Bryan Battle Earns First PFL Victory in Hometown Split-Decision Over Dalton Rosta

On August 7, 2026, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) staged its Charlotte card at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The three-round middleweight main event featured local fighter Bryan “The Butcher” Battle against top-five contender Dalton “Hercules” Rosta. Two judges scored the bout 29-28 for Battle, while the third scored it 28-29 for Rosta, giving Battle a split-decision win and his first victory in the PFL.

USA TodayPFL Charlotte Results: Bryan Battle edges split decision over Dalton Rosta to score first PFL win PFL Charlotte Erupts as Battle Scores Gritty Split Decision PFL Charlotte Results and Highlights: Bryan Battle Wins at Home Bryan Battle outpoints Dalton Rosta in PFL Charlotte main event PFL Charlotte results: Battle vs. Rosta PFL Charlotte: Bryan Battle Victorious At Home, Wins Split Decision Over Dalton Rosta

Battle entered the UFC in 2021 and compiled a 7-1 record (one no-contest) before being released in August 2025 after a series of weight-miss issues. He joined the PFL in early 2026, earning two knockout wins in the league’s “Dirty Boxing” series, then suffered a submission loss to interim champion Johnny Eblen in his PFL debut in March. Rosta, a PFL middleweight veteran, entered Charlotte on a three-fight losing streak, having dropped consecutive knockouts to former champion Impa Kasanganay and tournament winner Fabian Edwards.

USA TodayPFL Charlotte results: Battle vs. Rosta PFL Charlotte Results and Highlights: Bryan Battle Wins at Home Bryan Battle outpoints Dalton Rosta in PFL Charlotte main event PFL Charlotte Results: Bryan Battle edges split decision over Dalton Rosta to score first PFL win PFL Charlotte Erupts as Battle Scores Gritty Split Decision

• August 6, 2026 (scheduled) – Bryan Battle weighed in at the official weigh-in held at Platform Sports Bar in Charlotte.

PFL Charlotte Results: Bryan Battle edges split decision over Dalton Rosta to score first PFL win

• August 7, 2026 (occurred) – The PFL Charlotte event took place, culminating in the Battle-Rosta main event.

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• Result: Bryan Battle def. Dalton Rosta via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

PFL Charlotte: Bryan Battle Victorious At Home, Wins Split Decision Over Dalton Rosta

• Judges’ Scores: Two 29-28 cards for Battle; one 28-29 card for Rosta.

PFL Charlotte: Bryan Battle Victorious At Home, Wins Split Decision Over Dalton Rosta

• Records After Fight: Battle improved to 13-3 overall (5-1 in his last six bouts); Rosta fell to 11-4.

PFL Charlotte: Bryan Battle Victorious At Home, Wins Split Decision Over Dalton Rosta

• Round Breakdown: Rosta controlled the first round with pressure and grappling; Battle defended takedowns and landed more effective strikes in rounds two and three, influencing the judges’ final tallies.

PFL Charlotte: Bryan Battle Victorious At Home, Wins Split Decision Over Dalton Rosta

• Event Placement: Main card aired on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET after a 7 p.m. ET ESPN+ prelim broadcast.

PFL Charlotte results: Battle vs. Rosta

Rosta’s reaction was not detailed in the available reports.

PFL Charlotte: Bryan Battle Victorious At Home, Wins Split Decision Over Dalton Rosta

Battle’s split-decision win marks his first success under the PFL banner, halting a recent slump and positioning him as a viable contender in the league’s middleweight division. The victory also carries symbolic weight, as it occurred shortly after the announced merger of the MVP brand with the PFL, a transition that will see the combined organization operate under the MVP name with Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian as co-founders. Battle’s hometown triumph provides a morale boost for the Charlotte fan base and underscores the promotional value of local fighters headlining major events.

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The outcome sets the stage for Battle’s next PFL assignment, where he will aim to build on this momentum and pursue a path toward the season’s championship tournament.

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