Paul Hughes: Aiming for the Lightweight Championship
Paul Hughes is resolute in his ambition to claim the title of undisputed lightweight champion, despite experiencing disappointment in his recent fight against Usman Nurmagomedov. Last week, Hughes faced Nurmagomedov in a rematch held in Dubai, where he was defeated by unanimous decision, marking a setback in his pursuit of the title.
While the scoring of the judges raised some questions—with one card reflecting a clean sweep for Nurmagomedov across all five rounds—Hughes acknowledged that he fell short in his performance.
Reflections on the Fight
In a candid social media message, the 28-year-old fighter admitted, “I did not do enough. It was a close fight, but I should have fought with more urgency and precision to secure the victory.”
He recognized that conquering an elite competitor like Nurmagomedov, especially on their home turf, required him to be at his very best—a performance level he regrettably did not reach that night.
Looking Ahead
Hughes, who hails from Lavey, pledged to his fans that this setback is merely a stepping stone.
“There are many good nights ahead of us,” he expressed, indicating his intent to regroup after a demanding schedule of six fights within the last 18 months.
Before this recent loss, Hughes had rebounded from his January defeat to Nurmagomedov with a quick 42-second victory over Bruno Miranda in Belfast.
Reflecting on his recent challenges, Hughes said, “This chapter is over now, but the next one is going to be even more special. Any adversity I face drives me to achieve even greater heights.”
He plans to take time off to recover physically before returning to the octagon, but he remains firmly focused on his objective: to ensure that no lightweight can compete with him successfully again.
“I will be the undisputed number one in the 155-pound division within the next two years—mark my words,” he affirmed.
Conclusion
Hughes continues to build his career in mixed martial arts, setting his sights high despite recent difficulties. The future holds promise as he aims to ascend back to title contention, using the experience as a fuel for his next fight.
