The Skilled Fighter’s League began their yr with a bang from the Coca-Cola area in Dubai on Saturday night as Dagestan’s Usman Nurmagomedov and Eire’s Paul Hughes produced a battle for the ages within the last-ever Bellator light-weight championship battle.
There aren’t many fights exterior of the UFC that seize the eye of the general public on a worldwide scale, however the contest dubbed Dagestan vs Eire 2 was a type of that did. Nurmagomedov retained his belt and prolonged his unbeaten streak to 19 -0 after the judges scored the battle 47-47, 48-46, 48-46 in his favour.
The electrifying match-up has been labelled the very best PFL predominant occasion of their historical past, with calls from throughout the MMA world for a rematch in Hughes’ house metropolis of Belfast, Northern Eire.
It’s a savage consequence for Irishman Hughes, who had hoped to take his profession to the subsequent stage after an impressive win over AJ McKee in October. And whereas the 27-year-old did his repute no hurt in what’s simply the second defeat of his profession, it was in the end Nurmagomedov’s evening.
“I underestimated this man. It was my little mistake, however I’m nonetheless undefeated,” stated a cousin of UFC legend Khabib. He added,d “Thanks a lot. The wrestling and takedown defence he did very properly. He’s robust brother, you’re actually robust.”
A bloody Hughes stated publish battle “We’re going to battle once more, I actually respect Usman, I most likely left some within the tank however I received’t subsequent time. I actually thought I used to be going to win tonight, I’m heartbroken. We have now to do the rematch in Belfast, it needs to be in Belfast. I feel I’ve earned this. All the fellows in Dagestan, you’ll be welcome in Eire.”
The Greatest Battle Exterior Of The UFC.
Earlier than the headline battle, Hughes stated he was able to take Nurmagomedov to the “depths of hell” and claimed he was going to knock the champion out within the second spherical.
And whereas the bout in the end didn’t play out that method, a smiling and bloody Hughes triggered enormous issues for his unbeaten opponent in a extremely technical and thrilling predominant occasion that has seen the Irishman’s social media followers improve by 25% in a single day.
That simply exhibits the magnitude of what this battle was, just like Oktagon’s light-weight championship battle final month between Losene Keita and Rony Paradeiser, the place the battle had a a lot wider curiosity because of the calibre and talent of the opponents, who in flip delivered on the largest stage with the world watching.
Rematch In Eire.
The combating metropolis of Belfast has witnessed some well-known nights in fight sports activities prior to now, with legends resembling Carl Frampton and Michael Conlan gathering a small nation collectively to create a singular and highly effective environment that’s unrivalled wherever on the globe. There have been some large nights in Eire for Hughes up to now, however with the catapulted place he now finds himself in, what he can create with a dance companion like Usman has the potential to be legendary.
When ‘Large Information’ arrived with the PFL final yr, he introduced with him an aura constructed on confidence and self-belief in his personal capability, backing it up with an enthralling file on Cage Warriors, the place he held the featherweight championship belt and wins over two fighters now within the UFC; Jordan Vucenic and Morgan Charriere.
Hughes has now earned the correct to have the chance to run it again with Nurmagomedov in his personal metropolis, and the organisation will doubtless wish to guide it instantly. They didn’t fiddle when it got here to pencilling Saturday evening battle after Hughes known as for it after the win over former Bellator champion AJ McKee, they usually recognise that they’ve a world celebrity within the younger Belfast man, so they’ll work as a collective to supply one other spectacular evening of blended martial arts.
Full Undercard Outcomes
W U. Nurmagomedov def Paul Hughes LMajority Dec
W Vadim Nemkov def Tim JohnsonLSub, 3:08 R1
W A. Magomedov def Nathan Kelly LSub, 4:22 R2
W I. Ibragimov def Okay. Mokhonoana LUnanimous Dec
W Renat Khavalov def C. Fernandes LUnanimous Dec
W Ahmed Sami def Tarek Suleiman LKO/TKO, 5:00 R1
W M. Akhtamov def Mike Thompson LSub, 2:50 R2
W H. Al Hussaini def Ruel Pañales LUnanimous Dec
W John Mitchell def Souhil Tairi LUnanimous Dec
