Paul Hughes made a powerful statement upon his return, securing a decisive victory.
Competing in the main event at PFL Belfast on Saturday, held at the SSE Arena, Hughes faced Bruno Miranda. This bout marked Hughes`s first appearance since his extremely close decision loss to Usman Nurmagomedov in January for the Bellator lightweight championship. The event was a highly anticipated homecoming for the Belfast fighter, who certainly made the most of the opportunity by finishing Miranda in under a minute.
The atmosphere in the SSE Arena was electric from the outset, amplified by Hughes`s special walkout featuring a live introduction by Irish musician Foy Vance, which energized the crowd. Hughes channeled this energy into an aggressive start against Miranda, applying pressure until he could catch a casual kick from his opponent. He immediately countered with a sharp left hook that sent the Brazilian fighter to the canvas. Hughes quickly followed up with ground-and-pound, prompting the referee to intervene and stop the fight just 42 seconds into the contest.
Following his rapid win, Hughes had a direct message for his former adversary, whom he clearly wishes to face again.
He addressed Usman Nurmagomedov directly, stating, “Usman Nurmagomedov! You can run, you can try to delay this rematch as long as you want, but your day is f*cking coming!”
Murray Blackwood