Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes, Ceremonial Weigh-ins throughout 2025 PFL Street to Dubai Champions Sequence at Coca-Cola Area in Dubai, UAE, Friday, January 24, 2025. (Jose Peñuela / PFL)
The Russia versus Eire narrative at PFL Champions Sequence: Street to Dubai may need been borrowing from latest UFC historical past, however there was little doubt Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes was probably the most compelling light-weight fights within the first half of 2025.
Nurmagomedov, cousin of Khabib and brother of latest UFC title challenger Umar, was simply 26, undefeated, and seeking to defend his Bellator light-weight championship for the third time. Hughes, 27, was one of many strongest Irish prospects in years.
Not a foul manner for the PFL to kick off 2025, although the shine of the struggle had been overshadowed by the promotion’s latest fumbles, from sad fighters to the obvious dying of the Bellator model. No less than till it lastly arrived.
Saturday’s Street to Dubai headliner opened with quite a few kicks from champ Nurmagomedov, and numerous feeling out. A respectful first spherical, a minimum of till Usman landed under the belt with a kick roughly three minutes in. Hughes didn’t take a lot time to recuperate, and got here off the restart sizzling, catching Nurmagomedov a minimum of as soon as on the way in which in. A second later, nevertheless, it was Hughes touchdown low with a push kick. Nicely, the low blow scorecard learn 1-1; they completed out the spherical with no extra fouls.
Early within the second, a Hughes change kick put Nurmagomedov off-balance. A second later, Hughes deftly defended a takedown try. In each instances, Nurmagomedov stored his cool, and Hughes stayed affected person. About two minutes in, the pair engaged in a frantic clinch battle, first at middle, then alongside the fence. Nurmagomedov had the Thai clinch, however it was Hughes ripping the physique. Nurmagomedov reversed, and launched a nasty-looking elbow off the break that simply missed touchdown clear. After they got here collectively once more, it was extra bodywork from Hughes, who appeared to have tenderizing the physique down as a part of his sport plan.
It was Nurmagomedov, moments later, touchdown maybe the perfect punch of the struggle to that time. But Hughes gave little response to being tagged, consuming the shot and proving to have a stable chin. One other clinch, one other scrappy trade, with Usman seeking to land a knee, and Hughes firing an overhand adopted by extra pictures to the midsection.
After a quiet opening body, the second spherical had seen issues actually kick off. Spherical three opened with Nurmagomedov switching stances just a few occasions, seeking to keep away from the low kicks of Hughes, and touchdown one in all his personal. One other inside leg kick from the champ adopted. Usman would take a look at Hughes’ takedown protection close to the halfway mark, however the Irish challenger fought it off. Then, one other low blow landed, from the champ this time. Hughes, as he had within the case of the struggle’s first foul, selected to not take a lot of a relaxation. After they obtained going once more, nevertheless, a kick in shut landed low by Usman Nurmagomedov once more, and Hughes collapsed to the canvas in ache.
The third foul from champ Usman Nurmagomedov led to some extent deduction, not often seen in title fights. He exploded off the restart, touchdown a giant takedown and placing a ton of stress on the challenger when Hughes obtained again up. Nurmagomedov landed a few elbows earlier than Hughes may create some house. Hughes went on the assault late, Nurmagomedov launched a leap knee, and Hughes ripped the physique previous to the bell. Nonetheless, a spherical that Nurmagomedov would virtually actually have gained was possible even at greatest heading into the championship rounds.
A quiet first, action-packed, even second spherical, and the purpose deduction within the third made the fourth spherical an fascinating prospect. It opened at a measured, diminished tempo, each males feeling issues out once more, every seemingly cautious of giving the opposite a gap or making a essential error. Hughes held middle, and located a house for his proper hand a couple of minute in. Nurmagomedov relied on facet kicks and circling, however Paul Hughes started to work his uppercut. The champ went to the Irish fighter’s lead leg. One other of these was checked by Hughes a short while later. Hughes fired a physique kick. After which, one other foul, this time a head conflict that left Hughes wounded and licking his personal blood. Regardless of the visible proof, it was truly Nurmagomedov who gave the impression to be in worse form after the collision, ensuing within the physician being introduced into the cage.
Whereas Paul Hughes stared at his opponent and performed to the group, Usman Nurmagomedov took an honest relaxation, earlier than lastly telling the doc he was good to go. Off the restart, Nurmagomedov landed an enormous takedown, hold Hughes on his again for the ultimate 30 seconds or so, and touchdown some floor n’ pound late.
With the purpose deduction within the third, spherical 5 loomed giant for Usman Nurmagomedov. He’d possible gained the fourth, with the primary and second more durable to attain. The wrestling of Nurmagomedov paid off early within the remaining body, with the champ taking Hughes to his knees alongside the fence. There, Nurmagomedov landed knee after knee to the thigh of the challenger, the group cheering as every blow landed. Hughes would get again up, however Nurmagomedov dragged him proper again down after he exploded to his toes. This time, Hughes would scramble up a lot faster, and a second later, it was Hughes getting Nurmagomedov down, albeit for a break up second.
Late within the body, the champ appeared to clip Hughes, and Nurmagomedov briefly went after him, although Hughes survived. Hughes labored his jab and regarded to land his uppercut, then went again to the physique. Within the remaining seconds, Nurmagomedov went after a takedown, however Hughes reversed, sending the pair again to the toes to commerce to the ultimate bell!
Official Consequence: Usman Nurmagomedov def. Paul Hughes by majority resolution (47-47, 48-46, 48-47)