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Irish star Paul Hughes confirms move to PFL after gold laden Cage Warriors run, set to fight in 2025 tournament

Following the completion of his contractual obligations with the Graham Boylan-led Cage Warriors promotion, and continued speculation regarding his…

Following the completion of his contractual obligations with the Graham Boylan-led Cage Warriors promotion, and continued speculation regarding his next move, streaking Irish lightweight force, Paul Hughes has confirmed his move to the PFL (Professional Fighters League) – as well as his participation in a 2025 tournament under the promotion’s banner.

Hughes, who boasts an impressive 11-1 professional record, fought out his contract with Cage Warriors in Dublin at the beginning of this month, landing a late first round knockout win over short-notice opponent, Fabiano Silva at the RDS.

And following the victory, Hughes, who unified the Cage Warriors featherweight titles back in 2022 with a rematch win over Jordan Vucenic, officially entered free agency, amid reported interest from both the UFC and Singapore-based organization, ONE Championship.

Paul Hughes confirms move to the PFL

Putting speculation on his fighting future to rest on social media tonight, Hughes, 26, confirmed he had penned a multi-fight deal with the Peter Murray-led PFL – and plans to compete for a million dollar paycheck in the promotion’s tournament in a 2025 entry.

“Done deal @PFLMMA,” Paul Hughes posted on his official Instagram Stories. “I have sacrificed EVERYTHING for an opportunity like this. Truly gave every inch of my being to this game. This deal is going to change my life. I will enter the 2025 @PFLMMA 1 MILLION DOLLAR tournament. And there is not (sic) chance anyone is going to touch me. #MyTime.”

Signing with Chosen Advisory Group under renowned manager, Tim Simpson, Hughes joins a stable of fighters under the banner which includes former two-time UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, current welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, and recently-minted symbolic BMF champion, Max Holloway.

Over the course of his professional mixed martial arts career, Hughes has also landed other notable victories over current UFC contender, Morgan Charriere, Aidan Stephen, James Hendin, and Jays Quaeyhaegens to name a few.

Are you excited about Paul Hughes’ move to the PFL?

Dana White roasts PFL following UFC 300: ‘They were selling tickets buy two, get two free’

While celebrating the smashing success of UFC 300 on Saturday night, CEO Dana White took a moment to roast…

While celebrating the smashing success of UFC 300 on Saturday night, CEO Dana White took a moment to roast the Professional Fighters League — or as he calls them, “PFL-ator.

On April 13, the Ultimate Fighting Championship delivered its biggest event in promotional history, headlined by an epic light heavyweight title fight between reigning and defending titleholder Alex Pereira and ex-champion Jamahal Hill. Just past the three-minute mark, ‘Poatan’ sent Hill crashing to the canvas with a vicious left uppercut, bringing a quick end to a stellar night of action.

As stunning as Pereira’s KO was, the talk of the night was undoubtedly Max Holloway’s absolutely insane buzzer-beating knockout of Justin Gaethje to claim the BMF title.

Speaking with media members during the post-fight press conference, White was questioned about potentially taking the UFC to Holloway’s native Hawaii one day. White didn’t have much to offer in response but he somehow segued into talking about the PFL who put on a show in Las Vegas just 24 hours before UFC 300 kicked off.

Dana White is asked about UFC going to Hawaii.

Later, talks PFL: They put out a memo, buy 2, get 2 free. You're having a bad fucking week if those are the memos you're putting out. There were more people in my fucking greenroom tonight then there were at the fight. #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/10OihpFxnc

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) April 14, 2024

“Bellator could put on a fight in the f*cking parking lot,” White said. “You know, PFL-ator was here on Friday. I didn’t know that. They were here on Friday selling tickets, buy two, get two free. I’m not busting on them. That’s a f*cking fact. They put out a memo, buy two, get two free. You’re having a bad f*cking week if those are the memos you’re putting out. There were more people in my f*cking green room than there were at the fight.”

Dana White bags on PFL-Bellator meger

It’s far from the first time that White has thrown shade at the PFL and its merger with Bellator.

“I’ve covered this before,” White said at a post-fight event in December. “One sh*tty organization that sells no tickets and nobody watches buys another sh*tty organization that sells no tickets and nobody watches. Sounds like a f*cking winner to me. Woo!”

One of the PFL’s biggest stars, Kayla Harrison, made her Octagon debut at UFC 300 against former bantamweight women’s champion Holly Holm. The two-time Olympic gold medalist delivered a dominant performance, dispatching ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ via TKO in the second round. The win will likely put her in line to challenge for the 135-pound title later this year.

PFL founder Donn Davis laments blown opportunity to book Kayla Harrison vs. Cris Cyborg fight

PFL founder Donn Davis was disappointed to lose Kayla Harrison but remains confident that the promotion will get along…

PFL founder Donn Davis was disappointed to lose Kayla Harrison but remains confident that the promotion will get along just fine without her.

