Usman Nurmagomedov defeats rival Paul Hughes in highly anticipated rematch

Usman Nurmagomedov, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Lightweight Champion, successfully defended his title for the second time last night, securing a dominant victory over Irish rival Paul Hughes at the PFL Champion Series: Road to Dubai.

The main event, which took place on October 3, 2025, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, was a highly anticipated rematch of their controversial first fight earlier this year.

The unbeaten champion, Nurmagomedov, won the five-round contest by decision (winning on the judges’ scorecards).

Nurmagomedov controlled the fight by using a smart mix of striking and his strong wrestling/grappling skills, especially taking Hughes down in the later rounds. Hughes showed toughness and landed some powerful strikes of his own, making for a fast-paced battle.

Nurmagomedov’s perfect record was briefly questioned in late 2023 following his fight against Brent Primus at Bellator 300.

Following the Bellator 300 fight in October 2023, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) announced that Nurmagomedov had failed a drug test for a prohibited substance.

He was given a six-month suspension and a $50,000 fine. His victory over Primus was changed to a No Contest (NC).

The champion served his suspension, enrolled with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) as part of his settlement, and has since returned to competition, successfully defending his title twice under the PFL banner.

After their first close fight in January 2025, Nurmagomedov acknowledged his rival’s performance and spoke about underestimating him.

“This is for you guys, Paul Hughes, you are the man, brother you’re tough, I underestimated this guy.”

“But I’m still undefeated, undisputed Bellator lightweight champion.”