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Paul Hughes believes running things back with Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov is inevitable.
Hughes (13-2) takes on Bruno Miranda (17-5) in the PFL Europe 1: Belfast main event May 10 at SSE Arena. "Big News" pushed Nurmagomedov to the brink in their title fight in the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai headliner this past January but wound up losing a majority decision.
Hughes was confident that he had done enough to get his hand raised and sees a big rebound win over Miranda leading to the Nurmagomedov rematch.
"No question, that is the fight that everybody wants to see, and it is the fight that will happen," Hughes told MMA Junkie Radio of Nurmagomedov. "Probably at the end of this year. There's no question there. He can try to delay it as long as he can, but his time will come."
Despite seeing his seven-fight win streak snapped, Hughes doesn't feel like he lost too much momentum from the Nurmagomedov loss. However, the 28-year-old is fully aware of the expectations to deliver in front of his home crowd.
"I think that, if anything, people will be expecting me to run through Bruno," Hughes said. "They'll be expecting an incredible performance. Just my last couple, and that's why there is kind of added pressure here to deliver because Bruno is the type of guy who could spoil a party if you're not on your game. So there is certainly some extra momentum there."
Hughes is ready to live up to those expectations.
"I see a viral knockout to be honest," Hughes said. "I see a viral knockout."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL's Paul Hughes: Usman Nurmagomedov can't delay rematch too long
Continue reading...
Hughes (13-2) takes on Bruno Miranda (17-5) in the PFL Europe 1: Belfast main event May 10 at SSE Arena. "Big News" pushed Nurmagomedov to the brink in their title fight in the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai headliner this past January but wound up losing a majority decision.
Hughes was confident that he had done enough to get his hand raised and sees a big rebound win over Miranda leading to the Nurmagomedov rematch.
"No question, that is the fight that everybody wants to see, and it is the fight that will happen," Hughes told MMA Junkie Radio of Nurmagomedov. "Probably at the end of this year. There's no question there. He can try to delay it as long as he can, but his time will come."
Despite seeing his seven-fight win streak snapped, Hughes doesn't feel like he lost too much momentum from the Nurmagomedov loss. However, the 28-year-old is fully aware of the expectations to deliver in front of his home crowd.
"I think that, if anything, people will be expecting me to run through Bruno," Hughes said. "They'll be expecting an incredible performance. Just my last couple, and that's why there is kind of added pressure here to deliver because Bruno is the type of guy who could spoil a party if you're not on your game. So there is certainly some extra momentum there."
Hughes is ready to live up to those expectations.
"I see a viral knockout to be honest," Hughes said. "I see a viral knockout."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL's Paul Hughes: Usman Nurmagomedov can't delay rematch too long
Continue reading...
