Joe Schilling loses cool after headbutt, calls off PFL Brussels fight
Bizarre scene over PFL Brussels. Veteran Joe Schilling gets headbutted, loses his cool, and calls off his fight, thus losing to Donegi Abena.
PFL Brussels just had one of the weirdest MMA moments of 2026. Combat sports veteran Joe Schilling waived off his fight against Donegi Abena and walked out of the cage at ING Arena in Belgium, fuming, handing over a TKO victory by retirement to his opponent, Donegi Abena, who committed a blatant foul. The fight ended in 37 seconds.
Schilling (4-7) and Abena (1-0) exchanged a few shots right away from the start. Schilling clinched Abena, fell to his back with Abena on top of him in his guard, and the chaos erupted. Abena clearly headbutted Schilling, which is illegal in MMA.
The shot didn't appear to connect cleanly and didn't visibly cut or damage Schilling, as he moved his head out of the way. The American began immediately complaining, and the fight was paused by referee Mike Beltran. Schilling, fuming, stood up and began yelling at Abena and pacing back and forth.
Abena was deducted a point for his foul. Schilling said he didn't want to continue and tried waving off the fight. The referee warned him that he'd lose the fight should he not continue, and he then had a change of mind.