Usman Nurmagomedov doesn’t think Paul Hughes is a viable threat to his Bellator lightweight title.
With Nurmagomedov (18-0) short on fresh contenders, however, he accepts Hughes (13-1) as the challenger to his throne when they meet in the main event of PFL’s Road to Dubai card Jan. 25. But with just two victories in the promotion and only one notable result over A.J. McKee in October, the champ doesn’t really see Hughes as worthy.
“It was not a crazy fight (with McKee),” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie. “For my opinion, this fight is not a contender fight. If you make a contender fight, make it five rounds. These guys make it three rounds and they give him a title shot. But maybe this fight is good for media, and that’s why they give me Paul, who has only two fights in Bellator. But I don’t care. Give me some name, a date, and I will be there and I will be ready.”
