Bryan Battle headlines PFL Charlotte on Friday at Bojangles Coliseum, taking on fellow middleweight contender Dalton Rosta in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C. Battle enters the bout looking to rebound after being submitted by Johnny Eblen in 4:10 during his PFL debut in March. The former UFC fighter, who departed the promotion in mid-2025 following weight-miss issues, has pointed to a 14-second knockout of Gabe Green in his last Charlotte appearance as a blueprint for how he responds to adversity.
Bryan Battle returns to familiar territory this Friday when he steps into Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, to face fellow middleweight contender Dalton Rosta in the main event of PFL Charlotte.
Battle, nicknamed "The Butcher," trains out of Hayastan MMA Charlotte and carries a 13-2 record into the bout. The 31-year-old American stands six-foot-one with a 77-inch reach and brings genuine finishing ability to every appearance. His striking output is among the more active in the division at 5.12 significant strikes per minute, and he connects at a 52 percent accuracy rate. Battle spent time on the UFC roster before departing the promotion in mid-2025 following weight-miss issues, and his PFL debut did not go as planned — Johnny Eblen submitted him at 4:10 of their March meeting. The Charlotte crowd will be familiar ground, however. Battle has pointed to a 14-second knockout of Gabe Green in his last appearance in the city as evidence of how he can respond when his back is against the wall.
Rosta, known as "HERCULES," brings an 11-3 record and a sharply different style. The 30-year-old American stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and lands 1.19 significant strikes per minute — a figure that reflects a grappling-first approach. He averages two takedowns per 15 minutes and connects on nearly 57 percent of his strikes when he does choose to throw, suggesting disciplined, calculated offense rather than volume.
Why it matters
- Battle is fighting for his PFL standing after dropping his promotional debut by submission, making a strong performance essentially mandatory.
- Rosta's takedown pressure at two per 15 minutes represents a serious threat to a fighter who was last finished on the ground.
- The style contrast — Battle's high-volume striking versus Rosta's wrestling-heavy approach — creates a clear tactical tension that should define the bout from the opening bell.
- A win for either man strengthens their case as a legitimate middleweight contender within PFL's competitive landscape.
