The Nurmagomedov name carries serious weight in MMA circles. Ever since Khabib retired as the undefeated UFC lightweight champion, the MMA world has watched his cousin Usman carry the family torch. The younger Nurmagomedov has built an impressive undefeated record while holding the Bellator lightweight title. But his most recent title defense against Paul Hughes sparked one of the biggest controversies in recent memory. The fight was so close and entertaining that fans immediately started demanding a rematch before the judges even announced their decision.<\/p>
The majority decision victory over Hughes in Dubai pushed Usman all the way, creating one of the most talked about fights in PFL history. Hughes brought the fight to the champion throughout five rounds, mixing crisp striking with relentless pressure that had many fans scoring the fight differently than the judges. The Irish fighter’s late surge and a point deduction against Usman made the final scorecards even more controversial. Since that January battle, fans and media have been begging PFL to book the obvious rematch that both fighters deserve.<\/p>
Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t usually make announcements unless they are set in stone. During a recent conversation with streamer Sneako<\/strong>, the retired champion dropped some major news about his cousin’s next fight. According to Khabib, the rematch between Usman and Paul Hughes will take place on October 4 in Dubai. This timing lines up perfectly with PFL’s fall schedule and could serve as the headliner for a third Champions Series event.<\/p> “There is Usman, he is a hell of a fighter, he’s fighting on October 4th in Dubai with the same guy he fought last time. It was a hard fight, and now we will see how we’re gonna deal with it. They’re gonna have a rematch.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>