DUBAI: Over the past couple of years, Irish mixed martial arts star Paul “Big News” Hughes has been on a generational run.
The Belfast native established himself as a rising star in Cage Warriors, before making his jump to the big leagues, defeating Bobby King in Bellator in 2024.
He then registered an impressive win over former Bellator champion AJ McKee under the PFL banner a few months later, earning a long-awaited title shot against Usman Nurmagomedov.
When the two finally clashed, the result was a five-round Fight of The Year candidate that not only cemented Nurmagomedov as a bona fide star, but also showed that Hughes was a legitimate top contender.
While it was Nurmagomedov who had his hand raised at the end of the 25-minute war, it still raised Hughes’ stock, short of saying that it made him a star.
Now, after a 42-second win over Bruno Miranda at PFL Europe in his hometown of Belfast in May, Hughes finds himself back in the world title mix, again against Nurmagomedov at the “PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch” on Oct. 3 in Dubai.
With a second chance at gold, Hughes is now promising a different result.
“The last fight with Usman taught me lessons that I’ll carry forever. I’ve taken every mistake, every detail, and turned it into motivation,” Hughes said during a recent PFL Media Day in Dubai.
“This time the result will be different.”
A win will definitely vault Hughes into superstar status. He has the skill and charisma reminiscent of another certain brash but talented Irishman who became world champion, Conor McGregor.
At the very least, Hughes is confident in his preparations. “I’m ready. I’ve put in the hours, I’ve put in the rounds, and I believe I’m going to shock people on Oct. 3. This time, I win.”
But while glory comes with the gold, Hughes sees this title shot as an opportunity to show that he belongs in the big leagues.
“For me, stepping into this cage is about proving that someone from a small town in Ireland can belong on the world stage. I don’t see myself as anything more than a regular guy chasing a dream.”
Hughes welcomes the spotlight. “I’ve called this fight the biggest opportunity of my career, maybe even my life. I know what’s at stake, and I’ve accepted the weight of it. Pressure doesn’t scare me, it sharpens me.”
“I’ve been through moments before where pressure was heavy, and I learned how to flip it into fuel. That’s exactly what I’m doing now,” Hughes added.
