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Usman Nurmagomedov outlasts Paul Hughes in closely-contest, potential Fight of the Year war to remain Lightweight World Champion

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Usman Nurmagomedov outlasts Paul Hughes in closely-contest, potential Fight of the Year war to remain Lightweight World Champion

Usman Nurmagomedov’s background is a prestigious one, popping out of the legendary Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov MMA Faculty, having educated beneath the likes of American Kickboxing Academy coach Javier Mendez and cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov, and with coaching companions that embrace Islam Makhachev and 2024 PFL Light-weight Champion Gadzhi Rabadanov. Nurmagomedov gained the Bellator Light-weight Championship with a victory over Patricky Pitbull at Bellator 288. He has since retained the title towards Benson Henderson, Brent Primus and Alexandr Shabliy.

 

Paul Hughes has been one in every of MMA’s greatest rising stars popping out of Eire. At 13-1, Hughes, who signed with the PFL final yr, comes into tonight with a seven-fight win streak. He defeated Bobby King in Dublin again in June earlier than an enormous, break up determination win over former Bellator champion AJ McKee at PFL Battle of the Giants in October to earn tonight’s title shot.

 

Who will depart Dubai because the Bellator Light-weight World Champion?

 

 

Spherical 1

 

Low kicks from Nurmagomedov to start out issues off. Spherical kick by Nurmagomedov, testing vary. A few extra kicks from Nurmagomedov. One other low and physique kick from the champion. Hughes lastly responds with a low kick of his personal. Entrance kick from Nurmagomedov. Spherical kick to the physique. Low kick by Hughes. Proper hand from Nurmagomedov. Facet kick to the midsection by Nurmagomedov, adopted by an inside leg kick.

 

Low kick from Nurmagomedov. Extra kicks from the champion. Stable jab from Nurmagomedov. The 2 alternate after a pause from a low blow. Hughes with a proper hand to the midsection. Hughes catches Nurmagomedov coming in. Low aspect kick from Hughes. Hughes now lands a groin kick on Nurmagomedov, and we now have one other outing. One other alternate. Low kick from Hughes. Nurmagomedov with a entrance kick. Nurmagomedov with a excessive kick that misses. Left hand from Nurmagomedov. Inside hook from Hughes.

 

 

Spherical 2

 

Hughes with a jab as Nurmagomedov goes again to his kicking-based assault. Facet kick to the face by Nurmagomedov. Low kicks once more from Nurmagomedov. Swap kick by Hughes will get Nurmagomedov off stability. Nurmagomedov goes in for a clinch and takedown, however Hughes shakes him off. Nurmagomedov with a few low kicks. One other alternate, and Nurmagomedov will get a maintain of Hughes, pursuing strain. Flurry of photographs from Hughes, as he rips to the physique. Knee to the physique by Nurmagomedov. Hughes and Nurmagomedov jockey for place towards the fence.

 

 

Nurmagomedov digs into the physique with knees and punches. Elbow on the break as the 2 return to the middle of the SmartCage. Nurmagomedov goes for one more degree change, however Hughes defends and lands a mixture. Proper hand to the physique by Hughes. Nurmagomedov with a mixture, however Hughes isn’t fazed. Low kick from Nurmagomedov. Sturdy knee from Hughes. Entrance kick from Nurmagomedov. Jab to the physique and a low kick by Hughes. Knee narrowly misses Hughes’s chin, and a mixture from Hughes on the champion. Hughes will get out of one other Thai clinch from Nurmagomedov. Low kick from Hughes, and Nurmagomedov responds with a mixture. One-two from Nurmagomedov.

 

 

 

Spherical 3

 

Left hand from Nurmagomedov. Low kick from the champion. Left hand and left low kick from Nurmagomedov. Inside proper hand from Hughes. One-two from Nurmagomedov, who then grabs a leg, however Hughes will get away. Nurmagomedov kicks low, and Hughes will get hit on the groin. One other alternate with Nurmagomedov going for a leg, however he unintentionally kicks Hughes within the groin once more! Time known as once more as Hughes is on the bottom in ache! The defending champ will probably be deducted one level!

 

 

An alternate upon the battle’s resumption, and this time Nurmagomedov will get the takedown. Hughes will get to his toes, however Nurmagomedov will get one other takedown. Nurmagomedov goes to the entrance headlock place as Hughes returns to his toes. Nurmaogmedov pins Hughes towards the fence. Nurmagomedov lands a pair of robust elbows. Entrance kick by Nurmagomedov. Low kick from Nurmagomedov. Proper hand by Nurmagomedov. Clinch once more, and Hughes rips a mixture to the physique. Now he’s urgent the champ into the fence. Hughes with a couple of extra photographs to the physique. Hughes throws a knee however will get caught. Nurmagomedov throws a knee of his personal. Hughes with a mixture to the physique to finish the spherical.

 

 

 

Spherical 4

 

Entrance kick from Nurmagomedov. Low kick from Nurmagomedov. Left hand by Nurmagomedov. Low kick by the defending champion, and Hughes lands a proper hand. Low kick from Hughes. A few left palms from Nurmagomedov. One other left hand. Left hand from Hughes now. Low kick from Nurmagomedov. Hughes with an uppercut, touchdown in shut. Proper hand from Hughes.

 

Calf kick by Hughes, adopted by an uppercut. Left hand and an inside leg kick from Nurmagomedov. Counter proper from Hughes. Proper hand from Hughes. Left hand from Nurmagomedov. Hughes throws a left, and we now have a head conflict! Hughes is busted open from the conflict however he doesn’t need the battle paused. The battle continues, and each males land lefts. Nurmagomedov will get a takedown with simply over a minute left. Proper elbow from Nurmagomedov. Hughes attempting to land punches to the face from the underside. The 2 throw wildfire punches on the bottom within the ultimate 10 seconds.

 

 

Spherical 5

 

Hughes with a jab. Low kick from Nurmagomedov. Low kick from Nurmagomedov. Lengthy left hook from Hughes is blocked, as Nurmagomedov lands extra inside leg kicks. Hughes shoots in, however Nurmagomedov will get round to his again. Nurmagomedov lands a few knees to the thigh. One other pair of knees. One other knee. And once more. Extra knees from the defending champion. Hughes will get again to his toes, turns, however Nurmagomedov is throughout him with one other takedown.

 

 

Hughes will get again to his toes however finds himself pressed towards the SmartCage. Hughes with a swap, and now the battle is again within the middle. Nurmagomedov with a jab. Hughes misses a hook, however the challenger presses Nurmagomedov into the fence. Nurmagomedov reverses the place with 80 seconds left within the battle. Hughes counters, will get an underhook. Hughes touchdown to the physique as he tries to strain Nurmagomedov again to the fence. Proper hand and a knee from Nurmagomedov. Left hand from Nurmagomedov. Stable left hook from Hughes. 30 seconds to go! Proper hand from Hughes. Mixture from Hughes to the physique. Hughes goes for a leaping knee, however Nurmagomedov catches it and goes for a takedown. Hughes with one other swap, and the battle ends with Hughes swinging away on the defending champ! What a battle!

 

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Usman Nurmagomedov def. Paul Hughes through majority determination (47-47, 48-46, 48-46) to retain the Bellator Light-weight Championship

 

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