In a night of high stakes and higher tensions at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, Usman Nurmagomedov defended his PFL lightweight championship against Paul Hughes in their highly anticipated rematch on Friday. The bout, part of the PFL Champions Series, unfolded with a barrage of fouls that tested both fighters' resolve and the referee's patience. Nurmagomedov, the undefeated cousin of Khabib, ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory, but not without igniting a firestorm of criticism over the judges' scoring.
The fight kicked off aggressively, with Hughes pressing forward early, landing sharp strikes that had the Irish contender looking dangerous. However, Nurmagomedov's grappling prowess shone through as he controlled the canvas, taking Hughes down repeatedly. Fouls marred the action—eye pokes, low blows—leading to pauses that frustrated the crowd. Indeed, the second round saw multiple stoppages, yet the pace never truly slowed. By the final bell, Nurmagomedov had outwrestled his opponent, but the scorecards read a lopsided 50-45 across all three judges, prompting immediate backlash online and from analysts who called it a robbery.
Hughes, now 0-2 against Nurmagomedov, expressed disbelief in his post-fight interview, insisting he stole at least two rounds with his striking volume. Nurmagomedov, stoic as ever, credited his training camp but avoided the controversy. Moreover, the event featured other title drama: Corey Anderson captured the light heavyweight belt by out-wrestling Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov in a gritty main card clash. The undercard delivered solid finishes, including a submission win for a rising featherweight prospect, keeping the Dubai crowd engaged despite the main event's messiness.
Critics argue the scoring overlooks Hughes' offensive output, raising questions about PFL judging standards. However, Nurmagomedov remains the division's king, his record intact at 18-0. As the league pushes forward with its global expansion, one can't help but wonder if such decisions will define its credibility in the years ahead.