Title: Champion and Fighters' Reactions to the Thrilling Main Event
In the heated atmosphere of the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) required a standout performance, and Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes delivered just that. On Saturday, Nurmagomedov, the Bellator lightweight champion, kept his undefeated streak alive, but not without a fight. The Irishman Hughes presented a formidable challenge, pushing Nurmagomedov to his limits.
In a nail-biting contest, Nurmagomedov managed to claim a majority decision victory (47-47, 48-46x2), leaving many spectators questioning the decision's legitimacy. If you observed the bout, it's easy to argue that Hughes' strikes left a lasting impact and offered more memorable moments. In fact, Nurmagomedov was penalized for a pair of low blows in the second round, resulting in a point deduction.
Despite this and Hughes' valiant effort, he only secured a draw, and lost by a narrow margin on two other scorecards. Even Nurmagomedov himself acknowledged his underestimation of Hughes in a post-fight interview.
Ultimately, the takedowns Nurmagomedov executed – a total of four – swayed the judges in his favor.
Barstool's Jack Mac posed a question on social media, asking if Hughes had been shortchanged. Dustin Poirier, a former UFC interim champion, didn't deem the victory a robbery, but he did acknowledge Hughes' impressive performance. Bellator light heavyweight champion Corey Anderson praised the contest's caliber, highlighting its potential impact on the PFL's future.
Belal Muhammad, a training partner of Usman Nurmagomedov, naturally supported his friend, while acknowledging the substantial effort put in by both fighters. Jake Paul, on the other hand, seized the opportunity to take a dig at Conor McGregor, declaring Hughes as the moral victor in the contest.
Paul has a point: Hughes' victory on some levels feels just and, as a result, has bolstered the PFL's image. After all, Hughes is a homegrown talent, handpicked by the PFL despite his links with Cage Warriors, an independent promotion distributed by UFC Fight Pass.
Nurmagomedov, however, left Dubai with his title intact, despite widespread debate surrounding his victory. There's a strong desire for a rematch, and if the PFL makes the right move, it will happen in Dublin.
As the leader of his group, Khabib Nurmagomedov saw this as a plausible prospect and took the stage at the event's conclusion to pay tribute to Ireland. The humble touch added an extra layer of class to an already thrilling event.
The list of results looks like this:
- (c) Usman Nurmagomedov def. Paul Hughes via majority decision (47-47, 48-46x2) – for Bellator lightweight title
- Vadim Nemkov def. Tim Johnson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:08
- Akhmed Magomedov def. Nathan Kelly via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:20
- Ibragim Ibragimov def. Kenny Mokhonoana via unanimous decision (30-27x3)
- Renat Khavalov def. Cleiver Fernandes via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28x2)
- Ahmed Samy def. Tarek Suleiman via TKO (referee stoppage) – Round 1, 5:00
- Mirafzal Akhtamov def. Mike Thompson via technical submission (arm triangle) – Round 2, 2:50
- Hadi Omar Al Hussaini def. Ruel Panales via unanimous decision (30-27x2 29-28)
- John Mitchell def. Souhil Tairi via unanimous decision (30-27x3)
- Haider Khan def. Mostafa Nada via TKO (injury) – Round 1, 3:18
[1]: "Usman Nurmagomedov beats Paul Hughes at PFL event in Dubai: What happened, commentary, and results" | The Independent (2022, April 10)[2]: "Khabib Nurmagomedov, brothers defend Usman Nurmagomedov's win over Paul Hughes in PFL event" | MMA Junkie (2022, April 10)[3]: "UFC Star Conor McGregor Rips Khabib Nurmagomedov's Brother Usman Over Paul Hughes Win" | Newsweek (2022, April 10)[4]: "Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov: MMA Synopsis and Analysis" | MMA Mania (2022, April 10)
The UFC's Dustin Poirier commended Paul Hughes for his impressive performance against Usman Nurmagomedov, despite the latter retaining his Bellator title. Hughes also gained recognition from Bellator light heavyweight champion Corey Anderson, who praised the contest's quality and potential impact on the PFL's future.
Meanwhile, referring to the results of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) event in Dubai, 'UFC Results' reported that Nurmagomedov secured a majority decision victory over Hughes, despite being penalized for a pair of low blows.
In the upcoming PFL season, there's a strong desire for a rematch between Nurmagomedov and Hughes, with Dublin as a potential venue. This prospect was also acknowledged by Nurmagomedov's brother and UFC fighter, Khabib Nurmagomedov.