PFL free fight: Usman Nurmagomedov edges out Paul Hughes to defend lightweight title

Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes went toe-to-toe in what many consider to be the best fight in PFL history.

The two met in the main event of PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. After 25 minutes, Nurmagomedov (19-0) got his hand raised with a majority decision over Hughes (13-2). Although many online have disputed the judges’ scoring since, what’s certain is that it was a highly competitive and entertaining fight.

You can watch the full replay of the fight above.

With the result, Nurmagomedov kept his unbeaten record intact and retained the title of a now-defunct Bellator promotion. It is unclear how PFL will handle his championship status as it begins to consolidate the titles. Hughes suffered the second defeat of his pro career, ending a seven-fight winning streak.