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Usman Nurmagomedov Retains PFL Lightweight Title with Victory Over Paul Hughes
04 Oct. 07:12Russian MMA fighter Usman Nurmagomedov successfully defended his PFL lightweight championship in Dubai at the PFL Champions Series 3, securing a unanimous decision win over Ireland’s Paul Hughes after five intense rounds.
This fight marked their second meeting in the cage. The first took place in January 2025, when Nurmagomedov also defeated Hughes by judges’ decision. With this latest triumph, the undefeated 27-year-old now boasts an impressive professional record of 20 wins and no losses.
Notably, one of his previous bouts — a 2023 match against Brent Primus — was followed by controversy. Although Usman won the fight, a positive doping test led to a six-month suspension. However, he retained his Bellator championship belt after clarifying that the result was due to a prescribed medical treatment, which he failed to report.
Paul Hughes, 28, holds a career record of 14 wins and 3 losses. Usman is a cousin of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and first claimed his title in November 2022 by defeating Patricky Freire in Bellator. After PFL acquired Bellator in August 2025, his champion status was officially recognized in the new organization.
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Financial Disagreements Derail Anticipated Heavyweight Bout Between Usyk and Wilder
Today in 04:59The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between former undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder has officially been canceled. Both camps had initially aimed to stage the blockbuster bout in the spring of 2027, generating immense excitement among boxing enthusiasts worldwide. However, negotiations between the prominent boxing stars ultimately collapsed behind closed doors.
According to prominent sports journalist Mike Coppinger and insider sources, the breakdown in talks stemmed directly from unresolved financial disputes and disagreements over purse splits. Negotiations were reportedly halted roughly three weeks ago after both sides failed to reach a mutually beneficial commercial agreement. As a result, the Ukrainian champion is currently left without a scheduled opponent, and his promotional team is not actively engaged in talks for an alternative match.
Meanwhile, rumors have surfaced regarding Deontay Wilder's potential next steps inside the squared circle. Reports indicate that Wilder has reached out to cruiserweight standout Jai Opetaia, attempting to entice him into a December 11 fight card. Speculation suggests Wilder hopes to position this high-profile matchup as a co-feature ahead of the eagerly awaited heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
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