Nurmagomedov Demolishes Hughes: Conquers Vacant PFL Belt

Usman Nurmagomedov Conquers PFL Lightweight Championship

Usman Nurmagomedov solidified his position as a dominant force in mixed martial arts by defeating Paul Hughes for the second time, securing the vacant PFL lightweight championship on Friday. Nurmagomedov (20-0) defeated Hughes (14-3) by unanimous decision in the main event of the PFL Champions Series in Dubai. This 155-pound matchup was a rematch of an electrifying bout in January, where Nurmagomedov won by majority decision. The fight on Friday, although similar to the first, culminated in a clearer victory for Nurmagomedov, with judges’ scorecards of 50-45, 49-46, and 48-47. Nurmagomedov, cousin of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, celebrated immediately at the end of the fight, and Hughes seemed to accept his defeat before the official scores were announced.

Do they mean this fight was close too? I feel like I won every round, but it was a very tough fight with a very difficult opponent.

Usman Nurmagomedov

Former Bellator MMA champion, Nurmagomedov has proven to be dominant throughout his eight-year professional career. Hughes, from Northern Ireland, proved to be his toughest test to date, despite failing to achieve victory in either of their two encounters.

Although there were provocations during the fight, both teams showed mutual respect once the combat was over.

Hughes, with his anti-wrestling strategy and resistance, led Nurmagomedov to possibly the best performance of his career. Although Nurmagomedov managed to take Hughes’ back on several occasions, he couldn’t secure a finish and had difficulty maintaining the position. Hughes had standout moments, including a strong leg kick that affected Nurmagomedov, but Nurmagomedov responded with effective striking that closed Hughes’ right eye for the fifth round. Referee Keith Peterson intervened several times due to low kicks and accidental headbutts. This was also an issue in the first fight, where Hughes suffered a cut from an accidental headbutt in the fourth round. However, neither fighter was penalized, and these accidental strikes did not seem to influence the outcome. Nurmagomedov’s reign has been somewhat confusing over the past year, as the PFL acquired Bellator MMA at the end of 2023, but did not immediately dissolve the belt system of the now-defunct promotion. Officially, Nurmagomedov won the new vacant PFL title on Friday. The PFL essentially restarted its championships earlier this year and has several vacant title fights scheduled for 2025.