How Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes Gave PFL The Perfect Rivalry for 2025 | Opinion

In a sport where the UFC dominates the landscape, rival organizations need something special to garner the attention of fight fans. And, on Friday night in Dubai, the PFL played host to a new fighting rivalry that looks set to bring increased attention to the promotion in 2025.

The main event of the PFL Road To Dubai Challenger Series saw the PFL’s best lightweight fighter, undefeated Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, take on a new challenge in the form of Ireland’s Paul Hughes.

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It was a matchup that few without a strong knowledge of Hughes’ career dismissed as another easy win for Nurmagomedov. But, on a big night for the PFL, Hughes proved the doubters wrong, and himself right, as he dragged Nurmagomedov into the toughest fight of his career, and put some additional shine on the PFL in the process.

A rivalry rebooted

The lead-up to the fight was dominated by a rivalry that started in the UFC back in 2018, as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor dueled in a heated rivalry that saw insults traded, minibusses attacked and, eventually, Nurmagomedov making McGregor submit in the Octagon at UFC 229.

Fast forward to October 2024 day, and the Dagestan vs. Ireland narrative returned to the fore. Former Cage Warriors featherweight champion Hughes had just claimed the biggest win of his career after defeating former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee, and called for his shot at Usman Nurmagomedov, saying, “We want to see Ireland v Dagestan number two!”

That set the scene for fight week this past week as Nurmagomedov and Hughes performed their pre-fight obligations ahead of their title clash in Dubai.

Interviews were held, statements were made, and even Khabib – now playing the role of coach – threw some shade at the Irish fighting community. Usman, meanwhile, could barely have been more dismissive of Hughes during fight week as he repeatedly talked down the Irishman’s abilities and laughed off Hughes’ steely-eyed confidence in every face-to-face exchange they had.

Hughes’ demeanor didn’t change all week, and it didn’t change during the fight either, as he made good on his promise to drag Nurmagomedov into deep waters.

A fight to remember

The fight itself was outstanding, with Hughes’ poise in the face of Nurmagomedov’s early flashy offense increasingly causing the Russian problems as the fight wore on.

It seemed nothing Nurmagomedov did could take Hughes out of his zone. And, as the fight entered the middle rounds, Hughes was starting to make Nurmagomedov feel the pace, thanks to a combination of controlled pressure, impressive takedown defense, savage bodywork, and a constant stream of chopping calf kicks.

It meant that Nurmagomedov wasn’t going to earn any victory easily, and a third-round point deduction for a second successive groin shot only heightened that concern, with Hughes fighting the undefeated champion on equal terms and looking very much at home while doing it.

Eventually, the bout went to the scorecards, with Nurmagomedov winning a majority decision – 47-47, 48-46, 48-46 – to retain his title after by far the toughest test of his career.

Respect after battle

Nurmagomedov’s humble post-fight admission that he’d underestimated Hughes revealed a newfound respect for the Irish star. Hughes, meanwhile, was crestfallen. He thought he’d done enough to win the fight, but in his performance, he had shown the world that he was undoubtedly an elite-level lightweight and a more than worthy adversary for the unbeaten Russian champion.

Such was the quality of their fight, and the close nature of the final result, a rematch would seem to be a no-brainer booking for the PFL later this summer. And with Hughes calling for that rematch to take place in Belfast, there’s a chance for the PFL to follow the template they’ve successfully created in France and Dublin by hosting a European event in front of a passionate crowd.

For a promotion still looking to build its identity with the wider MMA fanbase, a rivalry like this is manna from heaven for the PFL. An uber-confident – some might say cocky – champion was brought down a peg or two by a rising Irish star with unbreakable self-belief, and the respect shown by Nurmagomedov after his victory showed just how hard he had been pushed by “Big News”.

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On to the next chapter…

Now, with respect established between the pair after sharing the cage for 25 breathless minutes, the MMA world is aware of the PFL’s new rivalry, and will be eager to see Chapter 2. After trying to sell their product on the basis of a league format, the PFL has finally hit on the one thing fans wanted all along – big fights.

All in all, it was the perfect outcome for the PFL, who are looking to give fans more reasons to tune in to their events in 2025. They still have an undefeated fighter, with an iconic name, as their champion, but now he has a rival who has proved himself not just to his opponent, but to the wider MMA world.

If he wasn’t universally considered a star before fight night, Hughes surely is now. And, after that bout, there is no doubt that the PFL can now boast that they have not one, but two of the very best lightweight fighters on the planet on their roster.

All we need now is to see them run it back this summer.

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