Gadzhi Rabadanov Obliterates Kevin Lee, Secures Spot in PFL 2025 Finals

Gadzhi Rabadanov made a thunderous statement at PFL 6 in Wichita, Kansas, dispatching former UFC standout Kevin Lee in devastating fashion. The Dagestani powerhouse needed less than three minutes to flatten Lee in the main event, securing a first-round TKO and booking his place in the finals of the 2025 PFL lightweight tournament.

From the moment the fight began, Rabadanov was relentless. He wobbled Lee early with a sharp jab and quickly followed up with a barrage of strikes that left Lee dazed and on the defensive. A clean right hand further rocked Lee, who attempted a desperate takedown only to collapse face-first onto the canvas—an effort that may have also resulted in a shoulder injury. The referee, Jason Herzog, stepped in at 2:37 of the opening round, ending the one-sided affair.

With this dominant win, Rabadanov improved his record and punched his ticket to the lightweight tournament final, where he will meet Alfie Davis. Davis earned his spot with an impressive unanimous decision win over former Bellator lightweight champion Brent Primus.

The co-main event featured another strong performance by a former Bellator champion. Liz Carmouche, a veteran of multiple top-tier promotions, overwhelmed the previously unbeaten Elora Dana with crisp striking and cage control to win a clear-cut unanimous decision. Carmouche now moves on to the women’s flyweight final, where she will face Jena Bishop. Bishop secured her own spot earlier in the evening by submitting Ekaterina Shakalova via rear-naked choke in the second round.

The bantamweight division also saw its finalists determined. Marcirley Alves outpointed Jake Hadley with a dominant showing, while Justin Wetzell cruised past Mando Gutierrez in a similarly lopsided unanimous decision.

The action-packed event opened with a flurry of submission finishes. Notably, Vinicius Cenci locked in a triangle choke to submit Antonio Caruso, Darragh Kelly forced Mike Hamel to tap via neck crank, and Nick Meck secured a first-round rear-naked choke over Alan Dominguez. The early results set the tone for a card full of dominant finishes and title implications.

Reflecting on the outcome of the main event, one thing is clear: Rabadanov's performance was as violent as it was clinical. As for Kevin Lee, who returned to PFL seeking redemption, this crushing defeat leaves his future uncertain.