardly, landing face-first on the canvas and possibly sustaining a shoulder injury in the process.
Seeing his opponent in distress, Rabadanov continued his attack with a focused flurry of punches. Referee Jason Herzog, recognizing Lee was no longer in a position to intelligently defend himself, wisely stepped in to halt the contest at the 2:37 mark of the very first round. The official result was a TKO victory for Gadzhi Rabadanov.
This dominant performance wasn`t just another win; it was Gadzhi Rabadanov`s definitive ticket to the PFL 2025 lightweight tournament final. He will face Alfie Davis in the championship bout, after Davis secured his own spot with a hard-fought unanimous decision win over former Bellator champion Brent Primus on the same card.
The event also saw finalists determined in other key divisions. In the co-main event, former Bellator flyweight queen Liz Carmouche showcased her veteran savvy, earning a clear-cut unanimous decision victory over the previously undefeated Elora Dana. Dana displayed commendable toughness throughout the three rounds, but Carmouche`s experience and technical execution were ultimately too much to overcome. Carmouche will now face Jena Bishop in the 125-pound final, after Bishop impressed earlier in the night by securing a submission win (rear-naked choke) in the second round against Ekaterina Shakalova.
The bantamweight tournament bracket also solidified its championship pairing. Marcirley Alves and Justin Wetzell both advanced to the 135-pound final with unanimous decision wins, defeating Jake Hadley and Mando Gutierrez respectively in performances that demonstrated their control and skill.
Adding to the night`s excitement, the preliminary portion of PFL 6 got off to a fast start with multiple finishes, including several early submissions that energized the crowd and set the tone for an action-packed event.
PFL 6 successfully advanced the season, setting the stage for exciting championship matchups across multiple weight classes later in 2025, with Gadzhi Rabadanov`s emphatic knockout victory standing out as the defining moment of the night.
Adrian Whitmore