The Skilled Fighter’s League began their 12 months with a bang from the Coca-Cola enviornment in Dubai on Saturday night as Dagestan’s Usman Nurmagomedov and Eire’s Paul Hughes produced a struggle for the ages within the last-ever Bellator light-weight championship struggle.
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 struggle 47-47, 48-46, 48-46 in his favour.
The electrifying match-up has been labelled the most effective PFL essential 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 outcome for Irishman Hughes, who had hoped to take his profession to the following degree 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 night time.
“I underestimated this man. It was my little mistake, however I’m nonetheless undefeated,” mentioned a cousin of UFC legend Khabib. He added,d “Thanks a lot. The wrestling and takedown defence he did very properly. He’s sturdy brother, you’re actually sturdy.”
A bloody Hughes mentioned publish struggle “We’re going to struggle once more, I actually respect Usman, I in all probability 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. Now we have to do the rematch in Belfast, it must be in Belfast. I feel I’ve earned this. All the fellows in Dagestan, you can be welcome in Eire.”
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The Greatest Combat Exterior Of The UFC.
Earlier than the headline struggle, Hughes mentioned 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 approach, a smiling and bloody Hughes triggered large issues for his unbeaten opponent in a extremely technical and thrilling essential occasion that has seen the Irishman’s social media followers enhance by 25% in a single day.
That simply exhibits the magnitude of what this struggle was, just like Oktagon’s light-weight championship struggle final month between Losene Keita and Rony Paradeiser, the place the struggle had a a lot wider curiosity because of the calibre and talent of the rivals, who in flip delivered on the largest stage with the world watching.
Rematch In Eire.
The preventing metropolis of Belfast has witnessed some well-known nights in fight sports activities prior to now, with legends equivalent to Carl Frampton and Michael Conlan gathering a small nation collectively to create a novel and highly effective environment that’s unrivalled anyplace on the globe. There have been some large nights in Eire for Hughes prior to now, however with the catapulted place he now finds himself in, what he can create with a dance accomplice like Usman has the potential to be legendary.
When ‘Massive Information’ arrived with the PFL final 12 months, he introduced with him an aura constructed on confidence and self-belief in his personal potential, backing it up with an enthralling document 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 possible wish to e book it instantly. They didn’t fiddle when it got here to pencilling Saturday night time struggle after Hughes known as for it after the win over former Bellator champion AJ McKee, and so they recognise that they’ve a world celebrity within the younger Belfast man, so they’ll work as a collective to provide one other spectacular night time of combined 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 Ok. 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
