Alexander Shabliy ended a lengthy absence from competition by defeating Alfie Davis by unanimous decision in PFL. The victory marks a successful return to the cage for Shabliy after his extended layoff.
Alexander Shabliy made a successful return to professional competition on June 28, 2026, defeating Alfie Davis by unanimous decision under the PFL banner after an extended absence from the cage.
Shabliy, known by the nickname Peresvet, improves to 24-4-0 with the victory. The 31-year-old Russian stands five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach and has built his career largely around grappling and control. His striking output sits at a modest 0.16 significant strikes landed per minute with an accuracy rate of 38.52 percent, suggesting he relies on dictating pace and position rather than volume punching to earn decisions.
Davis, nicknamed The Axe Man, drops to 20-5-1 with the loss. The 33-year-old is noticeably more active on the feet, registering 0.6 significant strikes landed per minute at an accuracy mark of 56.6 percent — among the sharper rates in the lightweight tier. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 71-inch reach, Davis holds a slight physical edge over Shabliy, but that advantage was not enough to sway the judges on this occasion.
Why it matters
- Shabliy's return proves he remains a viable force in PFL's lightweight division after his layoff
- Davis's loss complicates his standing in a competitive division where wins and losses directly affect playoff seeding under the PFL format
- The stylistic contrast — Shabliy's grinding control versus Davis's sharper striking output — made the judges' unanimous verdict a meaningful statement about how the fight unfolded
