Paul Hughes has had a rollercoaster MMA career, going from a career-ending injury to equalling a feat once achieved by Conor McGregor.
And now he’s fighting on the same card as Francis Ngannou this weekend in Saudi Arabia.
Hughes is one of the best talents not signed to the UFC@paulhughesmma – instagram
Hughes became the first Irish fighter since Conor McGregor to win featherweight gold at Cage Warriors in November 2022.
‘Big News’ was victorious over Jordan Vucenic, avenging the only loss of his career to the Englishman, in what was the biggest win on his professional record to date.
The 27-year-old from Derry, Northern Ireland, goes head-to-head with American AJ McKee on the main card of Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA against Renan Ferreira.
The event has been deemed the ‘Battle of the Giants’ and is part of the PFL’s partnership with social media influencer turned professional boxer Jake Paul.
Paul signed for the PFL in January 2023 and co-founded a new ‘Super Fights’ division where fighters earn 50 per cent of the revenue from all fights.
29-year-old Californian AJ McKee has never tasted defeat via a finish in his career, but that doesn’t stop Hughes from eyeing up a knockout.
“Look, I’m a finisher at heart,” he said, speaking to talkSPORT MMA at PFL’s ‘Battle of the Giants’ press conference in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
“I’ve got that killer instinct, I’ve proved that throughout my career. I’ve got knockouts with both hands, I’ve got knockouts with elbows, knockouts with knees and knockouts with head kicks.
“So I’m prepared for anything. AJ [is] a fantastic fighter, ultimate respect, but he has not faced anybody like me. He has not faced a young lion.
“He’s over there with his gold chain and his designer glasses, and fair play to him, he’s worked hard for that money – I ain’t got that yet, I’m young, I’m hungry and I foresee a knockout on Saturday night.”
Hughes’ career has been a rollercoasterGetty
Hughes bounced back from a devastating injury in his youth to win his first five professional MMA bouts.
Doctors advised the youngster he should retire from the sport after suffering from a recurring hand injury.
Hughes broke his left hand at the age of 19 on his professional debut in Belfast, before breaking his right hand when training for his next bout after he had recovered.
Then, he suffered two further breaks to the right hand, which made it four breaks in total over one year.
He told the Belfast Telegraph that specialists had told him to change career as his hand couldn’t ‘withstand punching people’. However, he defied the odds and continued to follow his dreams.
Fighting out of the Fight Academy Ireland gym in Belfast, he has a 12-1 professional record and has drubbed most of his opponents at Cage Warriors, where his idol McGregor once resided.
As one of the most sought after free agents in the world of MMA, Hughes signed a highly-profitable contract with the PFL, who outbid the UFC to obtain the Northern Irishman’s signature.
Hughes has now made the move up to lightweight where he is now aiming for championship status at PFL and Bellator.
The PFL acquired its rival MMA promotion Bellator from Paramount in November 2023.
Currently on a six-fight win streak, Hughes is contesting an octagon bout for the first time since his TKO victory over Bobby Green at Bellator Dublin.
Hughes beat King in the second round of their bout, handing the 40-year-old American his first defeat by way of finish in seven years.
McGregor was the double-champ at Cage Warriors before he signed with the UFCCage Warriors
Speaking after the fight, Hughes paid homage to McGregor who was in attendance on the night.
“It means a lot to me to make my debut here on home soil, so I really appreciate everyone coming out and spending their hard-earned money,” he said.
“This is just the start of the new chapter. I’m going to be bring you all along to the top of this mixed martial arts game and I’m doing it for the island of Ireland, I’m doing it for us.
“I probably wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for a man like that [McGregor] to inspire me. [He came] from this island, was the first man to ever show us young lads it was possible and that breaks down a lot of mental barriers.
“Shoutout to Conor McGregor because he’s the man and always the greatest to ever do it.”
Hughes will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of the former two-division UFC champion when he fights McKee in Riyadh on Saturday.
McKee is one of the best MMA fighters in the world and holds the longest winning streak in Bellator history (18).
talkSPORT.com and talkSPORT’s MMA YouTube channel has you covered for all things PFL this weekend.