Paul Hughes believes he should have won the Bellator lightweight title against Usman Nurmagomedov, despite losing by majority decision, and feels the judges’ scorecards were unfair.
Paul Hughes thinks the judges screwed him at PFL Dubai. He feels the decision was unfair.
On Saturday, Hughes faced Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator lightweight title. It was a tough fight, stretching over five intense rounds. Despite being the underdog, Hughes gave it his all. He even benefited from a point deduction against Nurmagomedov due to repeated low blows. Yet, two judges scored it 48-46 in favor of Nurmagomedov.
After the fight, Hughes praised Nurmagomedov’s performance. Still, he believes he should’ve been crowned champion. He shared his thoughts in a video on social media.
“Obviously, as always, I’m going to have to watch it back,” Hughes said. “But we all thought I won that one.” He found the judges’ scorecards “ridiculous.” From the energy in the arena and those around the cage, he felt victory was his.
No excuses here, though. “I should’ve pushed harder,” he admitted. Next time will be different; he’s sure they’ll meet again.
The fourth-round stoppage from a head clash? That shifted everything. Hughes felt he was gaining momentum, breaking Nurmagomedov down with body shots. “I felt him wheezing,” he noted. The headbutt allowed Nurmagomedov a chance to recover. It was accidental, but crucial.
Disappointment is an understatement—Hughes is gutted. Yet, he’s proud of his effort and determined to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his: that belt.
This loss brings Hughes to 13-2 professionally. Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov maintains an impressive record of 19-0 (1 NC).