The Biggest Rematch in PFL History: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes II Set for October 3
The biggest rematch in PFL history has been booked for October 3rd.
The PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai was launched in January with an all-time classic main event. Usman Nurmagomedov narrowly retained the Bellator Lightweight title over Paul Hughes by majority decision. Since that meeting Nurmagomedov has been eagerly awaiting a worthy challenger to step up. Hughes responded to the end of his seven-fight win streak with a thunderous statement stopping Bruno Miranda in 42 seconds announcing he deserved a rematch.
The same venue that hosted the first encounter, the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai will host the sequel and see who walks away PFL Lightweight champion.
The highly touted Nurmagomedov fulfilled the championship hype in 2022 taking the Bellator Lightweight title from Patricky Freire. His reign included three defense submitting Benson Henderson and decisions over Alexander Shabliy and the first win over Hughes.
Ireland’s Hughes picked up a couple titles on the reginal scene including the Cage Warriors belt at Featherweight before getting the call up to Bellator. Paul is a finisher with 10 of his 14 wins inside the distance and 8 of them in the first round.
A PFL Light Heavyweight champion will be crowned when former Bellator champion Cory “Overtime” Anderson squares off against 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight tournament champion Doveletdzhan Yagshimuradov. It took Cory Anderson over a year after winning the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight title to make his PFL debut which came at Heavyweight defeating 2024 Heavyweight tournament champion Denis Goltsov by second round TKO. Yagshimuradov is on a seven fight-win streak. Yagshimuradov beat 2022 tournament champion Rob Wilkinson in the 2024 playoff and knocked out 2023 champion Impa Kasanganay in under a minute in the finals.
Unbeaten Heavyweights meet as Iranian’s Pouya Rahmani battles Tunisia’s Slim Trabelsi. In may Rahmani beat Trabelsi by decision in a Pit grappling match at Karate Combat 54. The Russia Ireland rivalry extends past the main event as UFC vets Zubaira Tukhugov and Artem Lobov will clash. Plus, 2024 PFL Mena tournament champion Omar El Dafrawy and 2024 PFL Europe tournament champion Florim Zendeli meet in a high stake’s showdown.
Line Up
Main Event | PFL Lightweight Title: (Champ) Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0) vs. Paul Hughes (14-2)
Co- Main Event | Vacant PFL Light Heavyweight Title: Cory Anderson (19-6) vs. Doveletdzhan Yagshimuradov (25-7-1)
Heavyweight: Pouya Rahmani (4-0) vs. Slim Trabelsi (8-0)
165 lb. Catchweight: Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) vs. Artem Lobov (14-15-1)
Welterweight: Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) vs. Florim Zendeli (10-1-1)
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