Tag: pfl

Usman Nurmagomedov Vows To ‘Destroy’ Paul Hughes: ‘PFL Gave Him This Title Shot Only Because He’s From Ireland’

Usman Nurmagomedov remains dismissive of Paul Hughes’ prospects of dethroning him. Nurmagomedov is set to put his Bellator lightweight title on the line against Hughes in the main event of the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series. The highly anticipated showdown is scheduled for this Saturday at the Coca-Cola Arena in the UAE. The matchup […]

Usman Nurmagomedov remains dismissive of Paul Hughes’ prospects of dethroning him.

Nurmagomedov is set to put his Bellator lightweight title on the line against Hughes in the main event of the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series. The highly anticipated showdown is scheduled for this Saturday at the Coca-Cola Arena in the UAE.

The matchup has been dubbed “Dagestan vs. Ireland 2,” rekindling the intense rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor that unfolded during their unforgettable UFC 229 showdown in October 2018. Usman and Hughes have channeled a comparable intensity, with their growing animosity building throughout the lead-up to their bout.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Nurmagomedov expressed his belief that “Big News” hasn’t earned his title shot, asserting that he was handed the chance more because his narrative aligned with PFL’s promotional strategy than for any significant accomplishment.

“Brother, nobody knows who is Paul Hughes,” Nurmagomedov said.”He can talk something only because he wants to promote himself. PFL gave him this title shot only because he’s from Ireland, and they want to promote Ireland vs. Dagestan – something like that. I got my title shot when I was on a six-fight win streak, but I don’t care.”

When this fight was announced, Usman’s cousin, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, boldly stated in a promotional interview that the skill level of Dagestani fighters far surpasses that of their Irish counterparts, a sentiment Usman shares regarding Hughes.

The undefeated Dagestani champion further emphasized that he’s operating on an entirely different level than his opponent, insisting it will be a straightforward task, with nothing about the Irishman’s game that could possibly catch him off guard.

“I think after first round, I will feel who is this guy. Technically, there’s nothing he can surprise me [with] – just little boxing, little kicks, not bad takedown defense, and that’s it… Inshallah, we’re going to finish this guy. I will destroy him all five rounds, or I will finish him in the first three rounds.”

Nurmagomedov enters this bout on the back of a dominant unanimous decision victory over Alexander Shabliy at the Bellator Champions Series in San Diego last September. He currently boasts a perfect professional record of 18-0, with eight knockouts and six submissions.

Meanwhile, “Big News” arrives at this title fight on a seven-fight win streak, having earned his opportunity with a hard-fought split decision victory over former champion AJ McKee at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants in October. Hughes holds a professional record of 13-1, with six knockouts and three submissions.

PFL Road To Dubai Champions Series Results & Highlights: Usman Nurmagomedov Outlasts Paul Hughes

The PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai event took place on Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action. After announcing a slew of changes to its organization for 2025, including the elimination of the Bellator brand, the Professional Fighters League kicked things off for this year with a Bellator champion defending […]

The PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai event took place on Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

After announcing a slew of changes to its organization for 2025, including the elimination of the Bellator brand, the Professional Fighters League kicked things off for this year with a Bellator champion defending their gold.

In the main event of today’s event at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, lightweight kingpin Usman Nurmagomedov faced the challenge of highly regarded Irishman Paul Hughes — a headliner branded ‘Dagestani vs. Ireland 2’ promotionally in reference to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor’s heated rivalry from a number of years ago.

The gold stayed put by narrow margins, with Nurmagomedov getting the nod on two of the three scorecards for the majority decision win following five rounds of competitive and enthralling action.

Two other clashes between Dagestani and Irish fighters went down on the main card, with Nathan Kelly battling Akhmed Magomedov and Kenny Mokhonoana meeting Ibragim Ibragimov.

And just before the main attraction, former Bellator light heavyweight champ Vadim Nemkov faced his next heavyweight challenge in the co-main event, sharing the SmartCage with ex-UFC contender and 2024 PFL heavyweight season semifinalist Tim Johnson. In what marked the final fight of his contract, the Russian netted a quick first-round submission.

With the event concluded, see below for the full results and all the best highlights!