After securing her 16th career win against Aspen Ladd at the 2023 PFL World Championships last year, Davis was under the impression that Harrison had one more fight on her contract. Then suddenly, his star was gone. The two-time Olympic gold medalist unceremoniously walked away from the PFL to sign with the UFC. Scheduled to make her promotional debut on April 13 at UFC 300, Harrison is set to square off with former bantamweight women’s champion Holly Holm.

Speaking on Harrison’s exit during an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Davis offered his honest take on what happened between the two parties and his reaction to losing their biggest star.

“I don’t know,” Davis said. “And I talked to Kayla, and I believe Kayla and I have a very good relationship, and I don’t know [what happened]. So I can only speculate and I don’t really like to speculate about things that are about other people.

“So one, I don’t know, and two, I’m disappointed. So I think – unlike Dana [White] when he talks about other fighters, tends to be negative if they leave, tends to be negative if they don’t do what UFC wants them to do – here, I’m disappointed. PFL, in six years, has never lost a fighter, and remember, in year one and year two and year three, PFL was not a strong company. We’re a new company, so there were many reasons for fighters to leave and they never did. Now, did we release up fighters? Yes. Did we upgrade fighters? Yes, because we were always getting better. Never had a fighter leave, so this is the first time in six years.

“And ironically, PFL had never been stronger and the matchups we had for Kayla Harrison, were better than the matchups she was going to get at UFC. She was going to fight Cris Cyborg, which I believe is the biggest fight available in the women’s division possible. It’s a legacy, career statement fight for her. [Then] Larisa Pacheco, who beat her fair and square. So Kayla’s, call it next two to three fights at PFL are harder than they are at UFC, are bigger than they are at UFC. So I don’t know. I really can’t explain her motivations for leaving, and I was disappointed.”

Making her PFL debut in 2018, Kayla Harrison amassed an impressive 16-1 record with all, but one of her fights coming inside the Smart Cage. Despite coming up short for the first time against Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 PFL women’s lightweight final, Harrison was still primed for a clash with reigning Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg.

The fight was all, but guaranteed after the PFL absorbed Bellator late last year, but with Harrison’s move to the UFC, there’s a strong possibility that we will never see Harrison vs. Cyborg come to fruition.

Will Kayla Harrison ever fight Cris Cyborg?

Donn Davis believes the PFL will get along just fine without Kayla Harrison

It’s an unfortunate realization for Davis, but he remains confident that the promotion will move forward and establish itself as the co-leader of mixed martial arts in the coming years rather than continuing to be a distant second to Dana White and Co.

“That being said, because PFL has never been stronger – 80 fighters ranked in the top 25, 33 fighters ranked in the top 15 – we’re fine,” Davis explained. “It’s almost like when people post about UFC, they’re always fine if Connor’s not fighting this year or something like that. So our brand, our ratings, our financials, zero impact to Kayla not being here.

“But personally, I don’t like when any fighter leaves. So I wish she was here.”

PFL founder Donn Davis reveals Francis Ngannou will fight in 2024, confirms Cyborg vs. Pacheco

With Francis Ngannou coming up short in his second professional boxing match, PFL founder Donn Davis expects the former…

With Francis Ngannou coming up short in his second professional boxing match, PFL founder Donn Davis expects the former UFC champion to make his PFL debut no later than September of this year.

It’s been a year since Ngannou put pen to paper, signing a ground-breaking deal with the Professional Fighters League. During that time, the Cameroonian stepped inside the squared circle with both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, going 0-2 in the process. It now appears as though Ngannou will head back to the world of MMA for a showdown with the 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament winner in just a few short months.

“Will it be as early as July? Maybe. Will it be as late as September? No later, but you’ll see Francis now in 2024 in the PFL against [Renan Ferreira] what I believe is the fight I’m looking forward to the most in the heavyweight division in all of MMA,” Davis said during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.

Donn Davis says if Francis Ngannou had won he would not have fought in the PFL until 2025 Q1.

Says Ngannou/Ferreira will happen on PPV sometime between July and September.

Also on that card will be Cyborg/Pacheco.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/cc8qOVAHTn

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 20, 2024

Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco will also feature alongside francis ngannou’s pFL debut

Offering some additional details about the event itself, Davis revealed that current Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg will make her promotional debut in the co-main event against the two-time PFL champion Larissa Pacheco.

“That will be a pay-per-view fight,” Davis added. “That event will also have Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco as the co-main event. That card will also have Cedric Doumbe against somebody we will announce. So that is going to be big just because of Francis, but it will have other compelling matchups on it.”

