• By Joshua CookJoshua CookX (Twitter) Nov 22, 2024, 11:24 AM
  • Last updated | Feb 3, 2025, 9:21 AM

On Saturday, January 25, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, Arab Emirates, Usman Nurmagomedov will go head-to-head with Paul «Big News» Hughes in an 5-round lightweight showdown for Bellator MMA title. Find out how to watch the fight live.

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes
Usman Nurmagomedov
Usman Nurmagomedov
Paul «Big News» Hughes
Paul Hughes
Country RussiaRussia
Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Sydney, Australia
Age 26 years 27 years
Pro 7 years 7 years
Height 5′ 11″ (180 cm) 5′ 9″ (175 cm)
Reach 72″ (183 cm) 70″ (178 cm)
Division lightweight
(155 lbs / 70,3 kg)
lightweight
(155 lbs / 70,3 kg)
Stance
Orthodox

orthodox
Orthodox

orthodox
Titles Titles held
Bellator MMA (lightweight)
-
Record 18 - 0 - 0
(8 KOs)
13 - 1 - 0
(6 KOs)
KOs 44% 46%
Inactive 140 days 98 days
Advant.
Current World champion
Won first World title by defeating the World champion
No losses
Experienced grappler
Long arms
Younger
More professional fights
No KO losses
Less inactive days
Usman Nurmagomedov won by majority decision (MD) (video).

Arena

The fight will be held at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, Arab Emirates.

Date and Time

What time do the first fights of Bellator Champions Series Dubai start?

  • USAUSA

    The fight night will start on Saturday, January 25 at 10:00 AM New York time.

  • CanadaCanada

    The fight night will start on Saturday, January 25 at 10:00 AM Ottawa time.

  • United KingdomUnited Kingdom

    The fight night will start on Saturday, January 25 at 3:00 PM London time.

  • IrelandIreland

    The fight night will start on Saturday, January 25 at 3:00 PM Dublin time.

  • AustraliaAustralia

    The fight night will start on Sunday, January 26 at 2:00 AM Canberra time.

  • New ZealandNew Zealand

    The fight night will start on Sunday, January 26 at 4:00 AM Wellington time.

Watch Live: How to Stream Nurmagomedov vs Hughes Fight.

  • To Be Announced

Full Fight/Highlights

Fight Promo

Check out who’s stepping into the ring or cage on Saturday, January 25.
Fight card subject to change.

Division Fighter #1 Fighter #2 Notes
lightweight (155 lbs)Usman Nurmagomedov
(18 - 0 - 0)
Paul Hughes
(13 - 1 - 0)
Bellator MMA
heavyweight (265 lbs)Vadim Nemkov
(17 - 2 - 0)
Tim Johnson
(18 - 10 - 0)
featherweight (145 lbs)Akhmed Magomedov
(9 - 1 - 0)
Nathan Kelly
(11 - 2 - 0)
featherweight (145 lbs)Ibragim Ibragimov
(8 - 0 - 0)
Kenny Mokhonoana
(5 - 1 - 0)
bantamweight (135 lbs)Renat Khavalov
(8 - 0 - 0)
Cleiver Fernandes
(9 - 1 - 0)
middleweight (185 lbs)Ahmed Sami
(11 - 4 - 0)
Tarek Suleiman
(13 - 8 - 0)
middleweight (185 lbs)Yakub Sulimanov
(7 - 0 - 0)
Jarrah Al-Silawi
(20 - 7 - 0)
lightweight (155 lbs)Mirafzal Akhtamov
(8 - 0 - 1)
Mike Thompson
(7 - 2 - 0)
flyweight (125 lbs)Ruel Panales
(6 - 2 - 0)
Hadi Omar Al Hussaini
(5 - 1 - 1)
lightweight (155 lbs)John Mitchell
(9 - 2 - 0)
Souhil Tahiri
(7 - 5 - 1)
middleweight (185 lbs)Mostafa Rashed Nada
(9 - 3 - 0)
Haider Khan
(8 - 1 - 0)
featherweight (145 lbs)Saeed AlHosani
(debut)
Talal AlQallaf
(debut)
Usman Nurmagomedov

Usman Nurmagomedov

Usman Nurmagomedov is a Russian MMA artist.
As a professional athlete, Nurmagomedov has been performing for 7 years and remains unbeaten.