PFL Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes Results & Highlights

Main Card:

  • Bellator Lightweight Championship Main Event: Usman Nurmagomedov def. Paul Hughes via majority decision (47-47, 48-46, 48-46)
  • Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Vadim Nemkov def. Tim Johnson via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 3:08
  • Featherweight: Akhmed Magomedov def. Nathan Kelly via submission (rear-naked choke): R2, 4:22
  • Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov def. Kenny Mokhonoana via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov def. Cleiver Fernandes via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Catchweight (199lbs): Ahmed Samy def. Tarek Suleiman via TKO (punches & elbows): R1, 5:00
  • Lightweight: Mirafzal Akhtamov def. Mike Thompson via technical submission (arm-triangle choke): R2, 2:50
  • Flyweight: Hadi Omar Al Hussaini def. Ruel Panales via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Lightweight: John Mitchell def. Souhil Tairi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Middleweight: Haider Khan def. Mostafa Nada via TKO (arm injury): R1, 3:18
  • Amateur Lightweight: Talal Alqallaf def. Saeed Alhosani via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Talal Alqallaf Def. Saeed Alhosani

Haider Khan Def. Mostafa Nada

John Mitchell Def. Souhil Tairi

Hadi Omar Al Hussaini Def. Ruel Panales

Mirafzal Akhtamov Def. Mike Thompson

Ahmed Samy Def. Tarek Suleiman

Renat Khavalov Def. Cleiver Fernandes

Ibragim Ibragimov Def. Kenny Mokhonoana

Akhmed Magomedov Def. Nathan Kelly

Vadim Nemkov Def. Tim Johnson

Usman Nurmagomedov Def. Paul Hughes

‘Sh*t Getting Toxic’ – Fans React As Chaos Erupts Between Dagestani & Irish Supporters Ahead Of Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes

It seems the fans are wearing their national pride louder than the fighters themselves as the buzz builds for the highly anticipated Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes showdown. Nurmagomedov is primed to defend his lightweight crown against Hughes in the headline clash of the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series. The event is slated for […]

It seems the fans are wearing their national pride louder than the fighters themselves as the buzz builds for the highly anticipated Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes showdown.

Nurmagomedov is primed to defend his lightweight crown against Hughes in the headline clash of the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series. The event is slated for this Saturday at the Coca-Cola Arena in the UAE.

The event, branded as “Dagestan vs Ireland 2,” echoes the acclaimed UFC 229 clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. Much like that legendary bout, the UFC Hall of Famer’s cousin Usman and Ireland’s Hughes seem to embody a feud cut from the same electrifying cloth.

The buildup to this bout has been thick with tension, as both fighters have exchanged sharp words. “Big News” has alleged that the undefeated Dagestani has belittled his skills and insulted him, which prompted a fiery verbal confrontation between the two earlier this week.

The fighters brought the same electric intensity to their final staredown at the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday, where Nurmagomedov and Hughes locked eyes in a heated faceoff.

However, the ceremonial weigh-ins for the upcoming bout felt less like a pre-fight ritual and more like a battlefield.

According to Parry Punch’s report on X, Dagestani and Irish fans reignited their bitter feud outside the Coca-Cola Arena, leading to an all-out brawl between the two factions. The exact cause of the chaos remains unclear at the moment.

Fans were quick to react to the melee between Dagestani and Irish supporters, with many drawing parallels to the heated Khabib-McGregor rivalry, suggesting that Usman and Hughes are reigniting a national pride-fueled feud that shows no sign of fading.

Nurmagomedov will be making his third title defense. His most recent outing came last September at the Bellator Champions Series in San Diego, where he delivered a dominant performance, securing a unanimous decision victory over Alexander Shabliy to successfully retain his belt.

Meanwhile, Hughes will be vying for the title in just his third appearance with the promotion. “Big News” is coming off a hard-fought split decision victory over AJ McKee in October at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants.

Former Bellator Champ Vadim Nemkov Outlines What PFL Must Do To Keep Him

Vadim Nemkov isn’t entirely satisfied with how he has been treated since becoming a PFL fighter but he isn’t looking for the exit door either. In fact, despite having the last fight on his current contract this weekend, he is happy to stay with the promotion if they’re able to give him what he was […]

Vadim Nemkov isn’t entirely satisfied with how he has been treated since becoming a PFL fighter but he isn’t looking for the exit door either. In fact, despite having the last fight on his current contract this weekend, he is happy to stay with the promotion if they’re able to give him what he was initially promised.

The Russian is one of the big names and talents that the PFL acquired when they bought Bellator towards the end of 2023 but embedding that huge influx of new fighters have been far less than seamless. Several fighters have been very vocal about this with major names like Gegard Mousasi and Patrício Pitbull being granted their releases from their contracts as a result.

The promotion is seemingly looking to address this in 2025 by re-shaping their format and Nemkov is seemingly optimistic about the future. One problem did arise when he wasn’t happy with the way that the promotion went about announcing a fight between him and Corey Anderson, who he beat in 2022, without him agreeing to this matchup.

His bout at this weekend’s Road to Dubai event was then changed to be a clash with Tim Johnson who Nemkov believes is a viable opponent for him as he continues to progress as a heavyweight having previously been the Bellator light heavyweight champion. With this settled, the former titleholder’s main complaint, as he detailed in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, is the same issue that the other fighters have had and that’s activity.

Nemkov says that having not fought since February last year where he submitted Bruno Cappelozza, he’s open to the idea of committing his future to the PFL if they’re going to honor their claims of how many fights he will be offered over a set amount of time. At 32-years old, he just wants to be able to regularly compete.

