PFL Rankings Shake-Up After Charlotte: Battle vs. Rosta
PFL Rankings Shake-Up After Charlotte: Battle vs. Rosta
Bryan Battle outpointed Dalton Rosta by split decision in the PFL Charlotte main event on August 7, and the rankings update that followed absorbed that result along with earlier summer fights. Movement runs across six divisions. The biggest shift is in Lightweight, where Alexandr Shabliy has jumped to #1. Heavyweight sees two Charlotte finishers move up. Middleweight acquires new contenders at the top — even as the main-event winner stays put.
Biggest Movers
| Fighter | Division | Old Rank | New Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandr Shabliy | Lightweight | #4 | #1 | +3 |
| Alfie Davis | Lightweight | #1 | #4 | -3 |
| Sergio Pettis | Bantamweight | #1 | #3 | -2 |
| Asaël Adjoudj | Featherweight | #6 | #8 | -2 |
| Mitchell McKee | Bantamweight | #2 | #1 | +1 |
| A.J. McKee | Featherweight | #3 | #2 | +1 |
| Maxwell Djantou Nana | Heavyweight | #7 | #6 | +1 |
| Simeon Powell | Light Heavyweight | #5 | #6 | -1 |
Battle Wins, Stays Put
The Charlotte main event told you something about where Bryan Battle sits in the PFL pecking order. He beat Dalton Rosta — scores of 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 — but the panel didn't move him. Battle stays at #8. Rosta stays at #4. Neither verdict surprised.
The middleweight division absorbed new arrivals that matter more than the main event result. Fabian Edwards enters the rankings at #2 and Impa Kasanganay at #3. Josh Silveira, who lost a unanimous decision to Aaron Jeffery at Charlotte, drops one spot from #6 to #7. Jeffery holds at #6 despite the win. Josh Fremd, who TKO'd Jhony Gregory in round two, enters the rankings at #9. Costello van Steenis holds the middleweight title.
Shabliy Claims #1 in Lightweight
Alexandr "Peresvet" Shabliy's climb to #1 traces to his unanimous decision win over Alfie Davis at PFL San Diego in late June. The rankings cycle absorbed that result in this update. Davis — the former #1 — slides to #4. Gadzhi Rabadanov, previously at #1, drops to #2 as Shabliy moves above him.
Shabliy owns a 25-4 professional record and brings championship-level experience. His arrival at the top of the lightweight division makes him the logical next challenger to champion Usman Nurmagomedov. Whether PFL books that fight in the next major event remains to be seen.
Heavyweight: Charlotte Finishers Move Up
Two fighters from the Charlotte heavyweight card earned ranking climbs from their performances. Denis Goltsov stopped Hasan Mezhiev by TKO in the opening round and enters the heavyweight rankings fresh at #3. Maxwell Djantou Nana's third-round TKO of Eduardo Neves earns him a one-spot rise from #7 to #6. Abraham Bably climbs from #6 to #5 as the new entries push the ladder up. Vadim Nemkov holds the heavyweight title.
Light Heavyweight: Divisional Reset
Light Heavyweight sees the most dramatic structural change in this update. Antônio Carlos Júnior enters directly at #1. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov — who lost by split decision to Simeon Powell at Charlotte — enters at #2. Rasul Magomedov comes in at #7, and Rafael Xavier at #10. Four new top-10 entries in one update signals a division PFL is actively building.
Simeon Powell, despite the win over Yagshimuradov, drops from #5 to #6. The four new entries above him compressed his position downward. That is the cost of beating an unranked fighter entering the rankings above you — the math doesn't always cooperate. Corey Anderson holds the light heavyweight title.
Bantamweight: McKee Takes #1
Mitchell McKee, 10-0 and carrying the "Merciless" nickname, moves from #2 to #1 in Bantamweight. Sergio Pettis — a former champion — drops from #1 to #3. Renat Khavalov holds at #2 with a perfect 12-0 record. The top three of PFL Bantamweight now consists entirely of undefeated or near-undefeated fighters, making it one of the deepest and most credentialed in the sport.
Welterweight and Featherweight
Welterweight sees Shamil Musaev enter as a new #1 and Cédric Doumbé come in at #10, with Thad Jean holding the title. In Featherweight, Timur Khizriev enters at #1 and A.J. McKee moves from #3 to #2. These new entries appear to be part of a broader roster expansion PFL is running ahead of the later 2026 season.
What's Next
Charlotte settled a middleweight question — Battle beat Rosta — but didn't open a clear path to the title for either man. The lightweight division has a cleaner picture: Shabliy at #1 makes him the logical challenger to Nurmagomedov. In heavyweight, Goltsov's debut at #3 sets up potential matchups with #1 Oleg Popov or #2 Sergey Bilostenniy. The light heavyweight rebuild, with multiple new top-10 entrants, suggests PFL is preparing for a more active schedule in the division.