In an electrifying lightweight title fight at Bellator in Dubai on January 25, 2025, Irish contender Paul Hughes faced off against reigning champion Usman Nurmagomedov. Despite a valiant effort, Hughes ultimately lost the match, with judges scoring it 48-46, 48-46, and one drawing it at 47-47 in favor of Nurmagomedov, who improved his impressive record to 19-0.

Hughes emerged from the fight visibly frustrated, insisting that he believed he had done enough to secure the victory. "As always I'm going to have to watch it back to get a good assessment and a clear-minded assessment, but as we know, we all thought I won that one," he stated in a video shared on his Instagram account. The Irishman openly criticized the judges’ interpretations, claiming, "The judges' scorecards were pretty ridiculous, but I'll watch it back with a clear mind."

While acknowledging that he respected the competition, Hughes felt the atmosphere in the arena and the reactions from fans indicated his performance deserved a different verdict. He reflected, "Just judging from the energy of the arena and everyone surrounding the cage, I thought it was mine."

A pivotal moment in the bout came in the fourth round when a clash of heads prompted a stoppage for a medical check on Nurmagomedov, which Hughes believes changed the fight's trajectory. "I felt like I was breaking him. I was ripping him so hard to the body and I knew my momentum was coming up. That changed the flow, and he got good recovery," Hughes analyzed.

In light of the contentious decision, Hughes called for a rematch, stating, "I'm not going to make excuses, though; I should have pushed harder and I will the next time. I know we'll fight again." Hughes expressed confidence that he could adjust his strategy to clinch victory in a potential rematch.

As this chapter in Hughes's career closes, the MMA community eagerly awaits a possible redemption fight with Nurmagomedov, offering both fighters a chance to solidify their legacies in the octagon.