Paul Hughes is confident he will eventually get another chance to face Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov. However, he wasn`t surprised that an immediate rematch was denied.
Their initial fight in January resulted in a very close majority decision, with Hughes ultimately on the losing side. Hughes quickly expressed interest in a prompt rematch, but Nurmagomedov stated that the Belfast native needed to secure at least one more victory before earning another title shot.
While eagerly anticipating a future showdown with Nurmagomedov, Hughes wasn`t shocked by how things unfolded. He now aims to solidify his claim for that rematch with his upcoming fight against Bruno Miranda this Saturday.
“Look, he’s always going to try to extend that as long as he can because he got very, very close to losing his belt,” Hughes commented. “It didn’t surprise me much, considering I believe I won the fight, as everyone knows. I truly believe he was almost broken in there. Had the head clash not happened at the end of the fourth [round], he would have been in even more trouble. Of course, he’s going to try to delay it.”
“Fair enough. He still holds the belt. He is the champion. He has the right to say these things. But ultimately, my time will come again, and it’s approaching quickly. With another victory over Bruno Miranda, there will be absolutely no doubt that Usman is next. The exact timing, I’m not certain, but it is going to happen.”
In theory, Hughes could have potentially refused to fight again and simply waited for the PFL to book him against Nurmagomedov, but that idea never occurred to him.
Hughes has always preferred to stay as active as possible. The fight against Miranda also offered the significant bonus of headlining an event in his hometown of Belfast.
“Sitting out for that long was never a consideration,” Hughes stated. “As fighters, we only get paid when we compete, and I’m currently young, healthy, and ready. I’ve been very active and intend to remain so. Why wouldn’t I? I improve through fighting, and training camps are where that development happens.”
“That fight [with Usman Nurmagomedov] will happen,” he affirmed. “We all know it’s inevitable. I’m not sure precisely when, likely by the end of the year. So, naturally, I’m taking the chance to fight at home in the interim. Absolutely I am. It literally means I’m ticking off the number one item on my MMA bucket list while also improving. Another fight camp, and of course, you earn money when you fight, so it’s all positive.”
Despite the ongoing conversation surrounding the potential Nurmagomedov rematch, Hughes is determined not to overlook his next opponent.
Even if the odds suggest he should comfortably defeat Miranda, Hughes recognizes that underestimating anyone is a highly dangerous approach in combat sports.
Boxer Ryan Garcia recently experienced this firsthand; while focused on securing a rematch with Devin Haney, he suffered a surprising decision loss to Rolly Romero instead.
Hughes has seen similar situations affect other fighters and is committed to staying focused on the immediate challenge without getting caught up in thinking too far ahead.
“Look, Bruno is a very dangerous opponent,” Hughes remarked. “I was aware of that before signing the fight. Naturally, I study everyone in my competitive range. He’s a very dangerous fighter, a heavy puncher, and has faced many world champions. He’s absolutely not being taken lightly. I’ve had to approach this as essentially another world title fight. With the added pressure of performing at home, there’s a lot at stake, and Bruno is the kind of guy who can knock you cold if you make a mistake. He possesses that capability.”
“So I must take this fight incredibly seriously. Every fight in mixed martial arts involves risk, but without risk, there’s no reward. Ultimately, I get to live my dream by fighting at the SSE Arena in Belfast, helping bring the PFL here and showing them what we can do. It’s an incredible opportunity.”
Fighting at home also presents unique considerations. While Hughes will enjoy being the main attraction on the card, the expectations for his performance are also at an all-time high.
Hughes embraces this pressure, especially knowing that headlining a card in Belfast is a dream come true, and there`s always the possibility this might be his only opportunity to do so.
“There’s pressure in every fight now,” Hughes stated. “I’m f***ing used to it. I’m the f***ing best. So I always handle it well. Pressure creates diamonds.”
“I am a competitor who always performs. You’ve never seen me fail to show up on fight night throughout my career, and that won’t change.”
Marcus Blakely