Paul Hughes, after defeating A.J. McKee and calling for a fight against Usman Nurmagomedov, jokingly suggested having Conor McGregor in his corner to promote the bout, but later admitted it was just for fun and is now solely focused on preparing for his title fight against Nurmagomedov in January.
When Paul Hughes defeated A.J. McKee, he stirred the pot by calling out Usman Nurmagomedov in his post-fight interview. But that wasn’t all—he dropped another name that caught everyone’s attention.
Hughes, eyeing a title shot in just his third PFL bout, floated the idea of having Conor McGregor in his corner against Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s cousin. Given McGregor’s infamous feud with Khabib, this suggestion was a clever promotional move.
Now, with the fight against Nurmagomedov set for January, Hughes admits he was just having fun and isn’t actually planning to invite McGregor to his corner.
“The whole corner thing? It was just a spur-of-the-moment thought during the post-fight interview,” Hughes told MMA Fighting. “It blew up on social media, but I haven’t pursued it further.”
“With everything happening now, it’s not something I’m going to continue with,” he added.
Meanwhile, McGregor’s been embroiled in controversy after an Irish court found him liable for a sexual assault case from 2018. Though no criminal charges were filed, the civil case led to lost endorsements and even his whiskey brand severing ties.
Even if Hughes never intended to seek McGregor’s help, the mere suggestion drew attention. UFC welterweight Ian Machado Garry was even asked about stepping in to support Hughes, recalling how Hughes had helped Garry during a crucial Cage Warriors title fight in 2021.
Ahead of his bout with Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, Garry expressed willingness to assist Hughes if needed. Hughes appreciated the gesture immensely.
“Hearing Ian say that was cool,” Hughes remarked. “It’s funny how things come full circle. Ian’s fighting Shavkat, who’s trained on the same mats as me recently.”
“Just a few years ago, we were both in Cage Warriors. I helped him with his corner during his world title fight; now we’re both facing undefeated fighters. It’s amusing how things unfold. Seems like Irish MMA is back in action!”
After Hughes mentioned McGregor and secured the fight with Nurmagomedov, the PFL hyped it as “Dagestan vs. Ireland 2.”
Despite all the buzz around Ireland, Dagestan, McGregor, and Khabib, Hughes insists he’s staying focused.
His main goal? To defeat Nurmagomedov and claim the lightweight title come January.
Winning a major championship has always been a dream for Hughes. But he’s not dwelling on it until his training camp is complete and he hears those magical words: “and new.”
“I’m focused on my daily grind,” said Hughes. “I’ve thought about making history in Dubai—the first MMA show there! The arena’s amazing.”
“As fight week approaches, I’ll visualize holding that belt and celebrating with my team and loved ones. But right now? It’s all about the grind—the dirty part of every day.”