Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes faced off in January, and the fight lived up to expectations and more. From the second it was over, it was clear that Nurmagomedov and Hughes put on an instant classic fight. Both fighters have an elite pedigree and a fan base behind them. Right after the judges read the scorecards, it was no longer a matter of if, but when the next fight between the two would occur. Will Hughes pull off the upset and even the score, or can Nurmagomedov remain the Lightweight king?
Here is my best bet for the highly anticipated fight between Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes.
Paul Hughes Moneyline (+185)
Both fighters are 28 years old, but have taken different paths to this point. Nurmagomedov entered Bellator, the No. 2 MMA promotion at the time, while being just 23 years old. Usman Nurmagomedov began his MMA career with a legendary lineage, as his cousins, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, are two of the greatest Lightweight Champions in history. Khabib was a tremendous competitor and one of the best in UFC history, but he has also demonstrated that he can be an elite coach in the next phase of his life.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Nurmagomedov is a -225 favorite while Hughes is the underdog in this matchup at +185. Earlier in the week, Hughes was +165 to win this fight.
This is the third marquee matchup of the Dagestan vs. Ireland MMA series. First, it was Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018. Then, in January, we saw Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov, and now we have the rematch between the next generation of elite fighters from Dagestan and Ireland.
Hughes carved his own path, fighting his way up the ranks in Cage Warriors, one of the top promotions in Europe. He began to build a fanbase with his electric personality and charisma that captivated Ireland. This rematch with Nurmagomedov is massive for many reasons. Hughes looks to get revenge on his previous loss and win a Championship in the No. 2 MMA organization in the world.
Getting past a Nurmagomedov is as tough a challenge as any challenger may embark on, but Hughes is primed and ready to take his place as the face of PFL. With the first fight being so close, getting Hughes at +185 seems like the best play in this contest.
