Preview: PFL Champions Series 1 ‘Road to Dubai’

The Professional Fighters League will pull no punches with its first card of 2025 this Saturday at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There, undefeated Bellator MMA lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov puts his belt on the line against former two-division Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Paul Hughes in the main event. In the co-headliner, ex-Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov continues his campaign towards a heavyweight crown against the heavy-handed Tim Johnson.

Now to the PFL Champions Series 1 “Road to Dubai” preview:

Bellator Lightweight Championship

Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0, 0-0 PFL) vs. Paul Hughes (13-1, 1-0 PFL)

You can’t call yourself an MMA fan without knowing the name Nurmagomedov. Usman, the younger brother of UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov and cousin of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, has carried the family’s fighting lineage with a dominant seven-fight stint in Bellator. Unlike his hall-of-fame cousin, he’s not known for his wrestling. Nurmagomedov has terrorized the Bellator ranks with a very slick, punishing striking style very reminiscent of karate. He fades in and out of range with his lanky limbs and picks his opponents apart from range. However, just because he prefers to fight at range doesn’t mean he’s not a competent grappler. Nurmagomedov has six submissions on his ledger, including a first-round rear-naked choke of former UFC lightweight king Benson Henderson. While the Nurmagomedov name is known for greatness, Hughes couldn’t be less fazed. The former two-time Cage Warriors champion is a man on a mission with little interest in working his way up the ladder through tune-up fights. Hughes exploded onto the world stage with an impressive showing over A.J. McKee in his last fight, where the young Irish upstart proved he has the goods to take down the champion. Hughes may be considered the underdog, but the fight is much closer than people imagine. While Nurmagomedov’s striking is more complex, Hughes is the more explosive puncher and could seriously inflict damage with a well-timed counter. Nurmagomedov would be wise to take the fight to the ground, where his offensive grappling is miles ahead of the Irishman. Hughes has intense defensive wrestling, but it seems unlikely that he will be able to hold up to Nurmagomedov’s Dagestani background. If Hughes comes out aggressively, he could catch Nurmagomedov, but the champion’s versatility will keep him cautious. This could be one of the best fights we see in 2025, but expect Nurmagomedov to keep his belt in a five-round chess match.

Continue Reading »
Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes
Nemkov vs. Johnson
Magomedov vs. Kelly
Ibragimov vs. Mokhonoana
Khavalov vs. Fernandes
The Prelims