Paul Hughes understands the hype surrounding Bellator light-weight champion Usman Nurmagomedov forward of their battle at PFL Dubai on Saturday.
With an undefeated 18-0 (1 NC) document together with two title defenses, the 26-year-old Russian has been touted as the way forward for the game along with his coach and cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov stating that he believes Usman might find yourself as one of many top-5 fighters to ever compete in MMA by the point his profession is over. Hughes can’t say if statements like which might be simply meant to construct up his opponent or if there actually is that a lot perception about Nurmagomedov’s potential, however that solely raises the stakes for his or her battle.
“Whether or not or not they’re simply making an attempt to hype him up or whether or not or not he’s that [good], there’s loads of tape on him,” Hughes stated when talking to MMA Combating. “I’ve studied him lots. I do know the place is weaknesses are. I understand how to make the most of my recreation plan to show these weaknesses. It’s a unique recreation once you’re preventing me. It’s the identical factor that occurred with A.J. [McKee]. Doing all of the learning it’s like this man does this, this man does that, he’s having success right here, however me and my group at all times watch it collectively and go ‘it isn’t me, although.’ It isn’t me.
“I simply know my recreation and I understand how to get my recreation going. So on the subject of somebody like Usman, yeah, he’s appeared unimaginable and he’s fought and beat excellent guys however they’re not me. I transfer otherwise. I’m so excessive degree. I’m elite, elite, elite within the MMA recreation. The in-betweens is the place I excel and the place I can expose this man. That’s good that they’re saying that as a result of once I beat him, it’s going to be all that extra spectacular.”
In preparation for the battle, Hughes says he’s watched as a lot footage on Nurmagomedov as potential and he’s not going to make false statements claiming the undefeated Russian is one way or the other overrated or not that good simply because they’re now scheduled to battle.
If something, Hughes believes Nurmagomedov is simply nearly as good as marketed and has used that to his benefit to intimidate a lot of his previous opponents. A ferocious wrestler with unimaginable management, Nurmagomedov has an innate potential to drown his opponents and break their will with repeated takedowns earlier than smothering them on the bottom.
Hughes expects Nurmagomedov to come back after him with a lot the identical technique, however he guarantees the outcomes are going to be totally different this time round.
“[This fight] provides me 5 rounds to place a f*cking tempo on him that he can’t face up to,” Hughes stated. “Have him taking pictures for the jocks early, sprawl on him, hold the stress on him similar to I did A.J. I’m going to stroll this man down 100%. I do know that I can knock him out but when I’ve to, I do know I can deliver him to the depths of hell, which is someplace that he hasn’t been.
“No person has been placing that stress on him. Most individuals battle him with worry. Nurmagomedov. Wrestler. This, that. He’s harmful. I’m not going to battle this man with worry. I’m going to place worry into him early and I’ll stroll him down and I’ll 100% get him out of there earlier than the tip of 5 rounds.”
In some ways, Hughes is dealing with an identical state of affairs as his most up-to-date battle when he defeated former Bellator champion A.J. McKee in simply his second look with the PFL. McKee has lengthy been touted as top-of-the-line fighters on this planet and it nearly appeared inevitable that he would finally conflict with Nurmagomedov.
Hughes modified all that when he thwarted McKee’s plans after which earned a title battle of his personal towards Nurmagomedov on Saturday. The narrative that that is an excessive amount of, too quickly surrounded Hughes going into the battle towards McKee and it’s nearly similar for his showdown with Nurmagomedov — and he loves it.
“[The win over A.J. McKee] silenced lots of people however on the subject of Usman, it’s a unique factor,” Hughes stated. “Individuals now know I’m a legit contender and I’m not simply that younger prospect anymore. I’m top-of-the-line on this planet, which is what I used to be saying for a very long time now.
“I believe with Usman although, individuals are going to be like ‘however he can’t wrestle. No person’s wrestling him, no person’s taking him down so Usman’s going to smash him as he’s smashed mainly all people else he’s fought.’ However simply wait till they see as soon as once more.”
