Following from Hughes’ second round TKO via ground and pound he told me in the post fight interview, “Im definitely going to fight once more {In 2024} potentially two but we will see.” Hughes enters the PFL $1million dollar tournament in 2025. The Irishman who’s record now stands at 12-1 with claiming back his only loss from Jordan Vucenic, The Derry man is on a climb to the top of the world. Training at Fight Academy Ireland under Pat McAllister and Liam Shannon this seems to only be the start for the gym up north.
Hughes went over to Florida to train at KillCliff under Henry Hooft earlier on this year and has been training with many top UFC talents such as, Michael Chandler, Ilia Topuria and Gilbert Burns. With Hughes’ first win in the Bellator/PFL scene over a keen veteran in Bobby Green, I asked Paul what’s next for him and does he have an opponent in mind? Paul told me, “ I have a lot of options, you know? Ever since PFL have acquired Bellator. They have Bellator Champions Series, PFL Europe and the PFL season so there is a lot of dates and shows for me to fight next on”.
During his post fight speech interview, we saw Hughes and Conor McGregor share a full circle moment. Hughes told Conor McGregor, “ If it wasn’t for that man to inspire me, he showed everyone on the Island of Ireland that it was possible, and that breaks down a lot of mental barriers and people like to talk smack but this man changed the game and changed all of our young fighters lives!”
Hughes was the former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion, the first Irishman since Conor McGregor to lift that belt, so its clear to see why he has so much hype, three straight TKO finishes this man will go straight to the very top, only 27 years old as-well, massive career ahead for him.
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