Paul Hughes Expresses Confidence and Reflects on Career Ahead of Bellator Title Fight

Paul Hughes, who is set to challenge Russia’s Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator Lightweight World Championship in Dubai on January 25, has stated he feels “extremely confident” in his bid to dethrone the champion. The fighter from Derry secured the most significant victory of his career last month, defeating America’s AJ McKee via split decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With aspirations to solidify his presence on the global stage, Hughes aims to become a two-time champion, having previously held the Cage Warriors featherweight title in 2022. Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Hughes stated, “This is, you could say, one of the biggest fights, if not the biggest fight that PFL and Bellator have ever done.” He elaborated on the significance, adding, “The magnitude of this fight is huge. We’ve both got big fanbases, big loyal followings, so it has the potential to be absolutely massive.” Regarding his opponent, Hughes acknowledged, “Usman is 18-0 for a reason. I’m very much prepared for a lot of wrestling exchanges, so I need to be going in there very fit and ready to go.” Hughes plans to initiate his upcoming training camp in Belfast, subsequently continuing his preparations in Florida leading up to Christmas, before heading back to Belfast prior to the January contest. From his hotel room in Dubai, the 27-year-old described the preceding weeks as “mad,” noting the significant advancement in his career following his victory over McKee, a former Bellator featherweight champion. He further commented, “It’s great to have a quick turnaround. How my life has changed, I’m just after meeting the Crown Prince of Dubai at a convention, which is pretty crazy. I’m hanging out with Francis Ngannou, having the craic and then meeting the Crown Prince.” Hughes reflected on the rapid pace of events, stating, “It’s all happening very fast, but maybe because it’s happening so fast I’m not taking it in.” Despite the swift changes, Hughes asserted that he believes he has earned his recent opportunities. He remarked, “I know a lot of athletes sometimes talk about imposter syndrome but it’s something that I’ve never had, and the reason I’ve never had it is because I know how hard I’ve worked to get here.” He also admitted to moments of disbelief, saying, “But on the other hand, you pinch yourself and say ‘what the hell is going on?’.” Hughes described his experience, stating, “I feel like a seasoned veteran. I’ve been doing this a long time and it’s starting to show, but in terms of my PFL career, yes, it’s all moving very fast and it is new, but I’m no stranger to the big nights. I’m fighting in front of 16,000 people, it’s unbelievable.” Hughes’s victory over AJ McKee in October extended his winning streak to seven fights. Shifting his focus from recent successes, Hughes articulated his awareness of the formidable challenge posed by Usman Nurmagomedov, who is the cousin of MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov. He declared, “I’m under no illusions as to how good he is and I know I will have to go to the depths of hell to beat him, so I will be carrying that energy now with me through the rest of this camp.” Hughes expressed confidence in his strategy, adding, “I find holes in people’s games and I’ve found holes in Usman’s already. I know where I can beat him and I just believe in my fighting ability and my fighting instincts.” He concluded with a strong assertion: “I know how to hurt people and I know how to get victories as I just done against AJ [McKee]. I’m extremely confident.” Regarding the championship, he stated, “I don’t play much into it but another world title, that goes down in history, that’s a legacy there, so I’ll certainly welcome it.”