July 6, 2013; Las Vegas, NV. USA; MMA reporter Ariel Helwani photographed on the set before the weigh-in for UFC612 in Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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“Worst Singular Scoredcard” – Ariel Helwani Reacts To Usman Nurmagomedov’s Win Over Paul Hughes

July 6, 2013; Las Vegas, NV. USA; MMA reporter Ariel Helwani photographed on the set before the weigh-in for UFC612 in Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Rematches in combat sports always carry extra weight and anticipation. When two fighters meet for a second time, everyone expects adjustments and improvements. Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes delivered exactly that kind of sequel in Dubai. Their first encounter back in January ended with Nurmagomedov taking a unanimous decision for the Bellator lightweight title. The fight was close enough to warrant debate among fans and analysts. Fast forward to October, and they squared off again at the same Coca-Cola Arena. This time the Professional Fighters League lightweight championship was on the line after PFL’s acquisition of Bellator. The stage was set for another five-round war that would go the distance.

The judges delivered their verdict after twenty-five minutes of intense action. Usman Nurmagomedov retained his status as champion with scores that raised eyebrows across the MMA community. One judge gave it 50-45, another scored it 49-46, and the third had it 48-47 for the Dagestani fighter. While Nurmagomedov celebrated his victory, something felt off about those numbers. The controversy was about to explode across social media and MMA circles. Prominent journalist Ariel Helwani didn’t hold back his thoughts on what he witnessed. His reaction captured the frustration many fans felt watching Hughes get denied what looked like a much closer contest than the official scores suggested.

Ariel Helwani Calls Out the Worst Singular Scorecard In Recent Memory

Ariel Helwani has covered MMA long enough to know when something doesn’t add up. After watching Hughes vs Nurmagomedov play out, he couldn’t stay quiet about the judging. Helwani revealed he personally scored the fight 3-2 in favor of Hughes. He emphasized that he could even understand someone scoring it 3-2 for Nurmagomedov given how competitive it was. But what he couldn’t comprehend was one judge giving Nurmagomedov every single round. A 50-45 scorecard meant that the judge saw a completely one-sided beatdown. Anyone watching the fight knew that wasn’t reality.

“This was the worst singular scorecard in MMA. That is the most despicable, disgusting scorecard I have ever seen.”

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Helwani’s frustration went beyond just the numbers on paper. He pointed out that Hughes wasn’t fighting on a level playing field in Dubai. The location matters in combat sports, and fighting in a region with strong ties to Nurmagomedov’s camp creates inherent challenges.

The MMA community is split with Helwani’s assessment across social media platforms. Fans who watched Hughes push the pace in the final round couldn’t understand the lopsided score. Even Nurmagomedov himself seemed to acknowledge the fight’s competitive nature in his post-fight comments. He called Hughes a tough opponent who pushed him hard.

Breaking Down The Actual Competitiveness of Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes 2

Usman Nurmagomedov ended up with the higher final score on the official verdict scorecard (47.71 to 47.38). But calling this a razor-close fight would be an understatement of how competitive it truly was. Yes, one judge scored it 50-45 and another had it 49-46 for Nurmagomedov. Those numbers simply don’t tell the real story of what unfolded inside that cage. Anyone who watched the fight saw two elite lightweights trading momentum throughout five rounds. Neither man dominated from start to finish despite what that one scorecard suggested.

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The first round saw Nurmagomedov (20-0) establish his jab and land a late takedown. Hughes bounced back strong in the second round after getting up from another takedown. He poured on pressure with knees and hooks that clearly affected the champion. The third round was genuinely difficult to score with both men landing significant strikes. Nurmagomedov’s sharp jabs connected, but Hughes fired right back with his own combinations. Round four featured the controversial unpunished low blow that left Hughes writhing in pain. Despite that setback, the Irishman showed heart by surviving Nurmagomedov’s submission attempts. The fifth and final round belonged to Hughes as he came out aggressive. He backed an exhausted Nurmagomedov into every corner of the cage imaginable.

Looking at the round-by-round breakdown makes the 50-45 scorecard even more baffling. At most, you could give Nurmagomedov rounds one, three, and four. That would result in a 48-47 victory for the champion, which was indeed the closest official score. But giving him all five rounds requires ignoring Hughes’ clear success in rounds two and five. The fans are not all denying Nurmagomedov’s victory, but the judges’ scorecard that painted the picture of a lopsided fight.

(Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US – Imagn Images)

Paul Hughes

Usman Nurmagomedov

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!