Alfie Davis Considers Fellow PFL Finalist Gadzhi Rabadanov the ‘Runt of the Litter’

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Alfie Davis paid attention to the Professional Fighters League and recognized that its revamped format could provide him with the best opportunity to achieve his championship goals. Now set to face Gadzhi Rabadanov in the PFL 2025 World Tournament 9 lightweight final on Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Davis refuses to buy into the hype surrounding the company’s reigning champion at 155 pounds.

“I think me beating him will put me in the top of the world ranking,” he said. “To be honest, I think he’s a bit overrated. I think he’s good, but he’s overrated and I’m willing to prove that.”

Rabadanov was dismissive of the Englishman ahead of their encounter, but Davis has identified some holes he believes he can exploit.

“I think I definitely have the advantage in the striking realm,” he said. “He seems to think he’s a good boxer because he’s had a few knockouts recently, so he’s high on that. I wouldn’t say his knockouts are lucky, but he’s knocking people out who aren’t great at striking. Before that, he was mainly a decision wrestler. Let’s see how he is against a world-class striker over five rounds.”

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament Finals LIVE Friday, Aug. 15 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+

Davis has waited his entire career for the kind of opportunity with which the PFL has provided him. He thinks the setup suits him perfectly.

“I love it,” Davis said. “I want to fight. I’m in the training room all the time. I don’t get hit much. I stay pretty. It just stops me from getting fat between fights. I do enjoy it a lot more because I can indulge in beer and fried chicken at any time, but beating people up has a shelf life, so I’d rather beat people up right now.”

In taking on Rabadanov, Davis gets to test his skills against a highly respected team of fighters from Dagestan, Russia, led by former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov. While the group may be impressive as a whole, he believes he has found the weakest link.

“I think looking objectively at the Dagestan fighters, Gadzhi is good, but he’s the runt of the litter,” Davis said. “He’s no Khabib. He’s no Islam Makhachev. I think he’s overrated, and I’m willing to prove that.”

Backed by confidence and armed with the momentum of back-to-back victories over Clay Collard and Brent Primus, Davis admits a PFL tournament championship would provide a centerpiece for his career.

“It would mean the world to me,” he said. “As someone who has been doing this for 20 years, the cash that comes with it, what that can do for me and my family, it puts the cherry on top of my martial arts career. It’s the pinnacle of my career. I’m in my prime, and to get a belt and that large sum of money would put a stamp on it all.”