Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Dagestan invite to settle Irish beef accepted; but under one condition
Irish MMA star Paul Hughes sets conditions for Khabib Nurmagomedov's invitation to Dagestan after losing to his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov.
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Paul Hughes sets condition for Khabib Nurmagomedov invitation to Dagestan (Image via Imago/Irish Star)
One of the most highly anticipated showdowns in PFL history took place in Dubai last night. The main event featured Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov facing off against Paul Hughes. This highly charged matchup was fueled by intense animosity between the two fighters. However, following the fight, Khabib Nurmagomedov proposed a different way to settle the rivalry.
Usman Nurmagomedov, under the mentorship of his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov, kept his undefeated status at the PFL Dubai: Champion Series. Despite being one of Usman’s toughest opponents, Paul Hughes was unable to secure a victory. Interestingly, after the fight, the ‘Eagle’ sent a message to the Irish prospect, inviting him to Dagestan. Hours later, Hughes responded to Khabib’s invitation.
Thankyou @TeamKhabib I have great respect for you, your team and your nation.
Paul Hughes via X (@paulhughesmma)
I would be honoured to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favour in Ireland
But please, only after I get to rematch Usman.
Interestingly, since making dismissive comments about Irish MMA fighters, Khabib has faced criticism from several figures, including Paul Hughes and Conor McGregor. In response to this backlash, Khabib is making efforts to reconcile with them following his cousin Usman’s victory.
During his interview in the octagon, Khabib also appeared to express his admiration for the Irish people. The Eagle’s invitation to Hughes was another attempt to mend the buzzing feud.
Thankyou @TeamKhabib I have great respect for you, your team and your nation.
— Paul Hughes MMA (@paulhughesmma) January 26, 2025
I would be honoured to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favour in Ireland☘️
But please, only after I get to rematch Usman. https://t.co/kvKpB1IQP0
In response to Khabib’s offer, the Irish MMA prospect, Hughes, has outlined his conditions for acceptance. As such, he expressed a desire for another opportunity to compete for the Bellator lightweight championship, especially following his recent disappointment with the judges’ scoring. Although Usman was impressed by Hughes’ performance, he also shared his thoughts on their upcoming rematch.
Usman Nurmagomedov isn’t keen on giving another chance to Paul Hughes anytime soon
The fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes was being promoted as another matchup between Dagestan and Ireland. In their earlier encounter, Khabib Nurmagomedov represented Dagestan while Conor McGregor represented Irish MMA. Due to this background, the highly anticipated matchup carried significant stakes.
As for Usman, the Bellator lightweight champion had more at stake than Hughes, as he risked his perfect MMA record and championship title. In contrast, a victory over Nurmagomedov could have significantly raised the Irish MMA prospect’s profile in the community. As a result, Usman is not very inclined to give the Irishman another chance.
I don’t like the rematch. I need some new names and for Paul, I wish the best for him but he needs to get some fights, a couple [of fights]. He only has two fights in the division and they gave him a gift. Now, the second time, he has to deserve [the title shot]. Three, four, five winning streak and then we will see.
Usman Nurmagomedov via talkSPORT MMA
In his professional MMA career, Hughes had only two victories since joining the PFL-Bellator MMA collaboration before earning a title shot. Usman stated that the Irish fighter needs to achieve a three to four-fight win streak before he can contend for the championship belt again. Now, it remains to be seen how things will unfold for these two emerging superstars.
Related: Umar Nurmagomedov Net Worth, Endorsements, UFC contract, Wife and House
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Nilaav Gogoi
(570 Articles Published)