Paul Hughes hopes to get one more shot at PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.
Hughes (14-3) suffered two close title losses to Nurmagomedov, with their rematch at PFL Champions Series 2 sparking debate on the decision. He was scheduled to headline PFL Belfast against Jay Jay Wilson in April, but a knee injury, which required surgery, forced him out of the bout.
Nurmagomedov (22-0) is now a free agent after retaining his lightweight title with a first-round TKO of Archie Colgan at PFL New York this past Friday, making it a possibility that Hughes never gets his wish of a trilogy.
"First of all, Nurmagomedov, first-round knockout, I knew you'd win," Hughes said on his "X." "Different level than Colgan. In fact, different level than most
lightweights in the world to be honest. Obviously, a lot of questions where his future lies. If it's UFC, I don't think anyone gives him many problems in the top 15 other than certain stylistic matches like (Ilia) Topuria, (Max) Holloway. Anyway, if he sticks around at PFL, obviously we have a lot of history there.
"I think the MMA world is in agreement that we're one each right now. Second fight, close. I took full responsibility for it at the time. I did not train for six weeks before that fight. I've just done back-to-back surgeries because of injuries. I believe 100 percent I have the beating of that man. I know that that trilogy can happen down the line. May sound absolutely deluded, I know a lot of people are going to think that."
Hughes thinks he can re-emerge as No. 1 contender with one more win, and responded to a recent callout from a former title challenger.
"I don't know where he's going to go next, but I know there's history there, and I know I absolutely have the beating of that man, and I got some work to do," Hughes said. "I got to prove myself again for sure, full responsibility, but I will do that. Anyway, next year, when I get back, probably first quarter of next year, once I rehab, it's got to be Alfie Davis. He is talking some sh*t. I would love to shut his mouth. He is a gobsh*te, but I'll knock him clean out in a round. Let's do it on the Netflix card and then get me for the belt after that."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Paul Hughes on Usman Nurmagomedov: '100 percent I have the beating of that man'
