Paul Hughes shares 1-word reaction to Usman Nurmagomedov claiming the Irishman has not earned the right to an immediate rematch
Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov has made it clear that he’s not interested in granting an immediate rematch to Paul Hughes following their recent bout. This drew a response from Hughes.
Their fight was promoted as Dagestani vs. Ireland 2, a nod to the historic Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor rivalry in the UFC. MMA fans witnessed an exciting fight in the main event of the PFL Champion Series Road to Dubai.
In a back-and-forth battle, Usman successfully defended his title against Hughes on Jan. 25 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai via majority decision.
Hughes received widespread praise for his performance, with many believing the fight was a robbery. Fans are now calling for a rematch. However, following the event, when asked backstage about giving ‘Big News’ a rematch, Nurmagomedov dismissed the idea. He asserted that Hughes had work to do to earn another title shot:
“He have to win like couple, three, four fights in the Bellator, because he has only two fights, and then [I can] give him the title shot.”
Spinning Backfist shared the video on X, which quickly caught the attention of Paul Hughes. Hughes reshared the clip, offering a one-word reaction:
“Hahah.”
Check out Hughes’ X post and Usman Nurmagomedov's comments below:
Khabib Nurmagomedov invites Paul Hughes to Dagestan after his loss to Usman Nurmagomedov
Fans were impressed by Paul Hughes' performance despite his loss to Usman Nurmagomedov, and Khabib Nurmagomedov was among them. Following the event, Khabib, who cornered for Usman, took to X to express his admiration for Hughes:
“Thank you for the fight @paulhughesmma and for the experience, I invite you and your whole team and family to Dagestan, any time you want, believe me you will like it and your arrival will serve as a good example for many young generations.”
Check out Khabib Nurmagomedov’s X post below: