The view of most media observers online after the bout was that the result was a 48-47 scoreline either way. RDX Sports scored the bout 48-47 to Hughes, awarding the Irishman Rounds 2, 3 and 5.
One of the judges scored the fight 48-47 to Nurmagomedov. But the announcement of a 50-45 scorecard, where one judge scored every round to Nurmagomedov, and a 49-46 card, where another judge gave Hughes just one, raised eyebrows. Even the commentary team seemed to question the validity of some of the scoring.
As for the fight itself, Nurmagomedov seemed happier with his performance, and asked Hughes on the mic after his win, “You want to say this fight was close, too?”
Hughes seemed to accept his fate, but given that this writer actually scored the bout for Hughes, Nurmagomedov’s apparent mocking of Hughes after the result seemed misplaced and unnecessary.
The bout was a keenly-contested one throughout, with a few moments of controversy. Hughes was left writing on the mat on two separate occasions, while a heated exchange of words at the end of a round led to a clear headbutt on Hughes from Nurmagomedov that went unpunished by referee Keith Peterson. There was also a clash of heads during the fight that left Nurmagomedov with a small cut above his eye.
But, with no point deductions imposed, the five rounds were all free to be judged without sanction, and while the judges varied wildly in the way they scored the bout, all three ultimately agreed on the identity of the winner.
It meant that Nurmagomedov was crowned as the PFL’s new lightweight world champion, and he was joined by Corey Anderson, who overcame two eye pokes to eventually outpoint 2024 PFL light heavyweight champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov to capture the new PFL light heavyweight world title.
The fight card also saw a jaw-dropping come-from-behind victory for Sergio Pettis, who was being well beaten by Magomed Magomedov before he unleashed a stunning spinning back elbow that knocked out the Russian for one of the KOs of the year.
PFL Champions Series 2: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Usman Nurmagomedov def. Paul Hughes via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) – for lightweight title
- Corey Anderson def. Dovlet Yagshimuradov via unanimous decision (49-45, 48-47, 49-45) – for light heavyweight title
- Sergio Pettis def. Magomed Magomedov via knockout (spinning back elbow) – Round 2, 4:31
- Archie Colgan def. Jay Jay Wilson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Jack Cartwright def. Caolan Loughran via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Pouya Rahmani def. Slim Trabelsi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:47
- Florim Zendeli def. Omar El Dafrawy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mirafzal Akhtamov def. Luann Sardinha via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Takeshi Izumi def. Vinicius Cenci via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Makkasharip Zaynukov def. John Mitchell via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jarrah Al-Silawi def. Gregory Babene via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
