Alexander Shabliy ended a lengthy absence from competition by defeating Alfie Davis by unanimous decision in PFL. The victory marks a successful comeback for Shabliy after his extended time away from the cage.
Alexander Shabliy ended an extended absence from professional competition by returning to the PFL cage and defeating Alfie Davis by unanimous decision on June 28, 2026.
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 as a grappling-oriented fighter, averaging 0.52 takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking output has historically been measured rather than high-volume, landing at a rate of 0.16 significant strikes per minute with a 38.52 percent accuracy rate, suggesting a style that prioritizes control over exchanges.
Davis, the 33-year-old known as "The Axe Man," falls to 20-5-1 with the defeat. At five-foot-eleven with a 71-inch reach, Davis brought a notably sharper striking game into the contest, entering with a 56.6 percent striking accuracy and 0.60 significant strikes landed per minute — among the more precise outputs in his division. Despite those numbers, he could not secure the judges' favor against the returning Shabliy.
Why it matters
- Shabliy's successful return from a lengthy layoff demonstrates he remains a credible competitive force in the PFL lightweight or welterweight picture.
- Davis, despite his striking efficiency advantage on paper, absorbs a loss that complicates his standing in the promotion.
- The contrasting styles — Shabliy's wrestling-oriented approach against Davis's sharper striking — made the unanimous verdict a notable statement for the Russian's durability and ring generalship after time away.
