Former Cage Warriors featherweight champion Hughes pushed Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov all the way in a thrilling five-round war in Dubai earlier this year as he announced himself as one of the PFL’s most talented new stars.
He called for an immediate rematch with Nurmagomedov, and said that he wanted to fight the Russian on home soil, in Belfast. It’s unlikely that he’ll be facing the lightweight champion, but Hughes will be coming home to compete in front of his home fans.
PFL Europe Belfast will see Hughes top the fight card on May 10 on a night that will also kick off the 2025 PFL Europe season.
“All my career I’ve said I will main event The SSE Arena, and we’ve made my dream into a reality,” said Hughes.
“Belfast, I’m coming to put on a show for my people, and I will show you how much your support means to me. It’s time to get to work.”
Hughes joined PFL after capturing Cage Warriors featherweight gold, and after becoming a free agent, fielded offers from a number of the world’s top promotions.
He ultimately chose the PFL, and after claiming a second-round TKO victory over Bobby King at the Bellator Champions Series event in Dublin last June, he claimed the biggest scalp of his career by defeating AJ McKee via split decision at the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last October.
After that victory, Hughes called for a shot at Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, and he got his wish at the PFL Champions Series event in Dubai in January. But, despite a strong performance in a thrilling five-round battle, Hughes ended up on the wrong end of a majority decision verdict as he agonisingly missed out on the title.
Hughes called for an immediate rematch in his home town of Belfast, and while it looks like he may have to wait for a second shot at the Russian, the PFL have give him the chance to headline at home, as he heads up the fight card in Belfast on May 10, against an opponent to be named in due course.
“Belfast, the PFL is coming to The SSE Arena with some ‘Big News,’ said PFL CEO Peter Murray.
“For our first PFL Europe event of 2025, we knew we had to reward the Fighting Irish fandom with a Paul Hughes homecoming.
“The vocal support for Paul meant this was an easy decision, and I can’t wait to feel the atmosphere of The SSE Arena during the main event.
“But we plan to stack the card with our PFL Europe Tournament fighters, and a host of athletes who are prepared to lay it all on the line and put on a show.”
