Former Glory kickboxing champion Donegi Abena made his MMA debut at PFL Brussels against 42-year-old Joe Schilling, who hadn't fought MMA since 2019. The fight ended in scandal when Abena delivered a headbutt in the ground game. While the headbutt wasn't particularly powerful and unlikely to cause serious damage, Schilling immediately jumped up and began cursing at Abena. The referee deducted a point from the debuting fighter and attempted to restart the bout, but Schilling became agitated again, jumped to his feet, and made clear he was done fighting. The bout was never resumed. The official result was recorded as a TKO victory for Abena at 37 seconds. The analyst sarcastically noted that Schilling demonstrated to other fighters brought in as sacrificial opponents how to earn easy money without taking damage.
Joe Schilling's brief MMA comeback ended in embarrassing fashion at PFL Brussels on May 23, when the American kickboxer refused to continue fighting after absorbing a headbutt from debuting opponent Donegi Abena, with the bout ultimately recorded as a TKO victory for Abena at just 37 seconds of the opening round.
Schilling, a six-foot-three, 191-centimeter striker from the United States carrying a 2-5 professional MMA record, had not competed in mixed martial arts since 2019. Despite landing strikes at a rate of 2.84 significant strikes per minute with 52 percent accuracy during his MMA career, he never threatened a takedown or submission attempt in his time in the sport, and Saturday's contest ended before his stand-up skills could be tested in any meaningful way.
His opponent, Donegi Abena, is a former Glory kickboxing champion making his first appearance inside an MMA cage. The headbutt occurred during a ground sequence, and while the foul was deemed significant enough for the referee to deduct a point from Abena, observers noted the contact was not particularly severe. Schilling rose to his feet, verbally confronted Abena, and when the referee attempted to restart the fight, made it unambiguously clear he had no intention of continuing. The bout was abandoned and the result stands as a TKO win for Abena.
Why it matters
- Schilling was brought in as an experienced opponent for a debuting kickboxing star, a role that raised questions before the contest began
- His refusal to continue, following a foul that resulted in a point deduction rather than a stoppage, drew immediate criticism and mockery from analysts
- The result hands Abena a winning MMA debut, however clouded, as he transitions from Glory competition to the PFL roster
- The incident reignites debate around veteran fighters recruited specifically as controlled opposition in high-profile debuts
