Omar El Dafrawy scored a quick first-round knockout of James Vake during the UFC Chicago preliminary card. The win snapped El Dafrawy’s skid in PFL action and ended Vake’s strong run in his PFL debut.
Fight recap
The two welterweights met on the UFC Chicago prelims. El Dafrawy used his reach early, landing several kicks to keep Vake at range while the New Zealander tried to work with his hands. A short sequence ended the fight when El Dafrawy landed a left hand that put Vake down hard. The referee stopped the bout at 1:12 of round one when Vake could not defend himself.
El Dafrawy’s background and recent form
El Dafrawy is a veteran of Brave CF and UAE Warriors. He was the original PFL MENA welterweight champion in 2024, earning that title by beating Anthony Zeidan, Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi and Mohammad Alaqraa. In 2025 he submitted Daniele Miceli but then dropped a decision to Florim Zendeli, which was his first PFL loss. This quick knockout served as a strong rebound for him.
About James Vake
Vake made his PFL debut in this fight. He came in on a four-fight win streak and held a 7-1 professional MMA record entering the bout. This was his first fight since his October 2024 win over Cameron Clatworthy. The loss ends his run in the PFL debut but not the momentum he built before entering the organization.
Card notes and what this means
The knockout was part of the UFC Chicago preliminary card, where rising fighters often get a big stage to show their skills. El Dafrawy’s quick finish will likely raise his profile as he looks to return to form in PFL competition. Vake will regroup after his first pro loss in several fights and decide his next steps following the defeat.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Omar El Dafrawy | KO win (left hand) — 1:12, Round 1 |
| James Vake | KO loss — 1:12, Round 1 (entered fight 7-1, four-fight win streak) |
