Archie Colgan eagerly anticipated his next fight, especially upon learning it was a No. 1 contender bout with the winner guaranteed a shot at lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.
This news was music to Colgan`s ears but less so for Paul Hughes, who has been seeking a rematch with Nurmagomedov since their close majority decision loss in January. When the PFL announced Colgan`s fight against Mansour Barnaoui with title implications, Hughes expressed frustration online.
While Hughes may eventually receive another title opportunity, Colgan insists his match was always presented as a No. 1 contender fight, a chance he feels he earned with his dominant win over Barnaoui.
“I had known that leading into it,” Colgan stated. “[My manager] Ali Abdelaziz had informed me that my next fight would be a No. 1 contender bout.”
Colgan fully expects to face Usman next, arguing that anything less would make the “No. 1 contender” label meaningless. “They can’t get any more cut and dry than that,” he remarked. “So as of right now, I am expecting to be the next guy who fights Usman.”
Colgan acknowledges Hughes` potential frustration, particularly after Hughes secured a rapid finish in his recent fight to rebound from the Nurmagomedov loss.
Nevertheless, Colgan feels his undefeated 12-0 record and consistent ascent through the lightweight division justify his claim to this opportunity.
“No shade against Paul Hughes,” Colgan commented. “I think he’s a great fighter… Paul Hughes had his opportunity and he put on a great fight… and he came up a little bit short. That was his opportunity at the time. I think that I am due that next opportunity. I don’t plan on coming up short.”
Despite coming close, Hughes ultimately lost the close decision on the scorecards.
During their bout, Hughes demonstrated impressive takedown defense and grappling skills, neutralizing some of Nurmagomedov’s primary weapons, particularly his wrestling. Colgan respects Hughes` ability to challenge Nurmagomedov in this area but emphasizes that he presents a fundamentally different stylistic matchup.
A former standout wrestler at the University of Wyoming, Colgan believes his background poses unique challenges for Nurmagomedov that Hughes didn`t.
“That is the argument. That’s my argument at least,” Colgan elaborated. “Not only when [Usman] goes to take me down, it will be hard for him and he’ll know going into it that this guy has a good wrestling base so the grappling exchanges are going to be harder. But also what happens when he gets taken down? He’s never really had to look at fights from that perspective.”
Colgan is confident he can turn the tables. “What happens when this guy takes me down? What happens when I have to build back up and stand up and fight hands to stand back up? That is not just a possibility but it’s going to happen. I will get takedowns. I will score takedowns.”
While acknowledging Nurmagomedov is a high-level fighter who might secure takedowns, Colgan is ready: “I get taken down and I’m prepared for that.” He concludes: “No shade against Paul but I pose an offensive threat [with my wrestling], not just a defensive threat of stopping your takedowns but I’ll take you down.”
As of now, Colgan says the PFL has not finalized scheduling, but he anticipates the fight against Nurmagomedov happening around October or November.
Assuming he secures the victory, Colgan welcomes any future challenges the PFL presents. He suggests Hughes might eventually get another opportunity to fight for the title, but for now, he needs to wait.
“Of course [I would fight Paul Hughes],” Colgan affirmed. “At that point, the shots are called then. You’re champ, you own the belt, you become the hunted. Whoever they see fit to be the person. Just like I’m lined up here. There will be a list.”
He foresees potential future contenders: “I’m sure Usman would want a rematch. I’m sure Paul Hughes would want his crack. Then there’s obviously the tournament, probably in my opinion is Gadzhi [Rabadanov] would probably be the tournament winner. There’s going to be a list of guys.”
Wesley Dunham