Paul Hughes is certain he will cross paths with Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov again, but he wasn`t at all surprised that an immediate rematch wasn`t granted.
Following a razor-close majority decision loss to Nurmagomedov in January, Hughes quickly requested a second bout. However, Nurmagomedov dismissed the idea, stating that the fighter from Belfast, Ireland, needed to secure at least one more victory before earning another shot at the title.
While eagerly anticipating the opportunity for a second encounter with Nurmagomedov in the future, Hughes wasn`t taken aback by how the situation unfolded. He now hopes to solidify his claim for that rematch with his upcoming fight against Bruno Miranda on Saturday.
Hughes explained that Nurmagomedov would naturally try to prolong the wait because he came very close to losing his title and, in Hughes` view, “was almost broken in there.” Hughes, who firmly believes he won the initial fight, wasn`t surprised by the champion`s apparent desire to delay. “Fair enough,” Hughes conceded. “He still has the belt. He`s the champ. He can say these things. But at the end of the day, my day will come again and it`s coming soon.” He added that a win over Bruno Miranda should leave “absolutely no question that Usman is next. Whenever that is, I`m not sure, but it`s coming.”
Although Hughes theoretically could have refused further fights to simply await a PFL-scheduled rematch with Nurmagomedov, this idea never actually crossed his mind.
Hughes has always prioritized staying active. The bout against Miranda offered an added benefit: headlining a card in his hometown of Belfast.
He emphasized, “There was never a thought of sitting out that long. At the end of the day as fighters, we don`t get paid unless we fight and at the end of the day, I`m young, I`m healthy, I`m ready to go. I`ve been very active. I want to continue to be active. Why not?” He believes continued fighting makes him better. The Nurmagomedov rematch is inevitable, perhaps by year-end, making the home fight an ideal interim step. “Of course, I`m going to take the opportunity to fight at home in the meantime,” he stated, calling it a chance to tick off a major goal while improving and earning income.
As much as the discussion often focuses on the potential Nurmagomedov rematch, Hughes refuses to fall into the trap of overlooking his immediate opponent.
Despite the odds suggesting he should largely dominate Miranda in their upcoming fight, Hughes understands that underestimating any opponent is an extremely dangerous game to play in combat sports.
He pointed to boxer Ryan Garcia`s recent experience, who, while seemingly focused on a potential rematch with Devin Haney, suffered a shocking decision loss to Rolly Romero instead.
Hughes noted he has witnessed such scenarios occur to other fighters in the past and is determined not to allow himself to overlook the immediate challenge standing directly in front of him.
“Look, Bruno is a very dangerous guy,” Hughes asserted. He recognized Miranda`s power and experience against world champions, emphasizing he is “not being taken lightly in any regard.” Hughes approaches the fight “essentially” as another world title bout, particularly with the added pressure of performing at home. He acknowledged Miranda`s capability to “knock you clean out” if there`s a mistake, stressing the need to take the fight “unbelievably serious.” Despite the risk inherent in mixed martial arts, Hughes sees the reward in fulfilling a dream by fighting at the SSE Arena in Belfast and showcasing the PFL there.
Fighting at home presents its own set of unique challenges; while Hughes will undeniably be the biggest star on the entire card, the expectations for his performance are also higher than ever.
Hughes embraces this pressure, viewing headlining in Belfast as a dream come true and acknowledging there is always the chance this is the only time he will get such an opportunity.
“There`s pressure every time I fight now,” Hughes stated confidently. “I`m used to it. I`m the best. So I always deal with it well. Pressure creates diamonds.”
He concluded, “I am a competitor that always shows up. You`ve never seen me through any night of my career not show up on fight night and that will not change.”
