Paul Hughes has promised to avenge Conor McGregor’s loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov this weekend.
Hughes faces Khabib’s cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, in the principle occasion of PFL’s extremely anticipated Highway to Dubai Champions Collection card on Saturday.
Hughes stated he’ll undergo the depths of hell to beat NurmagomedovIn what is unquestionably the most important struggle of his profession
‘Big News’ grew to become the primary Irish fighter since McGregor to win featherweight gold below the Cage Warriors banner in November 2022.
He signed for the PFL two months later and secured a title shot in his final struggle by overcoming American AJ McKee on the principle card of Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA in opposition to Renan Ferreira.
Forward of Hughes’ mouthwatering conflict, UFC legend Khabib expressed his emotions in direction of Irish MMA.
“Let’s be honest. How many fighters do you know from Ireland? Paul Hughes and Conor. And who else?” Khabib stated.
He additionally in contrast the Irish MMA scene to Dagestan, saying Eire’s stage was ‘not even half’ of his birthplace.
“There’s no question that they’re ahead right now,” Hughes, 27, instructed talkSPORT MMA.
“I imply we’re 1-0 all the way down to Dagestan proper now. I’m about to make it 1-1 and I believe it completely will change on Saturday evening.
“I believe within the style that I’m going to get Usman out of there it’s going to actually flip heads.
“Hopefully the youthful Irish fighters developing can take a look at this and go, ah, what, we’re a really small nation.
“We don’t have that many fighters, but we can do it. We can do it, for sure.”
Khabib and McGregor confronted off in October 2018 for the UFC light-weight titleGetty Pictures – GettyAnd McGregor tapped out in opposition to within the fourth roundGetty Pictures – GettyHowever Hughes believes his nation will come out victorious this time
Hughes has launched into a rollercoaster MMA profession since bouncing again from a possible career-ending harm in his youth.
‘Big News’ received the primary 5 bouts of his skilled MMA profession after medical doctors suggested him to retire from the game following a recurring hand harm.
Hughes broke his left hand on the age of 19 on his professional debut in Belfast, Northern Eire, earlier than breaking his proper hand when coaching for his subsequent bout after he had recovered.
He then suffered two additional breaks to the appropriate hand, which made it 4 breaks in whole over one 12 months.
“I must stick to my game plan, I must not get over eager and I must implement the game plan perfectly but I really feel that that’s actually one of my best strengths,” Hughes added, admitting his title bout is barely extra about will than talent.
“ should you take a look at my recreation it’s sort of arduous to say: ‘He’s actually good at this or he’s actually good at that.’
Hughes stated implementing a recreation plan is one among his finest strengthsAnd is assured he may have his hand-held as soon as once more
“I’m sort of one among these guys the place it’s arduous to pinpoint what I’m really good at however I at all times win and I at all times severely damage individuals.
“I’m good at discovering holes in individuals’s video games and I’m good at implementing it on struggle evening when it actually issues.
“I’m only a competitor, I understand how to win, I can discover the holes and I do know that I can do this with Usman.
“I’ve heavily studied his game, I know where the holes are but as I say the longer that this fight goes on and the more that I can drag him into the deeper waters the more and more it plays into my favour.”
Adversity can come and go, however is usually very tough to beat, particularly on this planet of MMA.
Hughes credit his ‘strong, dedicated’ fan base for his or her unimaginable help that ‘motivates him to perform even more’.
The Irishman can be continually humble on the subject of recognizing the place he finds himself.
And it’s not one thing he needs to surrender anytime quickly, having made so many sacrifices to get so far, together with lacking out on Christmas at residence.
“This game requires everything, sacrifice is a huge part of it,” Hughes concluded.
“It could have been good to be with my household, to be with my pals who dwell around the globe.
“Christmas in Eire is a complete totally different ballgame. That’s the most important factor of the 12 months as a result of we don’t have the most effective summertime.
“So it’s Christmas, we drink Guinness, we occasion with our pals, all of us congregate collectively. It’s a really particular time in Eire. However to be sincere…
“I sort of loved sacrificing all of it. There was part of me that actually loved that as a result of I do know what’s required for this struggle and I do know the place I’ll doubtlessly must go on this struggle to get the win.
“That’s to the depths of hell to beat this man and I’m totally ready to do it.
Hughes will hope his sacrifices will repay come Saturday evening when Dubai’s Coca-Cola Area hosts the most important struggle of his profession.
Ought to Hughes hand Nurmagomedov the primary defeat of his profession, and win the Bellator light-weight title within the course of, there isn’t a doubt he may have etched his title in MMA’s historical past books eternally.
