Paul Hughes reacts to PFL Dubai rematch controversies: 'What's the point of even having rules?'

Paul Hughes was just as stunned as the rest of the MMA world by the scoring in his rematch with PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov this past Friday in Dubai.

The Irish contender fell short in his second shot at Nurmagomedov in their PFL Dubai headliner, once again pushing the undefeated champ to his limits in a technical and competitive five-round affair. For Hughes, it was a night that didn’t go his way on the scorecards, but one that left him more introspective than angry. The decision — a unanimous verdict for Nurmagomedov — wasn’t what stung most for the 28-year-old. It was the overall performance, which Hughes believes fell short of expectations. 

That being said, he admits judge Bryan Miner’s 50-45 controversial scorecard was undeniably baffling.

"When they first read out the first scorecard, you'd seen my face, like, 'F***'s sake, this is hardly happening again,'” Hughes told Uncrowned on Wednesday’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “But my frustration — and almost embarrassment — outweighed that, so that's what was kind of taking up my headspace first. Obviously, as time's gone on, I've rewatched everything, looked at all the stats of the fight and started scoring the rounds, and I'm like, 'OK, I definitely, clear-cut, won two rounds at least.' I had Round 2 and 5, like absolutely no question to me, and I had [Round] 3 a 50-50. So this is why I'm not saying there's any robbery, there's none of that going on.

"If you give it three to two Usman, that's fine. If you give it three to two me, that's fine. This is MMA. I'm totally aware of how this goes down every single weekend. But giving it 50-45 is obviously f***ing insanity. It's f***ing bonkers."

Despite the circumstances, Hughes isn't bitter in the aftermath of the biggest fight of his career. He’s taken a measured approach to breaking down where things went wrong and knowing where they went right. After the pair’s first clash in January, Hughes better understood the fine margins of championship fights, especially with someone he matched so evenly like Nurmagomedov. But like many critics, he felt the narrative of Friday's rematch didn’t align with what the numbers — or his memory — suggested.

"Round 1, I knew [went to] him because he got my back and had some good damage from that position,” Hughes explained. “So I knew that. Round 2, I knew was definitely for me. I knew I was bringing myself back in. [Rounds] 3, 4, I can't really recall — in fact, I can recall coming out for Round 5 because Usman had a really good Round 4. I remember him cutting me [with] some good jabs. I think Round 4 was a clear round for him. I remember him hitting me with some good shots and he started talking s*** back to me, which I enjoy. I enjoy that competitive side. But the momentum swung his way, so I remember sitting between rounds [before the fifth] like, 'We really need to get going here. He's definitely taking it.'"

It was the type of fight that demanded composure and constant adjustments. Hughes had flashes of momentum but couldn’t quite sustain them long enough to secure the kind of statement moments judges tend to remember. Even so, he believes the rematch was far closer than the final tallies indicated — a sentiment echoed by many watching live.

Adding to Hughes' frustrations were repeated infractions by Nurmagomedov that went unpunished. Hughes was visibly irritated by a handful of fouls that, in his view, should've cost Nurmagomedov a point.

"Look, there 100% should have been a point deducted,” Hughes said. “I mean, three fouls is too many. What's the point of even having rules if you're not going to use them? That's not including the head-butt, which is obviously a foul also. I don't think [referee Keith Peterson] done a good job there at all."

Even as he aired his grievances about the third loss of his 17-fight career, Hughes was clear that his true frustration isn't with officiating nor judging. It's primarily with himself. Despite going the distance twice with one of the division's best talents, Hughes felt his own performance didn’t reflect the fighter he knows he can be.

"Generally speaking, I'm happy,” Hughes said. “All the people I love are close to me. My life is amazing. I'm blessed. I'm not sad, I'm not defeated, I don't feel like a loser, I don't feel deflated. I feel frustrated, for sure. I feel frustrated when I think of the fight, and initially — I almost, people are going to think this is crazy — felt embarrassed by my performance. Because I really just don't feel like I performed anywhere close to what I know that I can do or that I needed to do to beat him. That was where my frustrations lay. I think people, when they see me as the fight ended, going like, 'F***, f***, f***' — I was frustrated that I didn't do what I needed to do.

"I felt like I was sloppy in there. I felt like my hands and feet just were not working together they way they should and needed to. I don't know why that happened, but I still felt like I was going to win. I felt like I had what it takes to do something special, but I just couldn't put it all together the way I needed to to beat one of the best guys out there. You have to be operating at 110% and I didn't, and I didn't win."

That self-assessment speaks to where Hughes is in his career. Still just 27 years old, with six fights in the past 18 months, including two world title opportunities. The run has been grueling, and even for someone wired like Hughes, the grind eventually demands a pause. 

So for his next move, he doesn't expect a Nurmagomedov trilogy. Maybe down the line, but for now it’s about taking a break to recover and get back at it.

"I need some time,” Hughes said. “I've given everything the last 18 months here. … My body needs some time here.

"I'm not doing surgery. ... It's my team that are saying basically, 'We're not letting you fight. You have to take time.' I want to keep [fighting]. I have never loved this sport so much in my life. Truly."