What many believe is the best fight in PFL history is set to receive a second instalment in several months.
Khabib Nurmagomedov already leaked details of Usman Nurmagomedov’s return when talking about his cousin’s current plans.
The legendary former UFC lightweight champion confirmed the news that fans had been waiting for, though there were concerns that it wouldn’t happen.
Nurmagomedov facing Paul Hughes in a rematch is now official for October 3 in Dubai, where the PFL lightweight title will be on the line.
Following their remarkable first encounter from earlier this year, a lot of comments have been made regarding a rematch, which have continued now that the date has been announced.
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Ali Abdelaziz hits out at Paul Hughes and claims that Usman Nurmagomedov pushed for the rematch
It looked at one stage that the rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes wasn’t going to happen until later down the line.
Nurmagomedov and his team were suggesting that the Irishman needed to prove himself worthy of a second shot at the undefeated champion, while other contenders also staked claims of their own.
Hughes made reference to this in his first social media post since the fight was made official.
“He tried everything to stop this rematch from happening,” Hughes wrote on X. “Now his days are numbered. SEE YOU IN DUBAI.”
While Nurmagomedov hasn’t responded as of yet, his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, did come back at Hughes.
Abdelaziz criticized ‘Big News’ in his social media reply, claiming that he wasn’t in favor of booking this rematch and that it was Nurmagomedov that pushed for it to happen.
“It’s embarrassing that you’ve built your name off losing to other men. I didn’t even think you deserved a rematch, but Usman made the call. He told me you’re the only one he wants to smash because you can’t stop running your mouth. Now that he’s beaten you, nobody’s ever going to mention your name again. You brought this on yourself.”
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What happened in the first fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes?
Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes first met in January where the Russian remained undefeated via a unanimous decision.
While many believed that Nurmagomedov would be too much for his opponent, Hughes continued to exceed expectations, producing an incredibly competitive fight that stands out as one of the best of the year.
The Irishman may not have come away with the win, but in many ways, he felt like the moral victor after pushing his opponent to the limit and doing so with a smile on his face.
Unquestionably, booking the next chapter in this rivalry is the best move that the PFL could’ve made, producing a title fight that is up there with the most highly anticipated matchups across the remainder of 2025.