Nurmagomedov vs Hughes Prediction

🔊The main bout of the upcoming Professional Fighters League tournament, scheduled for January 25 in Dubai, has been announced as a matchup between Russian Usman Nurmagomedov and Irishman Paul Hughes. The fight will take place in the lightweight category. Thanks to his recent performances, Hughes unexpectedly received a title shot. Will Nurmagomedov succeed in his third title defense? Let's discuss.

◼ Usman Nurmagomedov

The Russian athlete is a versatile fighter with a background in Muay Thai and freestyle wrestling. Nurmagomedov entered mixed martial arts in 2017. After building a solid record in organizations like GFC and UAE Warriors, Usman was invited to the renowned promotion Bellator. There, the Russian showcased his skills, which soon earned him a title fight. In that fight, Usman defeated the experienced Patricky Freire, thus becoming the lightweight champion. Nurmagomedov then made his first title defense by defeating Ben Henderson via submission and later beat Brent Primus, although the bout was declared a no-contest due to Nurmagomedov's failed doping test. In September of last year, Nurmagomedov defended his title for the second time, winning unanimously against Alexander Shabliy. The champion currently boasts 18 victories without a single defeat.

◼ Paul Hughes

The fighter from Ireland is also a versatile athlete. Hughes has been competing professionally since 2017. Thanks to an excellent debut, he was signed by the well-known English organization Cage Warriors after just a few fights. In 2021, the Irishman defeated current UFC fighter Morgan Charriere, claiming the vacant championship belt. A year later, Hughes avenged his 2020 loss to Jordan Vucenic, thus becoming the undisputed featherweight champion of the organization. Paul then moved up to lightweight, where he continues to compete to this day. In October of last year, the Irishman had his first and only fight in PFL, where he defeated fan favorite AJ McKee. "Big News" has a total of 13 wins with only one loss.

📝 Editor's Prediction

Both athletes are in excellent form. Although Usman is the clear favorite for the upcoming fight, this bout could be a serious challenge for Nurmagomedov. We suggest considering a bet on a lengthy fight: the champion has won three of his last four fights by decision, and his opponent has never lost by stoppage in his career. Based on this logic, we expect to see an extended encounter.