El Dafrawy Knocked Out Vake in 72 Seconds at PFL Chicago
Omar El Dafrawy knocked out James Vake at 1:12 of round one at PFL Chicago on April 11, 2026. The welterweight bout ended quickly at Wintrust Arena, giving the 2024 PFL MENA champion a fast return to form.
A quick welterweight finish
El Dafrawy faced Vake on the preliminary card in Chicago. The Egyptian fighter carried regional championship experience into the contest, while Vake sought a major win in the PFL season.
El Dafrawy landed the finishing shot just over a minute into the opening round. The official method was a knockout, and the fight did not reach the second round.
The 1:12 finish improved El Dafrawy’s position in the welterweight division and gave him a decisive win over an opponent who had previously competed in Oceania.
A statement on the preliminaries
The PFL event took place at Wintrust Arena on April 11. The card featured former Bellator champion Sergio Pettis in the main event, while El Dafrawy’s finish came earlier on the show.
Vake lost by first-round knockout. El Dafrawy’s performance lasted less than two minutes and was one of the faster finishes on the preliminary card.
PFL’s official weigh-in page confirms the matchup and card, while the fighter’s official record lists the first-round KO at 1:12. Contemporary coverage confirms the result and event.
Sources
- Professional Fighters League: official event card
- Professional Fighters League: El Dafrawy’s official record
- Arab News: fight report and finish time
