The PFL is bringing two of its biggest stars back to the spotlight as Nurmagomedov and Ditcheva headline a stacked return to New York later this summer.
PFL officials announced on Tuesday that lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his title against unbeaten contender Archie Colgan in the main event of the promotion’s July 31 card at UBS Arena on Long Island.
In the co-main event, undefeated flyweight sensation Dakota Ditcheva finally returns to action when she takes on former Bellator title challenger Denise Kielholtz.
The New York card marks another huge chapter for Nurmagomedov and Ditcheva, two fighters the PFL continues to build around as cornerstone stars.
For Usman Nurmagomedov, this will be his second PFL lightweight title defense.
The undefeated Dagestani star captured the belt with a dominant performance over Paul Hughes before successfully defending it with a stoppage win over Alfie Davis. Before joining the PFL, Nurmagomedov built his reputation in Bellator, where he defended the lightweight title three consecutive times.
Now, he faces one of the toughest tests of his career in Archie Colgan. The 30-year-old contender enters the title fight with a flawless 13-0 professional record and has won nine straight fights across Bellator and the PFL. Colgan punched his ticket to this title opportunity with a unanimous decision victory over Jay Jay Wilson.
The stylistic clash adds even more intrigue to the main event, with Colgan’s elite wrestling and knockout power presenting a serious challenge to Nurmagomedov’s all-around dominance.
Meanwhile, Dakota Ditcheva’s return has been long overdue. The British star was originally scheduled to face Kielholtz in February, but a hand injury forced her out of the matchup. Now fully recovered, Ditcheva gets the chance to finally settle unfinished business.
Ditcheva enters the bout with a perfect 15-0 record and continues to establish herself as one of the fastest-rising stars in women’s MMA.
Her recent wins over Taila Santos, Jena Bishop, and Sumiko Inaba have only strengthened her growing reputation inside the promotion.
Kielholtz, however, won’t make things easy. She comes into the fight riding a three-fight winning streak, including a victory over Antonia Silvaneide earlier this year after Ditcheva withdrew from their original booking.
The matchup gives Nurmagomedov and Ditcheva an opportunity to further cement themselves as two of the promotion’s biggest attractions.
With Francis Ngannou no longer part of the PFL picture, the organization is leaning heavily on its current champions to carry momentum into the second half of the year.
The PFL New York main card begins at 7 p.m. ET on July 31 and will air live on ESPN.
More fights are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, but for now, all eyes are firmly on Nurmagomedov and Ditcheva as they prepare to headline one of the promotion’s biggest events of 2026.
