BRUSSELS (5 JULY) – PFL Europe Brussels has concluded at the ING Arena after a special evening of action highlighting not only the elite European talent MMA has to offer, but also putting the spotlight on the future stars from Belgium.
The main event had the Brussels crowd roaring in applause and jubilation, as Patrick “The Belgian Bomber” Habirora (7-0) proved once again why he’s one of the most exciting up-and-coming prospects the continent has to offer with a fantastic first-round TKO win over Danny “Hot Chocolate” Roberts (18-9). Habirora floored Roberts with a head kick and put the fight away with a pair of hammer fists at the 4:32 mark of the first round. Remaining undefeated with seven victories, the future is bright for Belgium’s rising star.
In the co-main event, France’s Taylor “Double Impact” Lapilus (22-4) showed why he is one of the most elite Bantamweights on the planet as he bested the explosive Ali Taleb (12-2) by unanimous decision in Brussels. Lapilus was one step ahead of Taleb all fight long, as he controlled the action with his grappling, earning a 30-27 scorecard from all three judges. With nine victories in his last ten fights, Lapilus will look to make his name the most feared at 135 lbs in all of PFL.
A spectacle of Belgian MMA was in store for the crowd in Brussels, as Belgium natives Gaetano “El Tigre” Pirrello (17-7-1) and Salvatore Liga (5-1) faced off in a Featherweight Showcase Bout. Pirrello made quick work of his compatriot, locking in a ninja choke to earn the first-round submission.
Boris “The Modern Gladiator” Mbarga Atangana (6-0) burst onto the PFL scene in Brussels as he needed just 56 seconds to demolish Bruno “Predator” Santos (3-4) with ground and pound to pick up the TKO win. A member of Team Sendo, Atangana promises to be one of the most devastating fighters in the continent.
Chequina Noso Pedro (10-4) shocked the debuting Khamzat “Borz” Abaev (5-1), proving to be too much for the Belgian fan favourite, as he walked away with a clear-cut unanimous decision victory after three rounds of action. Noso Pedro stifled Abaev, as well as the crowd in Belgium, with a commanding performance that earned a 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 scorecard.
Movsar Ibragimov (7-0) proved why he was one of the sought after fighters from Belgium to join the PFL Europe Brussels card, as he dispatched Gerardo Fanny (14-6) of the Netherlands by submission in the second round of their Bantamweight Showcase bout. Ibragimov bucked a slow start in the opening round to rally back in the second round and lock in a Von Flue choke at the 1:42 mark to force Fanny to tap.
Moving to 10-0, Manchester’s Ibragim “The Mauler” Ibragimov (10-0) once again showed why he is one to watch in the Featherweight division, as he defeated Mathys Duragrin (5-1) by unanimous decision to hand the previously undefeated Frenchman his first career loss. Ibragimov grounded Duragrin for most of the three-round contest to earn a convincing 30-27 score from all three judges.
In the 2025 PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament, England’s Dean Garnett (13-3-1) defeats late replacement Tuomas “The Tank Engine” Grönvall (12-9-1) of Finland at the ING Arena and advances through to the Semifinal round. Garnett pushed the pace with his striking and grappling for all three rounds to earn the unanimous decision win, 29-28 across the cards.
Also advancing through to the Semifinals is France’s Mahio Campanella (8-1), who earned his spot in the Tournament thanks to a Doumbé Decides contract that he won at the 2024 PFL Europe Championship Lyon last December. Campanella capitalised on that opportunity by defeating Latvia’s Matiss Zaharovs (7-4) via unanimous decision, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.
In a tightly-contested three-round affair, Switzerland’s Catalin Safta (7-3) eked out a split decision win over Belgium’s Nicolas Di Franco (10-5-1), 30-27, 28-29, 29-28, in a Lightweight Showcase bout. Both fighters had their moments, but at the end, it was Safta who did enough to leave the SmartCage with the victory.
