Paul Hughes has been told that he should show some appreciation to his great rival Usman Nurmagomedov for raising his global profile with their feud.
The Irishman called out then-Bellator champion Nurmagomedov before even fighting under the PFL banner. He soon got his wish in a bout that earned Fight of the Year calls despite happening in the third week of January.
However, despite the champion having a point removed for fouls and a widespread consensus that the Irishman did enough, Hughes suffered just his second career defeat. He has since chased a rematch like a dog with a bone, although the Russian and now the PFL themselves appear to want to look elsewhere.
Paul Hughes goaded by PFL 2024 champion Gadzhi Rabadanov
Almost immediately after they left the cage, Paul Hughes began to advocate for a rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov. At the exact same time, the Russian seemed to put every obstacle in his rival’s way, and continues to do so to this day.
Archie Colgan has been drafted in as the promotion’s new official number one contender. And it seems that team Nurmagomedov is pushing for that fight above the far more lucrative rematch.
Even Rabadanov, asked ahead of his own PFL World Tournament final on August 15, claims that Colgan is more worthy of the fight with his teammate, telling Bloody Elbow in an exclusive chat: “Archie Colgan deserves the shot.
“Before the fight with Usman, people didn’t know who is this guy [Hughes]. Usman made him and he has to be thankful with him. I don’t know what he wants. If they give him his rematch, I think Usman is going to finish him.
“Of course it was a tough fight for Usman but it was not a close fight. Paul is a very good, tough fighter. But nothing special. It was a good fight and maybe if they make them rematch it will be interesting too but nothing that makes me say ‘wow’, you know?”
Gadhzi Rabadanov believes he would KO Paul Hughes within one round
In lieu of the massively anticipated rematch, there is an argument to be made that Hughes’ next best bet would be to fight the winner of the World Tournament. Alfie Davis will certainly have a say, but should the heavily-favored Rabadanov win his second tournament in a row, a bout with the Irishman could be next.
Hughes vs Rabadanov would not only firm up the former Cage Warriors champion’s spot as the top contender to Nurmagomedov’s belt, but also would add to the storyline between the two teams. And it goes without saying that the two Russians would never fight one another under any circumstances.
“It would be a good match,” Rabadanov said of the potential meeting. “But I believe I will knock this guy out in one round. Maybe, why not? It’s a good name, good fighter, he has a big fanbase in his country, why not? We can do this, we’ll see.”