In a world where every young MMA fighter wants to be like Conor McGregor… Be like Paul Hughes.
Paul ‘Big News’ Hughes put on a truly sensational performance at the PFL Road to Dubai event last weekend; one so good that it even prompted Khabib Nurmagomedov to call for ‘peace talks’ between Irish and Dagestani fans.
Despite originally hailing Hughes’ performance as “tremendous,” former UFC double champion Conor McGregor has now launched a scathing, offensive, and rather unhinged attack on his fellow Irishman… Here we go again.
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Conor McGregor launches unhinged attacks at fellow Irishman Paul Hughes
Paul Hughes gave Usman Nurmagomedov a true run for his money, with the undefeated Russian admitting after their PFL lightweight title fight last Saturday that he’d sorely underestimated his toughness and skillset.
Hughes’ incredible performance even resulted in the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov inviting him and his family out to visit Dagestan – a far cry from the bitter war of words during the Russian’s infamous rivalry with McGregor.
Yet Notorious’ tune has drastically changed in recent hours following a video being leaked of Hughes telling Khabib Nurmagomedov that he’s his own man – and that he shouldn’t be compared to his former foe.
“I’m not like this other guy, I’m my own man, I’m not like this other guy,” Hughes told Khabib, before reiterating to Usman, “The media try and make us like not respect, but you know that I always have respect [for you].”
Those comments haven’t sat well with McGregor, who took to X earlier today to launch an offensive and downright weird attack – all posts have since, unsurprisingly, been deleted from his social media.
“Lick my a*** I’m farting in your face. Foreign hairy hole a*** licker. Yup the real Irish f*** these vermin f***.
“Get that flag off you, you little know what you are c*** from up there.”
“Too right, YOU’RE NOT #BumholeLicker,” he wrote again in response to Hughes saying he’s ‘not like this other guy’.
McGregor stated in a separate post, which has also since been deleted: “Body of work unmatched. Today I employ over 200 people in the country of Ireland alone, Certified!”
Fans of McGregor might be accustomed to his tweet-and-delete rants, but this one has certainly left ‘Notorious’ in a shameful light – especially now that Hughes has responded in such fine fashion.
“[Conor McGregor] always said u were the goat, payed homage at every opportunity,” Hughes wrote on X.
“But coming at my Irish identity just shows where your head is at.”
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Hughes accepts Khabib’s invitation, albeit on one major condition
Hughes did accept Khabib Nurmagomedov’s invitation to visit his homeland of Dagestan, although he had one major condition that needed to be met first.
“Thank you, Khabib. I have great respect for you, your team and your nation. I would be honoured to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favour in Ireland… But please, only after I get to rematch Usman.”
Unfortunately, Usman Nurmagomedov doesn’t sound like he’s too keen on giving Hughes an immediate rematch, nor on his suggestion that a second title fight should take place in Belfast.
“For rematch? He has to win a couple, like maybe three, four or five in Bellator because he had only two fights and they gave him a title shot – but Paul Hughes, all my respect to this guy,” he told Bloody Elbow after the fight.
“I think if he will go to the tournament for $500,000, he 100% has a chance to take this belt and then we can talk about a rematch.”
When asked by Donagh Corby whether he’d be willing to face Hughes in Big News’ backyard, he simply replied: “No, brother. I want to take my time and will enjoy.”
Whatever happens in regard to the PFL lightweight title next, Paul Hughes has cemented himself as one of the best 155ers on the planet – and again, in a world where every young fighter hopes to be the next Conor McGregor, be the next ‘Big News’ instead.