Nathan Schulte (26-6-1) defeated Artur Zainukov (19-5) by unanimous decision at PFL Tampa, snapping his own losing skid and returning to the win column. The victory ended Zainukov's impressive eight-fight winning streak, marking his first defeat since 2021. Schulte is a two-time PFL Grand Prix champion, having won the tournament in both 2018 and 2019 with finals victories over Rashid Magomedov and Loik Radzhabov.
Nathan Schulte returned to winning form at PFL Tampa on August 22, 2026, earning a unanimous decision victory over Artur Zainukov to snap his own losing skid and put his name back in the win column.
Schulte, a two-time PFL Lightweight Grand Prix champion, has long been one of the promotion's most decorated veterans. He captured back-to-back tournament titles in 2018 and 2019, defeating Rashid Magomedov in the first finals and Loik Radzhabov in the second. Now carrying a 26-6-1 professional record, the victory reestablishes him as a relevant force in the PFL lightweight landscape after a difficult stretch.
For Zainukov, the loss ends a remarkable run. The fighter had strung together eight consecutive victories dating back to a defeat in 2021, a stretch that had positioned him as one of the more dangerous emerging names in the division. He drops to 19-5 with the setback, suffering his first loss in roughly five years.
Why it matters
- Schulte's win breathes new life into his PFL campaign, with Grand Prix points and playoff positioning always central to the promotion's format
- Zainukov's eight-fight winning streak made him a credible threat; this loss disrupts whatever momentum he had built heading into 2026
- The result sets up an intriguing question about where both fighters land in PFL's lightweight standings as the season progresses
