Paul Hughes didn’t get the end result he wished in his rematch towards Usman Nurmagomedov, however he’s not claiming theft after one other back-and-forth battle.
Of their first encounter, Hughes finally dropped a majority resolution however stood by his opinion that he deserved to get the nod that night time. The rematch performed out in eerily related style, together with some ill-timed fouls through the struggle, however Hughes isn’t inserting the blame on anybody however himself for developing quick that night time.
“Lay all of it on the road and sadly it didn’t go in my favor as soon as once more,” Hughes mentioned. “It was an in depth struggle, however I didn’t do sufficient. I didn’t struggle in the best way wanted too to win (convincingly).
“To beat among the finest fighters on the earth in residence territory you could function at 110 p.c. I didn’t try this and it’s my accountability.”
Hughes positively had his moments through the struggle, however the judges all scored the struggle for Nurmagomedov. There have been positively quite a lot of curious appears at decide Bryan Miner’s card after he had it as a 50-45 shutout for Nurmagomedov however the end result was nonetheless the identical.
The loss dropped Hughes to 3-2 within the PFL with each of these losses clearly coming to Nurmagomedov, who now reigns because the promotion’s light-weight champion.
Whereas definitely not inconceivable, Hughes now has to place collectively the type of win streak that makes him simple for a possible third struggle towards Nurmagomedov however actually the title stays his main focus.
Hughes guarantees that he’s going to climb that mountain once more however for now he simply wants a while to get well and refocus as he plans for the long run.
“Nonetheless 28 years previous with the world at my toes,” Hughes mentioned. “This chapter is over now, however the subsequent one goes to be much more particular. Belief me on that. Any adversity in my life has solely propelled me to new heights. What I’ve achieved within the final 18 months since my final struggle on Cage Warriors has been nothing in need of particular. 6 fights in 18 months has been a blessing, nevertheless it has additionally taken its toll.
“Proper now I have to take some compelled time to let my physique heal. After I come again wholesome, it’s my MISSION, to make it possible for no light-weight on the planet comes CLOSE to beating me ever once more. I would be the UNDISPUTED primary 155er on the earth inside the subsequent two years. Mark this. A brand new mission begins.”
Hughes was a serious addition to the PFL roster after he signed with the promotion over a rival supply made to him from the UFC.
The newest struggle didn’t go his approach however the Irish light-weight positively stays a viable piece of the puzzle as PFL prepares for 2026 and past.
