Paul Hughes books dream PFL homecoming, but Usman Nurmagomedov avoids rematch
03/02/2025 12:37 PM
Paul Hughes has landed his dream Belfast homecoming as he makes his return to the PFL cage – but all is not perfect.
Hughes battled all the way to a five round majority decision against Usman Nurmagomedov in Dubai back in January, narrowly missing the nod. However, despite calls throughout the sport for an immediate rematch, the champion is expected to wait until the second half of the year at earliest to fight again.
In the meantime, Hughes will maintain his impressive activity that will see him fight for a fifth time in 13 months as he returns to the SSE Arena. The venue is where he made his professional debut, but has alluded him through his Cage Warriors and now PFL days.
Paul Hughes books Belfast homecoming after Usman Nurmagomedov fight
Before last night’s Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Crocker fight at Belfast’s SSE Arena, billboards began to emerge across Belfast. They depicted Paul Hughes with the date of May 10 alongside the question “Belfast, who’s next?”
Hughes shared a video of himself looking at the billboard in which he can be heard telling fans “Ah boys, it’s unbelievable. Dreams come true, May 10 SSE Arena coming home.
“This was literally number one on my bucket list and sell it out. Now we’ve got the opportunity to do it in ten weeks, May 10 dreams come true, let’s f—ing go.”
Paul Hughes needs win to earn Usman Nurmagomedov rematch
Hughes is the clear top contender to Usman Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title after their life-and-death showdown in Dubai earlier this year. However, with Ramadan ongoing until the end of March, the champion would have only had five weeks for a training camp before an away fight.
Instead, the Irishman will be fighting another challenger, although the promotion have yet to reveal who it will be. He had called for a showdown with former champion Brent Primus, but the ex-Bellator title holder has been signed up for the Global Season this year.
The event marks PFL’s return to the famed Belfast venue after hosting a Bellator Champions Series event in the arena last March. That night Corey Anderson defeated Karl Moore for the light-heavyweight world title.
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