Paul Hughes plans to take A.J. McKee’s spot within the queue for Bellator light-weight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.
Hughes (12-1) will face McKee (22-1) in a key 155-pound bout at PFL: Battle of the Big on Oct. 19 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+).
Champ Nurmagomedov mentioned after his current title protection over Alexander Shabliy at Bellator Champions Collection: San Diego earlier this month that he thinks McKee is the frontrunner for the following shot at his belt. Nevertheless, Hughes plans to play spoiler to that scenario.
“Proper now what’s most fun to me is unquestionably preventing Usman,” Hughes advised MMA Junkie Radio. “That’s Russia vs. Eire 2. That’s an Irishman vs. a Nurmagomedov. Clearly there’s going to be storyline there as effectively with A.J. presupposed to be the following man up, however each time I beat him, it’s obtained to be subsequent.
“Usman is a man I’ve known as out a pair instances on social media. I used to be going to name him out after my debut with Bellator however he had simply been booked that week. He’s undoubtedly somebody that I’ve saved my eye on, and each time I beat A.J., then we’ll see what occurs.”
Hughes, 27, is likely one of the brightest fighters popping out of Eire and has impressed so far of his profession. The matchup with former Bellator champ McKee represents a major step up in competitors, although, and might be Hughes’ sternest check up to now.
He’s able to rise to the problem, and thinks McKee might be shocked at what’s coming.
“I’m completely world class in each space,” Hughes mentioned. “If he desires to wrestle, if he desires to shoot, then convey it. Deliver it. At any time when I’m sprawling, cracking him, capturing on him again and taking him down, we’ll see how he reacts to that. That is the younger, hungry lion developing towards the man who has been there and performed that. So it’s thrilling to see what’s going to occur to be sincere.”
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