Paul Hughes: ''Me and Ilia Topuria Are the Only Fighters Who Could Beat Usman Nurmagomedov!''

PFL lightweight contender Paul Hughes shared a fascinating technical analysis regarding the future of PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov during his latest interview on The Ariel Helwani Show. While Hughes is currently focused on his own rehabilitation following recent knee and hip operations, he remains a keen observer of the global lightweight landscape. He stated his belief that Nurmagomedov will eventually make the highly anticipated transition to the UFC roster.

Once inside the Octagon, Hughes predicts that Nurmagomedov will achieve massive promotional success. He explicitly stated that the undefeated Dagestani fighter possesses the elite skill set necessary to defeat former interim champion Justin Gaethje, as well as top-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan. Hughes praised Nurmagomedov's high-level striking, ranking it significantly above Tsarukyan's stand-up abilities, and expects him to win those high-profile matchups. However, as Hughes stated, an unfavorable match-up for Usman would be Ilia Topuria, who, the Irish fighter believes, would potentially defeat Nurmagomedov.

Aside from these predictions, Hughes reiterated his concerns regarding fighter safety and the lack of random drug testing in modern MMA. He emphasized that strict, out-of-competition testing remains essential to protect clean athletes from dangerous doping agents like EPO.