Former MMA Series fighter and PFL heavyweight Grand Prix winner Oleg Popov has weighed in on his upcoming matchup against undefeated Iranian contender Puya Rahmani.
The fight is scheduled for Nov. 14 at a PFL event in Dubai. Speaking with Yulia Mirey and Fedor Ryzhov in an interview with MMA-TV.COM, Popov praised Rahmani’s skill set, specifically pointing to his speed and physical power.
“He’s a good, strong opponent. One of the toughest I’ve faced in my career,” Popov said.
“But I don’t think he’s physically stronger than Alexander Romanov.”
The Russian heavyweight is no stranger to facing powerful wrestlers. In 2025, Popov defeated Alexander Romanov by split decision in the PFL Grand Prix final to win the heavyweight tournament.
Popov admitted that his initial impression was that Rahmani was a relatively slow fighter. However, after taking a closer look at his fights, he changed his assessment. Popov believes constant pressure will be key to preventing the Iranian from settling into his rhythm and recovering after his own attacks.
Wrestling has also been a major focus of Popov’s preparation. Rahmani frequently relies on powerful body-lock entries and takedown attempts, and Popov’s team has already been recreating those situations in training.
Popov also expects to be active in the clinch and on the ground. In his view, the fight could come down to which man is better prepared for the grappling exchanges and who can impose his preferred pace.
Mentally, however, Popov believes he holds a clear advantage.
“Mentally, I’m definitely stronger than him,” Popov said. “His fans try to get under my skin, but that only fires me up. I’m used to fighting away from home and having the crowd against me.”
Rahmani remains unbeaten in professional MMA. The Iranian previously competed in ACA and has established himself as a dangerous finisher.
Popov enters the matchup with a 23-2 professional record. In March 2026, the MMA Series titleholder extended his winning streak with a unanimous decision victory over Magomed Magomedov.
Oleg Popov vs. Puya Rahmani is set for Nov. 14 in Dubai.
