Connor Hughes’ MMA Journey Culminates in PFL Europe Final

Connor Hughes, a Liverpudlian fighter, is set to compete in the PFL Europe finals this Saturday. His extensive fighting background, having traveled globally with his mother and uncle since age three during their kickboxing careers, is a rare claim among MMA athletes. This Saturday in Lyon, Hughes will participate in what is described as the most significant fight of his career, facing the undefeated Jakub Kaszuba in the PFL Europe lightweight final. The 27-year-old Hughes, who has secured two victories in the tournament this year, including one stoppage, now has the opportunity to win the championship and a prize of £78,000 ($100,000). Speaking to BBC Sport, Hughes stated, “It was never about money, it’s world titles and legacy I want.” He added, “The money will come if I stay focused, it’s all about legacy.” His mother, Lorraine, and uncle, David, are both multiple world champions in kickboxing. Connor began kickboxing at age three and, at 18, transitioned to MMA, training at The MMA Academy in Liverpool. Hughes remarked, “I’ve been training since I was three, travelling the world watching my mum and my uncle David win titles, it’s just been my life.” He further explained, “There was no other option for me. I’d come home from school and go straight to the gym.” Hughes’ narrative bears a resemblance to that of Dakota Ditcheva, the 2023 PFL Europe champion and 2024 PFL champion, whose mother also held a kickboxing world championship. Ditcheva, from Manchester, progressed from securing the PFL’s European series title to claiming their flyweight world title within a year. Last month, her mother, Lisa, presented her with her initial world title. Ditcheva defeated Taila Santos to secure the PFL world title. Despite his family’s combat sports heritage, Hughes’ choice to transition into MMA was initially met with disapproval. He recounted, “At first my mum wasn’t too happy. I’m the first one to step outside of kickboxing and chase MMA,” adding with a laugh. “But over time they saw how consistent I was and how I believed in myself, so when I made my amateur debut everyone there realised I could do something with this.” Hughes commenced his professional MMA career in July 2021 and currently maintains a record of 10 wins and 1 loss, with his sole defeat occurring during his PFL debut last year. Hughes asserts that he has emerged stronger following his only professional defeat. This loss occurred in the first round of the 2023 PFL Europe tournament, and Hughes maintains that the experience of that defeat has been instrumental in his progression to this year’s final. He stated, “The loss has made me 10 times better than any win ever has. I believe in this game, as long as you keep training hard, you’ve got to lick your wounds, come back and you will get there. I’m proof of that.” He continued, “When I was younger, I just wanted to be a world champion. I’ve always wanted to be known as one of the best or the best fighter, and I don’t think you can do that without MMA.” He concluded, “I could’ve gone into boxing, but this is true fighting.” This Saturday, he has the chance to advance closer to that objective by defeating Kaszuba. Hughes was present cageside for the 29-year-old Kaszuba’s semi-final match against Italian Daniele Scatizzi, having competed on the same event card in September. The Polish athlete, known as ‘The Auditor’, boasts an undefeated record of 13 fights, including seven finishes. Hughes observed Kaszuba’s points victory over Scatizzi but commented that he perceived “nothing new” from an opponent aspiring to become a two-time PFL Europe lightweight champion. Hughes stated, “I didn’t look at the performance and go ‘wow’. He’s effective in what he does and he’s obviously physically strong.” He continued, “I’m about to prove I’m number one in Europe, so next I’ve got to prove I’m number one in the world.” He added, “Without looking past Jakub, I’ve got to prove that next.”