In a night that promised fireworks but delivered frustration, Usman Nurmagomedov defended his PFL lightweight championship against Paul Hughes in Dubai on Friday, October 3. The rematch, billed as a chance for the Northern Irish fighter to avenge his earlier defeat, instead ended in another unanimous decision for the undefeated Russian—50-45 across all scorecards—a tally that has MMA fans up in arms.
Hughes came out aggressive from the bell, pressing Nurmagomedov with sharp strikes and takedown attempts that echoed his relentless style. Yet, the fight devolved quickly into a mess of fouls: eye pokes, low blows, and repeated warnings from referee Marc Goddard. Indeed, the interruptions seemed to favor the champion, who relied on his trademark grappling to control rounds two and three. Hughes landed some heavy shots in the later frames, bloodying Nurmagomedov's nose, but it wasn't enough to sway the judges. Moreover, the lopsided scoring drew immediate backlash online, with commentators calling it a robbery that undermined the bout's intensity.
This wasn't just any rematch; Hughes, the 28-year-old sensation from Derry, had been vocal about his preparation, training alongside top talents to counter Nurmagomedov's family pedigree—yes, he's Khabib's cousin. Nurmagomedov, now 18-0, extended his streak but faced boos from the Coca-Cola Arena crowd, many rooting for the underdog. On the undercard, Corey Anderson claimed the light heavyweight belt by out-wrestling Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, adding a cleaner shine to an otherwise chaotic event.
However, the real story lingers in the controversy. Hughes' camp hinted at an appeal, while PFL officials defended the call as reflective of control time. Still, the divide in opinions highlights judging's perennial pitfalls in the sport. As both fighters eye their next moves, one can't help but wonder if a trilogy is on the horizon—or if trust in the scorecards can be rebuilt.