Portugal’s Gustavo “Heart” Oliveira (11-2) will also be joining the PFL Europe Nantes card as knocks out France’s Anas “The Rainmaker” Azizoun (5-2) with a highlight reel spinning back elbow at the 3:45 mark of Round 1, and will be in the Bantamweight Semifinals this September. He takes on Mahio Campanella for a spot in the Finals.
The first Bantamweight to advance through to the Semifinals is Poland’s Jan Ciepłowski (9-0) after his victory over France’s Julien Lopez (7-5-1). Cieplowski put Lopez down with a big left hand and finished him off with a barrage of punches at the 3:43 mark. He faces Dean Garnett in the next round.
Poland’s Paulina Wisniewska (6-0) steamrolled Jessica Cunha (9-5) of Brazil, winning by first round submission in their Women’s Flyweight Showcase bout. Wisniewska dropped Cunha early with a head kick and relied on her top-notch grappling to end the fight, locking in a rear naked choke and forcing the tap at the 4:12 mark of round one.
France’s Adam Meskini (10-3) unleashed a vicious flurry of strikes to put away Tiziano Ferranti (10-2) of Italy by TKO in the second round of their Featherweight Showcase bout. Meskini blitzed Ferranti with punches and knees to get the stoppage at the 4:56 mark.
With less than 30 seconds left in the fight, Wales’ rising star Levi Batchelor (3-0) pulled off a slick third round submission win over Tunisia’s Fahdi Khaled (2-1) in a Showcase Bantamweight bout. Batchelor used his superior grappling to control the pace of the fight before locking in an ezekiel choke at the 4:34 mark of the final round to get the win.
In the opening bout of the night, France’s Salvo Guidice (2-0) turned in a gutsy performance as he submitted fellow Frenchman Brice Belghazi (1-2) by rear naked choke at the 2:14 mark of the third round. Guidice survived a submission scare in the second round and took advantage of a fatigued Belghazi in round three to get the submission win.
PFL Europe Brussels – RESULTS
Welterweight Main Event Showcase Bout: Patrick Habirora (7-0) def. Danny Roberts (18-9) by first round TKO at 4:32
Bantamweight Co-Main Event Showcase Bout: Taylor Lapilus (22-4) def. Ali Taleb (12-2) by unanimous decision (30-27×3)
Featherweight Showcase Bout: Gaetano Pirrello (17-7-1) def. Salvatore Liga (5-1) by first round submission (ninja choke) at 3:27
Light Heavyweight Showcase Bout: Boris Mbarga Atangana (6-0) def. Bruno Santos (3-4) by first-round TKO at 0:56
Welterweight Showcase Bout: Chequina Noso Pedro (10-4) def. Khamzat Abaev (5-1) by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
Bantamweight Showcase Bout: Movsar Ibragimov (7-0) def. Gerardo Fanny (14-6) by second round submission (Von Flue choke) at 1:42
Featherweight Showcase Bout: Ibragim Ibragimov (10-0) def. Mathys Duragrin (4-1) by unanimous decision (30-27×3)
PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Dean Garnett (13-3-1) def. Tuomas Gronvall (12-9-1) by unanimous decision (29-28×3)
PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Mahio Campanella (8-1) def. Matiss Zaharovs (7-4) by unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Lightweight Showcase Bout: Catalin Safta (7-3) def. Nicolas Di Franco (10-5-1) by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Gustavo Oliveira (11-2) def. Anas Azizoun (5-2) by first round KO at 3:25
PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Jan Cieplowski (9-0) def. Julien Lopez (7-5-1) by first round TKO at 3:43
Women’s Flyweight Showcase Bout: Paulina Wisniewska (6-0) def. Jessica Cunha (9-5) by first round submission (RNC) at 4:12
Featherweight Showcase Bout: Adam Meskini (10-3) def. Tiziano Ferranti (10-2) by second round TKO at 4:56
Bantamweight Showcase Bout: Levi Batchelor (3-0) def. Fahdi Khaled (2-1) by third round submission (ezekiel choke) at 4:34
Catchweight Showcase Bout (163 lbs.): Salvo Guidice (2-0) def. Brice Belghazi (1-2) by third round submission (RNC) at 2:14
