Former GLORY kickboxing champion Donegi Abena made his MMA debut at a PFL event in Brussels against 42-year-old Joe Schilling, who hadn't fought in MMA since 2019. The bout ended in controversy when Abena committed an accidental headbutt on the ground. Though the strike wasn't severe, Schilling reacted angrily, cursing at Abena, and after the referee deducted a point, Schilling stood up and made it clear he wouldn't continue. The referee tried to resume the fight but Schilling refused, leading to an official TKO victory for Abena at 37 seconds. According to the post, Schilling demonstrated how fighters brought in as underdogs can earn easy money without taking damage.
Donegi Abena recorded a winning MMA debut under the PFL banner in Brussels, though the contest ended in deeply controversial fashion when veteran kickboxer Joe Schilling refused to continue fighting after an accidental headbutt.
Abena, the former GLORY kickboxing champion making his transition to mixed martial arts, faced Schilling in what was the American's first MMA appearance since 2019. The fight lasted just 37 seconds. After Abena landed an inadvertent headbutt on the ground, the referee paused the action and deducted a point from the debutant. Rather than resume, Schilling made his objections loudly and emphatically clear, cursing at Abena and standing down entirely. With Schilling unwilling to continue, the referee had no choice but to award Abena a TKO victory.
Schilling, who stands six-foot-three and competes out of the United States, carries a 2-5 MMA record and had been away from the sport for several years prior to this appearance. A decorated kickboxing name, his MMA numbers tell a different story — he averages 2.84 significant strikes landed per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and he has registered zero takedowns and zero submission attempts across his professional MMA career.
Why it matters
- Abena launches his MMA career with a victory, though the manner of the win leaves his skill level largely untested.
- Schilling's refusal to continue drew immediate scrutiny, with observers noting that fighters accepting underdog roles can exit without absorbing meaningful damage.
- The controversy puts pressure on PFL matchmakers over opponent selection for high-profile crossover debuts.
- The result will likely generate debate over what constitutes a legitimate MMA record-building exercise versus an exhibition in name only.
