Friday nights in the combat sports world usually serve as the appetizer for a big Saturday pay-per-view, but January 16, 2026, felt like a main course. If you’re waking up today asking who won yesterday fight, you aren't just looking for one name. We had a vacant heavyweight world title change hands in Minnesota, a statement performance in the boxing ring in California, and a marathon 14-fight card in Bangkok that saw a rising star keep his "0" intact.
Basically, if you blinked, you missed a lot of canvas-hitting action.
Arslan Bilalov Claims LFA Heavyweight Gold
The biggest MMA story of the night went down at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. LFA 224 was a massive deal for the promotion because it marked their debut on Vice TV. In the main event, the vacant heavyweight championship was on the line between Arslan Bilalov and Matt Adams.
Bilalov is a problem. Seriously.
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He came into this with a 5-0 record and left 6-0 after a clinical performance against Adams. The fight didn't see the judges' scorecards. Bilalov secured a Rear-Naked Choke (RNC) at the 4:47 mark of the very first round. It was a dominant display of grappling that proved why he was favored to take the belt vacated by Denzel Freeman.
LFA 224 Main Card Results
- Arslan Bilalov def. Matt Adams via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 1.
- Josiah Harrell def. Bekmyrza Dosmatov via TKO (Corner Stoppage), Round 3.
- Giovanna Canuto def. Janaina Silva via Submission (Neck Crank), Round 3.
- Taner Trembley def. Shaheen Santana via Submission (Guillotine), Round 1.
The co-main was just as gritty. Josiah Harrell and Bekmyrza Dosmatov went to war in a welterweight clash that eventually saw Dosmatov’s corner wave the white flag in the third round. It’s the kind of win that puts Harrell on the UFC’s radar for a short-notice call-up later this year.
Raul Curiel Makes a Statement in Palm Desert
Switching over to the squared circle, the boxing world was focused on the Acrisure Arena in California. Raul "Cugar" Curiel was looking to solidify his spot in the welterweight rankings against Jordan Panthen.
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Curiel didn't just win; he dominated.
He took a unanimous decision victory, showing a level of composure and shot selection that Panthen simply couldn't match. This wasn't a "run and hide" kind of decision either. Curiel sat in the pocket and made Panthen pay for every single mistake. If you had money on the underdog, honestly, it was a tough night. Curiel is now looking toward a major title shot, potentially against the winner of the Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson bout scheduled for later this month.
In the other notable boxing match yesterday, the highly anticipated "No Decision" result in the Nikita Tszyu vs. Michael Zerafa fight has fans screaming for a rematch. A nasty cut on Zerafa led to a premature ending, and while the cut man thought it could continue, the ringside physician saw enough blood to call it. It's an unsatisfying result for everyone involved, but expect those two to run it back before the summer.
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ONE Friday Fights 138: Decho and Hussain Shine
Over in Bangkok, the Lumpinee Stadium was rocking for ONE Friday Fights 138. This wasn't just MMA; it was a mix of Muay Thai and kickboxing that lasted hours.
The main event was a flyweight Muay Thai banger between Decho Por Borirak and Pompet PongSuphan PK. Decho outgunned Pompet in what was easily the fight of the night. Both guys have over 100 fights on their resumes, and it showed. The technique was surgical, but Decho’s volume was the deciding factor.
Ubaid "Bad" Hussain also moved to 14-0. The 20-year-old from Leeds is becoming a massive star in the flyweight division. He totally dominated Brazil Aekmuangnon, proving that his "Bad" nickname is well-earned. He's arguably the most exciting prospect in the promotion right now.
What This Means for Your Fight Week
If you're keeping track of who won yesterday fight to prepare for tonight's UFC 311 card, here is the context you need. The momentum from Bilalov's win in LFA adds even more hype to the heavyweight division as we head into the weekend.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
- Watch the Bilalov Replay: If you missed LFA 224 on Vice TV, find the highlights of that first-round choke. It was textbook.
- Keep an Eye on Raul Curiel: His win over Panthen likely moves him into the top 5 of at least two sanctioning bodies. He is no longer a "prospect"—he's a contender.
- UFC 311 Preparation: Remember that Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili are headlining tonight. Yesterday's results show that favorites are holding strong, but the "No Decision" in the Tszyu fight reminds us that anything can happen once the bell rings.
The landscape for 2026 is already looking violent in the best way possible. Make sure your streaming subscriptions are active because the turnaround for these winners is going to be fast.