The Pragmatism and Magnetism of Marc Diakiese

Marc Diakiese has run a veritable gauntlet during his career, having spent seven years on the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster before he made the move to the Professional Fighters League in 2024. He competed at a Bellator Champions Series show in London some six months ago—he bested Tim Wilde by unanimous decision—and the stakes can only go up from there.

Diakiese will toe the line against Gadzhi Rabadanov when their lightweight quarterfinal serves as the PFL 2025 World Tournament 3 co-headliner on Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Rabadanov struck 155-pound gold in 2024 and did so without much resistance. He took unanimous decisions from Solomon Renfro and Elvin Espinoza during the regular season, then posted back-to-back knockouts of Michael Dufort and Brent Primus in the playoffs.

Now 32 years of age, Diakiese welcomes being tested right from the jump by a man many view as the pre-tournament favorite.

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.

“I’m at a stage in my career where I’m not looking to take high-risk, low-reward fights,” he told Sherdog.com. “I looked at this matchup, and he’s a former champion. Now I’ll be able to show what I can do. He’s a really good wrestler. All the accolades to win are on his side, so I’m looking forward to going out there and putting on a performance.”

On a career-best 10-fight tear, Rabadanov trains under former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The camp has grown to near-mythological proportions in the MMA community.

“To me, it doesn’t really matter where a fighter is from,” Diakiese said. “I know I have a strong mindset. He’ll be looking to perform and impress his team, but I’m just grateful for the amount of training I’ve done around the world. I’ve trained people out of that camp, so I know what they’re bringing. There’s nothing that he could bring that will surprise me. I’ve seen it all—I’ve been there—and that’s why I’m excited.”

Diakiese likes the changes the PFL has undergone, most notably the move from a points-based regular-season setup to single-elimination tournaments across eight weight classes.

“It was great to fight for $1 million, but this is a lot different,” he said. “I get paid very well by the PFL, so with the way the tournament is [structured], I’m really just fighting for extra cash. The setup is great because I don’t want to have to fight somebody, then have to come back and worry about something else holding me back. This is all about ‘I beat you, I move on,’ and I know who’s left in the tournament.”

A former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts champion, Diakiese has posted back-to-back wins since he submitted to a Joel Alvarez brabo choke at UFC Fight Night 224 in July 2023. The PFL tournament allows him to take it one step at a time.

“I hate to think about anything extra,” Diakiese said. “I’m just seeing it as another fight. I’ve got a tough opponent in front of me to deal with, and I’m seeing nothing but that. I’ve got a tough fight, great opponent, and I need to go and perform. I’m not looking at anything in the future. We are in the present. I’m not looking further down in the tournament. I’m focused on right now.”

Though he has been pragmatic in his approach, Diakiese understands the stakes.

“For me and for my country, it would mean a lot,” he said. “Coming from Congo, I’ve fought in a lot of promotions coming up. I’ve got a lot of people who look up to me, so if I win the belt, I can show them what I’ve achieved through this career of mine and that they can do it, too.”