Joker in the Pack: Alfie Davis Embraces the Underdog Role Against Usman Nurmagomedov

In mixed martial arts, reputations can weigh as heavily as fists. For years, just hearing the surname Nurmagomedov has been enough to make opponents hesitate, second-guess, or quietly accept their fate before the cage door even shuts. Alfie Davis knows that feeling well. Or rather, he knew it well.

There was a time when the idea of standing opposite Usman Nurmagomedov would have filled the Londoner with nerves. Today, as he prepares to challenge the unbeaten PFL lightweight champion in Dubai, Davis wears a different expression. Calm. Curious. And quietly confident.

This is no longer a story about fear. It’s about belief, timing, and a fighter who sees himself as the unexpected card that could flip the whole deck.

Joker in the Pack: Davis Versus the Nurmagomedov Machine

The Nurmagomedov name has become shorthand for dominance in MMA. Spearheaded by Khabib Nurmagomedov and reinforced by the brilliance of Islam Makhachev, the extended Dagestani circle has produced what many consider the most formidable fighting collective the sport has ever seen.

Khabib retired unbeaten at 29-0, his legacy sealed as one of the greatest to ever compete in the UFC. Makhachev followed, carving out his own era as lightweight champion. Together, they mentor the next generation — and Usman Nurmagomedov is widely viewed as the natural heir.

At 27, Usman is undefeated in 21 professional bouts and currently holds the PFL lightweight title. Methodical, composed, and technically sound, he has been groomed inside one of the most ruthless systems in combat sports. On paper, this Saturday’s title defence against Alfie Davis looks straightforward.

But MMA has never cared much for paper.

Davis understands the narrative. He knows how this fight is being sold — the British challenger stepping into the lion’s den against the heir to Dagestan’s throne. And yet, that storyline doesn’t bother him anymore. In fact, he seems to enjoy it.

“Usman’s 20-0 and everyone thinks I’m going to lose,” Davis said with a smile. “So I’m like the joker in the pack.”

From Self-Doubt to Self-Belief

That confidence wasn’t always there. Davis is open about the fact that earlier in his career, fights like this would have felt overwhelming. The aura surrounding elite fighters can seep into your preparation, your mindset, your sleep.

What changed everything was August.

Facing Gadzhi Rabadanov — another highly regarded Dagestani fighter — Davis produced the defining performance of his 12-year career. Overcoming sustained wrestling pressure and moments of adversity, he landed the cleaner, more damaging strikes to take a decision victory and a $500,000 (£369,000) prize.

More importantly, he walked away with something money can’t buy.

“Now I’ve beaten one of the best guys in the world, I can assure myself it’s doable,” Davis explained. “That fight showed me I belong at this level.”

The win was life-altering in every sense. On the flight back to the UK, championship belt resting on his lap, Davis finally allowed himself a moment of reflection. The grind, the setbacks, the years of quietly believing — it all caught up with him somewhere between North Carolina and home.

He even laughs about chatting with American women in the airport, who were Googling his name and asking about the belt.

“It felt like a scene from a movie,” he said. “I’d just won a load of money, I’m holding this belt… it was a proper celebrity moment.”

That prize money allowed Davis to buy a bigger house for his wife and two children. In his new home, he’s planning an office — with two spaces on the wall. One already filled by the Rabadanov belt. The other? Reserved.

Praise From Khabib and the Nurmagomedov Mind Games

In the build-up to Saturday’s fight, even Khabib Nurmagomedov himself has entered the conversation. The former UFC champion described Davis as a “dangerous fighter” — words that don’t come lightly from a man known for psychological precision.

Davis isn’t entirely sure what to make of it.

“I don’t know if he’s hyping the fight or trying to keep Usman grounded,” Davis said. “I’ve seen it before — if you’re overconfident, you underperform.”

He describes Usman as “arrogant”, suggesting Khabib’s comments may be designed to keep his younger cousin sharp. Still, Davis admits there’s something validating about the recognition.

“Equally, it is good to get praise from Khabib,” he added. “You don’t ignore that.”

Solving the Nurmagomedov Puzzle

Technically, this is a fascinating matchup. Against Rabadanov, Davis spent large portions of the fight being controlled on the mat, yet he never panicked. When the bout returned to the feet, he made his moments count.

Usman Nurmagomedov presents a different kind of challenge. While rooted in the Dagestani grappling tradition, he is more comfortable striking than many of his team-mates. His movement is slicker, his shot selection more varied.

“He’s tricky. He’s a puzzle,” Davis said. “This camp has been about thinking.”

Preparation, he explains, has been as much mental as physical. Studying tendencies. Mapping scenarios. Imagining counters not just for what Nurmagomedov does, but for what he might do.

“You have to remind yourself,” Davis added, “he’s only human.”

Joker in the Pack, Again

Once more, Davis walks into fight week as a heavy underdog. It’s a role he’s grown comfortable with — even fond of. After the Rabadanov fight, some critics claimed his opponent lost rather than Davis winning.

He disagrees.

“If you watch it back, that’s not true,” Davis said. “He was trying to win — he just couldn’t.”

And that belief carries into Saturday night.

“I think that’s what’s going to happen again.”

In a sport defined by unpredictability, maybe the most dangerous fighter isn’t the unbeaten champion with the famous name. Maybe it’s the man with nothing left to fear, a clear wall waiting at home, and a joker’s smile as the cage door closes.