“He’s Trying To Delay This” – Paul Hughes Voices His Frustration Over Usman Nurmagomedov Situation

Paul Hughes reveals that he straight up asked Usman Nurmagomedov about their rematch and the response was not what he was hoping for!

The PFL has become home to some compelling rivalries in recent years, but few have captured attention quite like the brewing tension between Paul Hughes and Usman Nurmagomedov. This particular feud stands out because it combines genuine athletic competition with the kind of personal frustration that makes for must-see television. Hughes, the scrappy Irish fighter has never backed down from anyone. Yet, he finds himself in an increasingly annoying position where his opponent seems more interested in playing games than settling their score inside the cage.

Their first encounter back in January delivered everything fans could want from a championship fight. Hughes pushed Nurmagomedov to his absolute limits, creating genuine doubt about whether the champion could survive the challenger’s relentless pressure. The judges finally awarded Nurmagomedov a majority decision victory. It was the kind of razor-thin result in MMA that typically leads to immediate rematches, especially when the challenger proves he belongs at that level. However, what followed has turned into a frustrating chess match that’s testing Hughes’ patience.

Paul Hughes Gets A Straight Answer From Usman Nurmagomedov

Hughes decided to cut through all the promotional nonsense and go straight to the source last week. He picked up his phone and sent Nurmagomedov a direct message asking about their rematch situation. The response he got back was probably not what any fighter wants to hear after proving himself so convincingly.

“I know for a fact now that this guy is trying to delay this rematch. Because I went straight to the f*cking source. I texted him myself last week and I was just like what is going on? Rematch now. He said once again ‘you have to win one more fight, brother.’ So look, straight from the source right there, he’s trying to delay this.”

🚨 Paul Hughes says he texted Usman Nurmagomedov asking for a rematch next and he said no:

“I texted him myself last week and I was just like what is going on? Rematch now.”

“He said ‘you have to win one more fight, brother.’ He’s trying to delay this.”

via @MMAFighting pic.twitter.com/o2emQAGHo6
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) June 11, 2025

This exchange perfectly captures why Hughes is getting increasingly fed up with the whole situation. He destroyed Bruno Miranda in just 42 seconds during his homecoming fight in Belfast. That performance was supposed to cement his status as the clear number-one contender, yet Nurmagomedov continues to demand more proof.

Hughes has been nothing but respectful throughout this process. After their first fight, he showed genuine class by acknowledging Nurmagomedov’s victory and praising the champion’s team, including the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov who was in his cousin’s corner. That kind of sportsmanship should be rewarded, not punished with endless delays and excuses. Hughes has earned his shot through both his performance in the cage and his conduct outside of it. He, however, remains confident that the rematch will happen despite all the obstacles being thrown in his path.

(Image Credit: PFL – X)

Paul Hughes

Usman Nurmagomedov

Zaid Quraishi

mma

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!