Alfie Davis reflects on his loss to Usman Nurmagomedov: 'I woke up with Khabib in my face.'
February 8, 2026, 1:00 p.m. ET
After a disappointing defeat at the hands of Usman Nurmagomedov during their title match at PFL: Road to Dubai, Alfie Davis displayed remarkable humility. Despite his confident predictions about being the first fighter to hand Nurmagomedov (now boasting an impressive record of 21-0) a loss in mixed martial arts, Davis found himself on the receiving end of a dominant performance, resulting in him being choked unconscious in the third round of this lightweight championship bout.
Davis struggled to replicate the success he had previously enjoyed against Nurmagomedov's teammate, Gadzhi Rabadanov. In fact, Davis later acknowledged that he didn’t perceive much danger during the last grappling sequence that led to his submission. Instead, he vividly remembers the moments that followed.
"I heard my corner shouting, '30 seconds left,' and I thought to myself, 'I’ll just stay calm here; he isn’t going to finish me,'" Davis recounted during an interview with Red Corner MMA. "Then suddenly, I woke up. He had an incredible grip on me.
"When I came to, Khabib (Nurmagomedov) was right there in front of me. It was quite strange; if you’ve ever been choked out, it’s an odd, tingling sensation. I came to and thought, 'Where am I?' Then I realized, 'Oh, there I am.' It’s unfortunate, man."
Following the fight, Davis described a peaceful atmosphere. He even shared a lighthearted moment with UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
"He was really respectful," Davis mentioned. "All of them were very courteous. Islam Makhachev had the best comment; he said, 'Hey brother, now it's 1-1.' It was really funny."
At 33 years old, Davis had contemplated retirement before embarking on a championship journey with PFL in 2025, which ultimately led to his matchup with Nurmagomedov. Although the outcome was disheartening, Davis made it clear he is not ready to abandon his aspirations just yet, sharing his thoughts via Instagram.
