Paul Hughes has revealed he did not train for six weeks before his second fight with Usman Nurmagomedov due to injury, and says he is 100 percent certain he could have won had he been healthy. Hughes believes only fighters with a style similar to Dustin Poirier or Max Holloway could beat Nurmagomedov in the UFC, and considers a third bout between them a realistic possibility. Hughes also called for lifetime bans for fighters caught using EPO, singling out Shabliy and Movlid Khaibulaev by name, and argued that drug testing in MVP/PFL must be strengthened beyond the current practice of testing only one day before fights.
Paul Hughes has revealed he was dealing with an injury that kept him out of training for six weeks ahead of his second fight with Usman Nurmagomedov, casting new light on a defeat that left questions unanswered about how the rivalry truly stands.
Hughes, known as "Big News," carries a 14-2 record and competes at lightweight. The 28-year-old Irishman stands five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach and has built a reputation for precise striking, posting a striking accuracy of over 57 percent across his career. He is adamant that, had he gone into the rematch fully healthy, he would have won — saying he is one hundred percent certain of that outcome.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, remains undefeated at 22-0 and is ranked 14th pound-for-pound in the world. The 27-year-old Russian stands five-foot-eleven and brings a well-rounded game, averaging 0.65 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside solid striking output of 0.33 significant strikes per minute. Hughes acknowledged the champion's quality but argued that a fighter in the mold of Dustin Poirier or Max Holloway — with a high-volume, pressure-based style — represents the clearest blueprint for beating him in the UFC.
Hughes also used the interview to take aim at drug testing standards inside MVP and PFL, calling out Shabliy and Movlid Khaibulaev by name in relation to EPO use. He argued that testing fighters only one day before competition is insufficient and pushed for more rigorous protocols. On the question of punishment, he was unambiguous, calling for lifetime bans for anyone caught using EPO.
Why it matters
- Hughes's injury disclosure reframes the narrative around the second fight and keeps the rivalry alive in public discussion
- A potential third bout between two fighters in their late twenties carries significant lightweight title implications
- Hughes's drug testing comments add pressure on organizational leadership to revisit testing procedures beyond the current pre-fight window
