Paul Hughes made a triumphant return to the win column, securing a dominant victory at PFL Belfast.
Competing in the main event at the SSE Arena on Saturday, the Belfast native faced Bruno Miranda. This marked Hughes`s first bout since his narrow decision loss to Usman Nurmagomedov in their Bellator lightweight title contest back in January. The event was a significant homecoming for Hughes, and “Big News” certainly delivered for his fans, finishing Miranda in less than a minute.
The atmosphere inside the SSE Arena was electric right from the start, fueled by Hughes`s memorable walkout featuring a live introduction from Irish musician Foy Vance, which ignited the crowd. Hughes quickly channeled this energy into an aggressive approach against Miranda, pressing forward effectively. He managed to catch a poorly timed kick from Miranda and countered immediately with a sharp left hook that sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas. Hughes wasted no time pouncing with ground-and-pound, leaving the referee no choice but to halt the contest just 42 seconds into the first round.
Following his decisive performance, Hughes wasted no time in sending a clear message to his former opponent, and the fighter he hopes to face again.
“Usman Nurmagomedov! You can run, you can try to delay this rematch as long as you want, but your day is f*cking coming!”
Percy Harlow