As 2024 turns out, the UFC isn't everything for MMA free agents.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) continues to show why it is such a big player in the industry with recent signings, from former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou last year to Cage Warriors champion Paul Hughes, arguably Ireland's best prospect in recent years.
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But the PFL isn't stopping there, with yet another European superstar set to join: 22-year-old Baysangur “Baki” Chamsoudinov, who is no longer a free agent and has signed a five-fight contract with the PFL, according to La Sueur.
Shamsoutdinov is unbeaten with an 8-0 record, having last fought fellow Frenchman Cedric Doumbe in a controversial bout in which Doumbe was left with a splinter of wood in his leg. Referee Marc Goddard stopped the bout in the third round and awarded Baki the victory by TKO.
The French superfight took place under the PFL Europe banner back in March, and PFL CEO Peter Murray has already floated the idea of a rematch between the two fighters in the future, and with Baki signing with the organisation, that could very well be the case.
“Cedric wants the fight, he wants the rematch,” Murray said. La Sur In May. “PFL, we want a rematch. Let's see if Baki is interested in it. It's still in discussions. We like the fight. Cedric likes the fight. Baki likes the fight. I think it was a total disappointment for both men that it didn't go to waste. But they had a chance and Baki knows it. So he knows where we are.”
Doumbe (6-1) bounced back from a loss to Chamsoudinov after defeating Bellator veteran Jahlil Willis with a first-round TKO last month in Paris. We'll see if fate brings them together again, hopefully this time without any debris littering the PFL Smart Cage floor.
Mark Goddard appears! Baki wins!#PFLParis pic.twitter.com/gGauAVp80n
— PFL (@PFLMMA) March 7, 2024
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