Paul Hughes has promised to avenge Conor McGregor’s loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov this weekend.
Hughes faces Khabib’s cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, in the principle occasion of PFL’s extremely anticipated Highway to Dubai Champions Collection card on Saturday.
Hughes stated he’ll undergo the depths of hell to beat NurmagomedovIn what is unquestionably the most important struggle of his profession
‘Big News’ grew to become the primary Irish fighter since McGregor to win featherweight gold below the Cage Warriors banner in November 2022.
He signed for the PFL two months later and secured a title shot in his final struggle by overcoming American AJ McKee on the principle card of Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA in opposition to Renan Ferreira.
Forward of Hughes’ mouthwatering conflict, UFC legend Khabib expressed his emotions in direction of Irish MMA.
“Let’s be honest. How many fighters do you know from Ireland? Paul Hughes and Conor. And who else?” Khabib stated.
He additionally in contrast the Irish MMA scene to Dagestan, saying Eire’s stage was ‘not even half’ of his birthplace.
“There’s no question that they’re ahead right now,” Hughes, 27, instructed talkSPORT MMA.
“I imply we’re 1-0 all the way down to Dagestan proper now. I’m about to make it 1-1 and I believe it completely will change on Saturday evening.
“I believe within the style that I’m going to get Usman out of there it’s going to actually flip heads.
“Hopefully the youthful Irish fighters developing can take a look at this and go, ah, what, we’re a really small nation.
“We don’t have that many fighters, but we can do it. We can do it, for sure.”
Khabib and McGregor confronted off in October 2018 for the UFC light-weight titleGetty Pictures – GettyAnd McGregor tapped out in opposition to within the fourth roundGetty Pictures – GettyBut Hughes believes his nation will come out victorious this time
Hughes has launched into a rollercoaster MMA profession since bouncing again from a possible career-ending harm in his youth.
‘Big News’ received the primary 5 bouts of his skilled MMA profession after medical doctors suggested him to retire from the game following a recurring hand harm.
Hughes broke his left hand on the age of 19 on his professional debut in Belfast, Northern Eire, earlier than breaking his proper hand when coaching for his subsequent bout after he had recovered.
He then suffered two additional breaks to the appropriate hand, which made it 4 breaks in whole over one 12 months.
“I must stick to my game plan, I must not get over eager and I must implement the game plan perfectly but I really feel that that’s actually one of my best strengths,” Hughes added, admitting his title bout is barely extra about will than talent.
“ should you take a look at my recreation it’s sort of arduous to say: ‘He’s actually good at this or he’s actually good at that.’
Hughes stated implementing a recreation plan is one among his finest strengthsAnd is assured he may have his hand-held as soon as once more
“I’m sort of one among these guys the place it’s arduous to pinpoint what I’m really good at however I at all times win and I at all times severely damage individuals.
“I’m good at discovering holes in individuals’s video games and I’m good at implementing it on struggle evening when it actually issues.
“I’m only a competitor, I understand how to win, I can discover the holes and I do know that I can do this with Usman.
“I’ve heavily studied his game, I know where the holes are but as I say the longer that this fight goes on and the more that I can drag him into the deeper waters the more and more it plays into my favour.”
Adversity can come and go, however is usually very tough to beat, particularly on this planet of MMA.
Hughes credit his ‘strong, dedicated’ fan base for his or her unimaginable help that ‘motivates him to perform even more’.
The Irishman can be continually humble on the subject of recognizing the place he finds himself.
And it’s not one thing he needs to surrender anytime quickly, having made so many sacrifices to get so far, together with lacking out on Christmas at residence.
“This game requires everything, sacrifice is a huge part of it,” Hughes concluded.
“It could have been good to be with my household, to be with my pals who dwell around the globe.
“Christmas in Eire is a complete totally different ballgame. That’s the most important factor of the 12 months as a result of we don’t have the most effective summertime.
“So it’s Christmas, we drink Guinness, we occasion with our pals, all of us congregate collectively. It’s a really particular time in Eire. However to be sincere…
“I sort of loved sacrificing all of it. There was part of me that actually loved that as a result of I do know what’s required for this struggle and I do know the place I’ll doubtlessly must go on this struggle to get the win.
“That’s to the depths of hell to beat this man and I’m totally ready to do it.
Hughes will hope his sacrifices will repay come Saturday evening when Dubai’s Coca-Cola Area hosts the most important struggle of his profession.
Ought to Hughes hand Nurmagomedov the primary defeat of his profession, and win the Bellator light-weight title within the course of, there isn’t a doubt he may have etched his title in MMA’s historical past books eternally. Learn Extra