Ardent supporters of Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes got the fights started early at Friday’s PFL Champions Series 1 weigh-in. Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov and top contender Paul Hughes will clash in one of 2025’s early blockbuster fights on Saturday in Dubai. But mere hours before the top lightweights enter the cage, chaos ensued as they came face-to-face for the final time before their scrap.
Watch Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes (Including All Events) Live Stream Online From Anywhere. No Cable or VPN Required. Onetime Payment, No hidden charge.
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Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes is the latest chapter in a storied fighting rivalry between Ireland and Dagestan. Usman, the cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, witnessed firsthand the tensions between the two nations as his cousin battled Conor McGregor earlier in their UFC careers.
While things between Nurmagomedov and Hughes don’t appear overtly personal, the competitive fire is growing between them. Just hours before they were supposed to meet in the cage, some of their supporters got into an all-out fistfight outside of the ceremonial weigh-in in Dubai.
The Professional Fighters League takes center stage this weekend in mixed martial arts. The best pound-for-pound fighter in the PFL and one of the top fighters in the world, Usman Nurmagomedov, climbs into the PFL SmartCage on Saturday, January 25, to defend his Bellator lightweight title against Paul Hughes in the main event of the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series.
Nurmagomedov (18-0) vs. Hughes (17-1) is being billed as Dagestan vs. Ireland, aiming to capitalize on the rivalry that Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, Usman’s cousin, started between the two countries.
The Nurmagomedov-Hughes fight is especially interesting and important because the two lightweights are good enough to perform—and perhaps contend—in the UFC. That’s not the case for the main event of every PFL show.
Watch Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes (Including All Events) Live Stream Online From Anywhere. No Cable or VPN Required. Onetime Payment, No hidden charge.
Click To: Nurmagomedov vs Hughes Live Anywhere Low Price
Click To: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes Live Anywhere Low Price
Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes is the latest chapter in a storied fighting rivalry between Ireland and Dagestan. Usman, the cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, witnessed firsthand the tensions between the two nations as his cousin battled Conor McGregor earlier in their UFC careers.
While things between Nurmagomedov and Hughes don’t appear overtly personal, the competitive fire is growing between them. Just hours before they were supposed to meet in the cage, some of their supporters got into an all-out fistfight outside of the ceremonial weigh-in in Dubai.
The Professional Fighters League takes center stage this weekend in mixed martial arts. The best pound-for-pound fighter in the PFL and one of the top fighters in the world, Usman Nurmagomedov, climbs into the PFL SmartCage on Saturday, January 25, to defend his Bellator lightweight title against Paul Hughes in the main event of the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series.
Nurmagomedov (18-0) vs. Hughes (17-1) is being billed as Dagestan vs. Ireland, aiming to capitalize on the rivalry that Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, Usman’s cousin, started between the two countries.
The Nurmagomedov-Hughes fight is especially interesting and important because the two lightweights are good enough to perform—and perhaps contend—in the UFC. That’s not the case for the main event of every PFL show.
PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series Full Card
- Bellator Lightweight Title Bout - Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes
- Heavyweight Bout - Vadim Nemkov vs. Tim Johnson
- Featherweight Bout - Akhmed Magomedov vs. Nathan Kelly
- Featherweight Bout - Ibragim Ibragimov vs. Kenny Mokhonoana
- Bantamweight Bout - Renat Khavalov vs. Cleiver Fernandes
- Middleweight Bout - Tarek Suleiman vs. Ahmed Samy
- Lightweight Bout - Mirafzal Akhtamov vs. Mike Thompson
- Flyweight Bout - Hadi Omar Al Hussaini vs. Ruel Panales
- Lightweight Bout - John Mitchell vs. Souhil Tairi
- Middleweight Bout - Mostafa Nada vs. Haider Khan
- Amateur Lightweight Bout - Saeed Alhosani vs. Talal Alqallafashfghfgh