Davis added that the card will take place in Riyadh. No other details were offered, but the event will likely emanate from Kingdom Arena — the same venue that hosted the PFL vs. Bellator event on February 24.

Ngannou’s expected opponent, Renan Ferreira, earned the opportunity to welcome ‘The Predator’ to the PFL by dispatching Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds last month in Saudi Arabia.

Francis Ngannou feels like ‘boxing owes him something’ following his devastating KO loss to Anthony Joshua

Francis Ngannou isn’t done just yet. ‘The Predator’ returned to the squared circle on Friday, March 8, for a…

Francis Ngannou isn’t done just yet.

‘The Predator’ returned to the squared circle on Friday, March 8, for a showdown with the WBC’s top-ranked heavyweight contender, Anthony Joshua. The bout emanated from Kingdom Arena, the same venue where Ngannou went 10 rounds with Tyson Fury, and nearly defeated ‘The Gypsy King’ in his critically acclaimed pro boxing debut.

Unfortunately, things would not go quite as well for Ngannou the second time around. The former UFC heavyweight champion was sat down by Joshua in back-to-back rounds before being blasted with a vicious right hand that sent Ngannou crashing to the canvas.

Many assumed that Francis Ngannou would head back to the world of mixed martial arts to make his long-awaited debut for the Professional Fighters League following the loss. However, ‘The Predator’ appears to have different plans. In a video on Ngannou’s YouTube channel, he reveals that a third boxing match could be next and admitted to feeling like boxing “owes” him something after his brutal defeat in the ‘Knockout Chaos’ headliner.

“What’s next for me? Maybe a third boxing match,” Ngannou said. “I feel like boxing owes me something now. I have to regain what boxing took out of me. I think my ego will not let me step back and let go of this without doing everything to reinstall and prove to the world that I am the man of this job. I can do it, you know. I slipped, but I didn’t fall. I stumbled, but I didn’t fall.

“I think if I go back, train, learn from it, and use it as an advantage and experience for my personal growth, I think it will not be a loss. I will be able to reverse it and make it a victory. A life victory. Not only a sports victory.”

Could We See Francis Ngannou vs. Deontay Wilder next?

We’re not sure if anyone is clamoring to see Francis Ngannou step back inside the boxing ring, but if he does, one of the names already being tossed around is Deontay Wilder. Holder of the WBC heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ is considered to be one of the most dangerous punchers in the game, though he has struggled to find his way into the win column as of late.

After absorbing back-to-back losses against Tyson Fury, Wilder bounced back with a first-round knockout of Robert Helenius. Sadly, he followed up the quick finish with a lackluster performance against Joseph Parker in December 2023, losing via unanimous decision to the 35-3 fighter.

With both men coming off losses, it could be a perfect pairing. And if not, Francis Ngannou still has 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament winner Renan Ferreira eagerly waiting to welcome him to the Smart Cage.

Francis Ngannou reveals mystery warm up issue ahead of Anthony Joshua fight: ‘I was falling asleep’

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou provides update following horrific knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. Last Friday proved a…

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou provides update following horrific knockout loss to Anthony Joshua.

Last Friday proved a step to far for Ngannou when he faced off with Joshua in Saudi Arabia. After dropping ‘The Predator’, Joshua would completely shut the lights out on an already dazed Ngannou in just the second round.

Fighters react to Anthony Joshua's KO win over Francis Ngannou stop coming to boxing it will only get worse — Mandatory Credit: Richard Pelham

Despite displaying a great chin throughout his career, Joshua left Ngannou utterly unconscious and in need of oxygen – a sight that many thought they would never see. Seeing a fighter in the state that he was is always concerning and while Ngannou does seem in good spirits, claimed that he was ‘falling asleep’ prior to the loss.

Francis Ngannou reveals issues warming up for Anthony Joshua fight

“I remember being in the locker room trying to warm ubut I was feeling asleep, I was sweating but I was feeling asleep,” Francis Ngannou said during an Instagram Live session. “No blame to anybody all the blame here is just about me it’s the game, walking into that (fight) we all knew it could happen, I wasn’t seeing it happen like that but I always knew it could happen.”

Ngannou would also confirm that he intends to continue fighting but has yet to state whether it will be MMA or boxing next.

Francis Ngannou opens as massive betting favorite to beat Renan Ferreira in expected PFL debut

“I just want to let you guys know that it’s not over yet, not at all, we’re just getting started,” Ngannou said. “The only thing that we will miss here is time and I think we have a good amount of time ahead of us.

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“As for right now, I’m going to take some time for myself spend some time with my family and friends, and then come back really and get ready for another challenge and adventure.”

Nagnnou is still signed to the PFL, who have stated their interest in pitting him against their heavyweight champion Rennan Ferreira, who recently defeated Bellator champion Ryan Bader.

What would you like to see Francis Ngannou do next?