Wilson KOs Kelly in PFL Belfast Main Event

A raucous crowd of over 5,000 packed the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 16, 2026, for the Professional Fighters League's return to the city, where New Zealand's Jay Jay Wilson delivered a stunning first-round knockout to end undefeated Irish prospect Darragh Kelly's perfect record in the main event.

Wilson, ranked No. 7 in the lightweight division, stepped in on short notice after originally scheduled headliner Paul Hughes withdrew due to injury. Just 37 seconds into the bout, Wilson landed a left body kick followed by a precise left hook that dropped Kelly to the canvas. He sealed the finish with hammerfists before referee John McCarthy intervened. The victory marked Wilson's 12th professional win and positioned him as a serious contender for PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov's title. "I landed the side kick, set my base, and once I saw it connect, I sat on the hook and that was all she wrote," Wilson said afterward, calling out Alfie Davis for a potential next matchup.

In the co-main event, Ballymena's Rhys McKee made a successful PFL debut with a unanimous decision victory over Alex Lohore in a 176-pound catchweight bout. The fight remained...