Hughes calls scorecards “ridiculous” in PFL loss to Nurmagomedov

Paul Hughes believes that he defeated Usman Nurmagomedov at PFL Dubai on Saturday night.

The Irishman lost by majority decision to the Bellator lightweight champion but has been quick to dispute the judges’ scorecards from the main event.

“I think the judges’ scorecards were pretty ridiculous,” Hughes said in a video posted on Instagram after the fight.

“We all thought I won that one.

“I’m just judging from the energy of the arena and everyone surrounding the cage.

“I thought it was mine.”

Hughes was a heavy underdog across top bookmakers heading into the United Emirates-based event, paying as long as $4 to win at Marantelli Bet.

Yet the 27-year-old put on a strong display of takedown defence against the unbeaten Nurmagomedov, chipping away at his opponent through persistent body shots.

Repeated low blows meant that the Russian was handed a point penalty, and with Hughes dominating large swathes of the first three rounds an upset of the bookies’ favourite seemed imminent.

But an accidental head clash stymied Hughes’ momentum giving his opponent time to recover and get back into the fight.

After the final bell, two judges still scored the fight 48-46 in Nurmagomedov’s favour, with the other reading the clash 47-47.

“It felt like the stoppage in the fourth round with the head clash changed the momentum of the fight,” Hughes said.

“I feel like I was breaking him.

“I was ripping him so hard to the body and I felt him wheezing.

“I knew my momentum was coming up and I would have emptied the tank, but that changed the kind of flow and he got good recovery.

“Which, look, the headbutt was a headbutt. It was accidental.

“He has all the right to take that recovery.

“I’m obviously disappointed. I’m gutted, I really am.

“I’m proud of myself, but I do need to get that back. I need to get that back.

“I deserve to have that belt, soon.”

Fellow fighters have come out in support of Hughes, with several prominent voices echoing his claims that he won the fight.

“Paul Hughes was robbed,” Dillion Danis said.

“Nurmagomedov was gassed and scurrying for his life. Hughes deserved that win!”

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor even weighed in with his own take on the fight, despite mixing up his Nurmagomedovs.

“Tremendous fight and performance!” he posted on X.

“Easy win for Hughes, he DOMINATED THAT FIGHT.

“And Umar exactly what it says on the tin, a Nurmagomedov.

“Runner, sprinter, bolter, scarper, scurrying “fighter”.

“The Nurmagomedovs are not fighters.”

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