Paul Hughes delighted with 'life changing' PFL move as he sets massive AJ McKee showdown for Francis Ngannou undercard

09/14/2024 08:19 AM

Paul Hughes has already felt the effects of a ‘life changing’ move to PFL after just one fight under the Bellator banner.

The former Cage Warriors champion defeated Bobby King in his debut with the promotion as he got the chance to co-headline at Dublin’s 3Arena in June. And is now set to face one of the world’s premier lightweights in AJ McKee on PFL’s first big ‘super fight’ pay-per-view next month.

Hughes vs McKee was the first big name undercard bout to be announced for the card, which takes place on October 19 in Saudi Arabia. The fight is headlined by Francis Ngannou’s return to the cage against Renan Ferreira, with Cris Cyborg against Larissa Pacheco in the co-main.

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Paul Hughes excited by prospect to prove lightweight mettle against AJ McKee

After a tremendous run to gold at featherweight during his Cage Warriors days, Paul Hughes has now moved up to lightweight where he is campaigning for PFL and Bellator gold. He handed Bobby King his first stoppage loss in seven years back in Dublin, and now faces one of the best in the world in McKee.

“This is what I called for when I signed to PFL,” he told Bloody Elbow in an exclusive chat ahead of tonight’s Bellator Champions Series event in London. “I said I wanted the biggest fights they could give me; the hardest, most entertaining fights. So I’m living up to that now.

“This is my opportunity to prove what I’ve been saying for the best part of a year which is that I am one of the best fighters in the world right now at 155lb. I’d imagine AJ would beat a lot of top five, top ten lightweights in the UFC.

“He’d be right up there so for me to take a big jump like this in my career is absolutely what I wanted right now. He’s been the biggest star in Bellator for a long, long time so I’ve had my eyes on him and been watching for a while.”

Paul Hughes details how PFL move was ‘life changing’

After fighting his way to becoming one of MMA’s hottest prospects, Hughes had a choice to make at the end of his Cage Warriors deal. He was undoubtedly on the UFC’s radar, but a financial offer from PFL that included the opportunity to win $1million twice over in their global tournament turned his head.

During his early professional days, he was making minimal amounts even to headline major cards in Ireland. But after receiving his first payout from fighting for Bellator, he was able to sit back and assess his options as a serious professional athlete for the first time.

“It is literally life changing stuff,” he admitted. “For the first time, I was paid in my career, that’s pretty cool. So now I just have to build on that, keep getting these big fights and and keep getting paid.

“I knew before I signed the deal that it was the right decision. I knew deep down in my soul that it was going to work out and it’s worked out times ten of what I initially thought.

“I’m fighting on Francis Ngannou’s pay-per-view against AJ McKee. I’m getting a paid a bonus on top of that? That has completely changed my life.”

Paul Hughes promises a finish against AJ McKee

Hughes is a big underdog going in against the more experienced McKee, who has fought a who’s who of top Bellator talent at featherweight and lightweight. By the time Hughes was making his pro debut in February of 2017, the American was 7-0 and heading towards a 145lb title shot.

By the time the Irishman was fighting for Cage Warriors gold, McKee had won a Grand Prix that included world champions like Darrion Caldwell and Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire. But Hughes is confident he can upset the odds, and land a stoppage of his own.

“When I beat him then it’s just proof of what I’ve been saying,” Hughes noted. “I asked for it and now I’ve got it. Now it’s time to show that, I’m 3-0 at lightweight, three finishes, knocking people out, this will 100 per cent be a second round KO.”

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