Former MMA Series fighter and 2025 PFL heavyweight Grand Prix champion Oleg Popov delivered a dominant performance against previously unbeaten Iranian heavyweight Pouya Rahmani at PFL Dubai on November 14 in the United Arab Emirates.

The Russian controlled the action throughout the fight, preventing Rahmani from establishing his rhythm or implementing his game plan. After three rounds, all three judges awarded Popov a unanimous decision victory. The defeat marked the first professional loss for Rahmani, who entered the bout with a perfect 6-0 record.

Interestingly, just two days before the event, MMA Series director and matchmaker Fedor Ryzhov predicted that Popov would outclass the Iranian in the striking department and secure a victory on the judges' scorecards.

Popov previously competed six times under the MMA Series banner, winning every bout, including five by stoppage. During his time with the promotion, he captured both the bronze and silver belts. One of the standout moments of his career came in June 2022 at MMA Series-53, when he knocked out legendary Brazilian heavyweight Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.

Popov went on to establish himself on the international stage. In 2024, he reached the PFL heavyweight Grand Prix final before going one step further in 2025, winning the tournament with a victory over Alexander Romanov in the championship bout.

With his latest win over Rahmani, the 34-year-old Russian improved his professional MMA record to 24-2.