PFL Dubai live blog: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes
This is the PFL Dubai live blog for Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes, the lightweight championship main event on Saturday in Dubai.
The latest member of the Team Nurmagomedov dynasty, Usman Nurmagomedov is only 26 years old and already incredibly accomplished. Undefeated in his professional career, Nurmagomedov claimed the Bellator lightweight title in 2022 and hasn’t looked back, successfully defending the belt against Benson Henderson and Alexander Shabley (he also defeated Brent Primus but that result was overturned to a No Contest as the result of a failed drug test). Now fully under the PFL banner, Nurmagomedov defends his Bellator title for what could be the final time as the future of the belt is up in the air.
A major free agent acquisition for PFL when they signed him last year, Paul Hughes immediately made waves in his new promotion with a stoppage win over Bobby King. Following that performance, the Irish star then broke out completely with an upset win over A.J. McKee to punch his ticket to a long-awaited showdown with Nurmagomedov.
Check out the Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes live blog below.