Paul Hughes Reveals Infuriating Text Exchange with Usman Nurmagomedov: ‘I’m Fed Up With All His Bullsh*t’

Paul Hughes is growing increasingly frustrated with Usman Nurmagomedov`s shifting demands regarding a potential rematch between the two lightweights.

In January, the fighters delivered a standout performance, a bout Nurmagomedov narrowly won by majority decision after Hughes pushed him to the brink of his first professional defeat. Following strong calls for an immediate rematch, Nurmagomedov stated that Hughes needed another victory first. Hughes promptly fulfilled this requirement.

In a homecoming fight held in Belfast in May, Hughes emphatically knocked out veteran Bruno Miranda in just 42 seconds, seemingly solidifying his position as the top contender. Instead of passively waiting for PFL`s decision, Hughes took a direct approach, contacting Nurmagomedov himself to discuss arranging the fight. The response he received was not what he anticipated.

“I know for a fact now that this guy is trying to delay this rematch,” Hughes told MMA Fighting. “Because I went straight to the fucking source. I texted him myself last week and I was just like what is going on? Rematch now.”

Hughes recounted Nurmagomedov`s reply: “`You have to win one more fight, brother,` he said once again.” According to Hughes, this direct exchange confirms that Nurmagomedov is indeed attempting to postpone the bout.

Immediately after their initial contest, Hughes showed respect towards Nurmagomedov and his corner, which included UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov. Khabib himself reportedly spoke highly of the Irish lightweight and his performance against his cousin.

While Hughes doesn`t regret his respectful conduct after the first fight, he admits the subsequent events, particularly Nurmagomedov`s insistence on a second win before a rematch, have significantly heightened his frustration regarding the situation.

“I was fed up. I’m fed up with all his bullshit,” Hughes stated, explaining his decision to reach out directly. “From what he said last week, he said ‘you’ve got to win one more fight, brother’ and at the end of the day, he’s not the fucking boss. This fight’s happening.”

Although Nurmagomedov might prefer he take another fight, Hughes is confident that his swift victory over Miranda was more than sufficient proof of his readiness. While an immediate rematch was his initial preference, the 28-year-old lightweight readily accepted PFL`s offer of a different fight, especially one headlining a card in his native Ireland.

Hughes is certain that this win should more than qualify him for what is potentially the most anticipated rematch in PFL history, regardless of Nurmagomedov`s opinion on the matter.

Rematch Demands and PFL`s Announcement

“The fight obviously has to happen,” Hughes insisted. “Everybody wants this fight to happen. PFL wants this fight to happen. Dubai wants this to happen. The only person that does not want this to happen, very, very clearly right now, is Usman Nurmagomedov.”

“If the fight does not happen, you know why,” he added. “But I don’t believe that is the case. I think it will happen. I think the PFL and the Dubai government have more leverage than one man. So the fight must happen and it will happen in September or October this year.”

Shortly after revealing the text exchange with Nurmagomedov, Hughes observed the PFL announcement scheduling Mansour Barnaoui vs. Archie Colgan for June 20. The announcement notably stated that “the winner of this fight becomes the No. 1 contender for the PFL lightweight world title and will be next in line to face current champion Usman Nurmagomedov.”

This development, understandably, did not sit well with Hughes.

“Hey, quit with the rage bait,” Hughes reportedly wrote on Twitter.

Hughes` Confidence and Warning

Despite the conflicting promotional messages, Hughes remains confident that PFL will ultimately proceed with the rematch, believing there`s nothing Nurmagomedov can do to prevent it.

“He’s trying to delay this fight. It’s that clear,” Hughes asserted. “He probably shouldn’t have texted me back to be honest. He is going to delay this fight for a very clear reason. That is that he knows I’m going get him next time. He’s felt my energy in there. He knows I’m coming for him. He knows this is everything to me. I’m not sure if this is everything to him, to be completely honest with you, and his day is coming. As I said in the post-fight interview, he can try to delay this as long as he wants, but his day is coming.”

Hughes has long maintained that he deserved the judges` nod in their initial encounter, but recognizing he couldn`t change the scores, he didn`t object when PFL offered him a different fight instead of an immediate rematch.

Now, Hughes speculates whether Nurmagomedov is simply attempting to postpone the inevitable by creating new obstacles before their potential second meeting.

“Look, the guy`s done for,” Hughes stated bluntly about a potential rematch. “Let`s just say that. I`m in the gym every single day getting ready for this. He honestly has no clue what`s heading his way.”