Professional Fighters League made its debut at UBS Arena on Friday, July 31, bringing one of mixed martial arts’ premier promotions to Long Island for the first time with a championship card featuring some of the sport’s top competitors.

The July 31 card featured two championship bouts, as lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov successfully defended his title against previously unbeaten challenger Archie Colgan in the main event, while Dakota Ditcheva retained the women’s flyweight championship with a victory over Denise Kielholtz in the co-main event. The event also included several additional professional bouts, drawing fight fans from across the region to the arena’s first PFL showcase.

Women’s flyweight title challenger Denise Kielholtz said competing in New York is special because of the sport’s global audience and the opportunity to perform on one of MMA’s biggest stages. She added that the city’s diverse culture and energy remind her of her hometown of Amsterdam, making Long Island feel familiar while offering an even bigger platform.

“I know how many eyes are watching this Friday, this fight, and this all the fights on this card. So being here and being on this card is just like feels amazing,” Kielholtz said.

Lightweight title challenger Archie Colgan said fighting in New York for the first time added to the significance of competing for a world championship. While he has visited the city before, he said stepping into the cage at UBS Arena represented another milestone in his undefeated career.

“Anybody in the world knows that New York is like a staple of … cities in the world,” Colgan said. “So it’s great to be out here for such a big event in my career, but for the company as well.”

For PFL Chief Executive Officer John Martin, the event was also a homecoming. A Deer Park native, Martin said he grew up on Long Island before UBS Arena existed and remembers following the Islanders during the franchise’s Stanley Cup-winning years.

“This is one of the nicest arenas I’ve ever been,” Martin said. “So we’ll be back here for sure.”

Martin said the knowledgeable crowd and the success of the inaugural event reinforced PFL’s decision to bring its product to Long Island. He praised fans for their energy throughout the night and said the organization hopes the July 31 event is the first of many at UBS Arena.

“This is only the start, guys,” Martin said. “It’s going to be better.”