THE APEX TIMES
PFL New York loses two undercard bouts during fight week, title fight card remains set
With PFL New York at UBS Arena in Belmont, N.Y., still scheduled to feature Usman Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title defense and Dakota Ditcheva’s 125-pound co-feature, two other matchups have been removed from the card during the week of the event.
PFL New York is moving forward without two scheduled bouts, according to a report published Tuesday. The event, set for UBS Arena in Belmont, New York, will still be headlined by a lightweight title defense, with the rest of the top of the card remaining intact.
The main event pairs lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov against Archie Colgan. Their fight will serve as Nurmagomedov’s title defense, a central anchor for PFL’s regular-season-to-playoffs pathway where championship-level bouts tend to carry extra emphasis on staying in rhythm and momentum through the promotion’s postseason picture.
In the co-feature, Dakota Ditcheva will face Denise Kielholtz in a bout at 125 pounds. The matchup is positioned as one of the showcase fights on the card, with both fighters presented in the report as leading 125-pound talents.
Beyond the headline matchups, however, two bouts scheduled on the undercard have fallen through during fight week, leaving the promotion to adjust the lineup closer to fight night. The report does not specify which particular undercard fights were removed, only that two scheduled matchups will no longer be contested.
For fans, the change is primarily a matter of card composition. Undercard bouts often function as a proving ground for rising fighters and can affect how matchups resolve toward future matchmaking within the division. Still, the report makes clear that the most prominent fights on the card, including the title fight, remain unchanged.
Broadcast plans also remain a key part of the event’s setup. The main card is scheduled to air on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, with the report also noting a 4 p.m. PT start time. With two undercard bouts removed, the broadcast timing could shift slightly, but the event’s structure is built around its top fights, which are still in place.
Why It Matters
- Fight-week removals can reshape the development opportunities for prospects who might have used the undercard to build momentum.
- Keeping the lightweight title defense and the 125-pound co-feature intact preserves the event’s main competitive and promotional focus.
- With ESPN airing the main card, lineup changes can affect segment timing, but the card’s primary storylines remain the same.
Key Facts
- PFL New York at UBS Arena in Belmont, N.Y. will proceed with two fewer bouts than originally planned.
- Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his lightweight title against Archie Colgan in the main event.
- Dakota Ditcheva meets Denise Kielholtz in the 125-pound co-feature.
- The report says two undercard matchups fell through during fight week, while the top of the card remains intact.
- The main card is scheduled to air on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.