“It’s the last fight on my contract,” Nemkov said through an interpreter. “I was supposed to have four fights during the two years, and I only had one. This is going to be the second fight. … Honestly speaking, I’m OK with the PFL. The thing is I’m at the peak of my fighting career. I feel great. If they’re able to provide what we were supposed to do from the beginning, with three or four fights a year, I would be fine with that. But as of right now, I’m just concentrating on this fight.”

PFL Chief Denies Bellator Fighter Entrapment: ‘This Isn’t an MMA Prison Camp’

PFL Chief Denies Bellator Fighter Entrapment: ‘This Isn’t an MMA Prison Camp’PFL co-founder Donn Davis isn’t forcing anyone to stick around. Earlier this month, Davis announced that he had granted…

PFL Chief Denies Bellator Fighter Entrapment: ‘This Isn’t an MMA Prison Camp’

PFL co-founder Donn Davis isn’t forcing anyone to stick around.

Earlier this month, Davis announced that he had granted Patricio Pitbull his release after the former Bellator titleholder expressed frustration over news that Bellator and all its fighters would be absorbed into the PFL brand as one promotion going forward.

Patricio Pitbull Freire holds two Bellator titles 1

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Davis spoke about the big changes coming to the PFL brand over the next year and the fact that some Bellator fighters may choose to test free agency rather than stick around.

“I believe yes [Patchy Mix will stay with PFL this year],” Davis said. “I think Patchy is going to be happy, I think Corey Anderson is going to be happy, I think fighters are going to be very, very happy. But once again, if they’re not, we’re going to help them get the solution they want that’s not here.

“This isn’t MMA prison camp, this is opportunity camp. So if fighters don’t want to be here and they believe they can do better elsewhere, it doesn’t help us to have them here. It doesn’t help us. We have a pipeline of incredible fighters.”

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Davis determined to keep patchy mix in PFL

Mix, the last man to hold the Bellator bantamweight belt, asked for his outright release from the PFL due to inactivity. Now that the PFL is merging its roster with Bellator, there’s no word yet on whether or not Mix will stick around to compete inside the Smart Cage, but it certainly sounds like retaining Mix’s services is a top priority for the PFL brass.

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“Patchy is a star. We love him. I want him here. Any other fighter, we want him here. Am I super confident that this noise is a blip and this noise will go away? I am. But might there be another fighter that is unhappy and wants to go? There might be and we’ll accommodate that.”

Mix is 20-1 in his mixed martial arts career and is currently sitting on a seven-fight win streak. His last appearance inside the cage came at Bellator Champions Series: Paris in May 2024 where he defeated Magomed Magomedov via unanimous decision.

Patrício Pitbull Sends Stern Warning To Former Employer After ‘Lies’ About PFL Release: ‘Do Not Go This Route’

Via his recent live fan Q&A with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, PFL founder Donn Davis spoke more in detail about the current situation regarding Patrício Pitbull. The Bellator legend was recently granted his release from the promotion after being outspoken over the past several weeks about wanting to leave so that he could fight elsewhere. […]

Via his recent live fan Q&A with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, PFL founder Donn Davis spoke more in detail about the current situation regarding Patrício Pitbull. The Bellator legend was recently granted his release from the promotion after being outspoken over the past several weeks about wanting to leave so that he could fight elsewhere.

Pitbull had said that he wasn’t being offered fights and had reached a point where he had already made up his mind about fighting for another promotion, with one specific destination in mind. Davis argued against this during the Town Hall interview where he gave more context from the PFL’s point of view.

Davis said that the reason this had been going on for several weeks is because the promotion was trying to keep Pitbull with them by making a deal work. He said that they also tried to get the Bellator featherweight champion to fight the only bout left on his contract before leaving, with a huge clash against Aaron Pico being the option that they were heading in.

Pitbull quickly posted a response on X where he claimed that both of these points aren’t a fair reflection of the communications between the two parties.

“Hi @DonnDavisPFL, let’s keep things true all the way. You never oficially offered me the fight with Pico, and I never said no. Pete told my management that Pico was the number 1 choice but he might be hitting free agency and if so you’d find someone else. Also…

“You never said ‘fight for us this one time and we will let you go’. You said my 15 years in Bellator provided value for them and now you wanted me to provide value for PFL. And Pete said you’d exercise every legal right you guys had to prevent me from going to the competition.”

Pitbull added one more message to the statement, stating that he will continue to dispute any claims that he believes aren’t factual. The 37-year old said that he doesn’t want to have to continue talking negatively about the promotion but he will if the truth isn’t being put out there.

“I had all the intention of leaving everything behind and not talking about it anymore, but if I see any lies about me out there I won’t stay silent. As I said on our last conversation @DonnDavisPFL I hope @PFLMMA improves and can succeed, so do not go this route.”