Bellator MMA World Grand Prix 2023 (Lightweight)

Bellator MMA World Grand Prix 2023 (Lightweight)

Last Fight

The last fight of Usman Nurmagomedov took place on September 7, 2024 against Alexandr ShabliyAlexandr Shabliy (24 - 3 - 0).
Nurmagomedov won by unanimous decision (UD).

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexandr Shabliy 

Usman Nurmagomedov's last fight

First World Title

On November 18, 2022 Usman Nurmagomedov became the Bellator MMA lightweight champion.
Nurmagomedov defeated World champion Patricky FreirePatricky Freire.

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Patricky Freire 

Usman Nurmagomedov's fight for the first world title

MMA Record

  • Total fightsTotal fights: 19
  • WinsWins: 18
  • Wins by KOWins by KO: 8
  • Wins by submWins by subm: 6
  • Wins by decWins by dec: 4
  • LossesLosses: 0
  • DrawsDraws: 0
  • No contestsNo contests: 1

MMA Career

How many fights did Usman Nurmagomedov have?

Date Opponent Result Notes
2025-01-25 Paul Hughes Win
Decision (Majority)
2024-09-07 Alexandr Shabliy Win
Decision (Unanimous)
2023-10-07 Brent Primus No contest
No Contest (Overturned)
2023-03-10 Benson Henderson Win
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
2022-11-18 Patricky Freire Win
Decision (Unanimous)
2022-07-22 Christopher Gonzalez Win
Submission (Guillotine Choke)
2021-10-23 Patrik Pietila Win
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
2021-07-31 Luis Muro Win
TKO (Knee to the Body)
2021-04-02 Mike Hamel Win
Decision (Unanimous)
2020-09-09 Svyatoslav Shabanov Win
TKO (Punches)
2020-07-31 Jerry Kvarnstrom Win
TKO (Punches and Elbows)
2020-02-09 Ruslan Tuyakov Win
TKO (Knees)
2019-11-29 Roman Golovinov Win
TKO (Punches)
2019-09-27 Kazim Zhakhangirov Win
Submission (Guillotine Choke)
2019-07-28 Ruslan Hisamutdinov Win
Decision (Unanimous)
2019-05-03 Gabriel Baino Win
TKO
2019-02-17 Romeo Njia Win
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
2018-12-28 Issei Moriyama Win
TKO (Punches)
2018-12-14 Dmitriy Berestovskiy Win
TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
2017-03-26 Imran Abdiev Win
Submission (Armbar)

All Usman Nurmagomedov's Losses

Usman Nurmagomedov remains undefeated as a professional MMA artist.

Usman Nurmagomedov Highlights

Paul «Big News» Hughes

Paul «Big News» Hughes

Paul Hughes is a Northern Irish MMA artist.
As a professional athlete, Hughes has been performing for 7 years.

Last Fight

The last fight of Paul Hughes took place on October 19, 2024 against A.J. McKeeA.J. McKee (22 - 1 - 0).
Hughes won by split-decision (SD).

MMA Record

  • Total fightsTotal fights: 14
  • WinsWins: 13
  • Wins by KOWins by KO: 6
  • Wins by submWins by subm: 3
  • Wins by decWins by dec: 4
  • LossesLosses: 1
  • Losses by KOLosses by KO: 0
  • Losses by submLosses by subm: 0
  • Losses by decLosses by dec: 1
  • DrawsDraws: 0

MMA Career

How many fights did Paul Hughes have?

Date Opponent Result Notes
2025-01-25 Usman Nurmagomedov Loss
Decision (Majority)
2024-10-19 A.J. McKee Win
Decision (Split)
2024-06-22 Bobby King Win
TKO (Punches and Elbows)
2024-04-06 Fabiano Silva Win
TKO (Knee and Elbows)
2023-10-14 Jan Quaeyhaegens Win
KO (Punches)
2022-11-04 Jordan Vucenic Win
Decision (Unanimous)
2021-10-01 Morgan Charriere Win
Decision (Majority)
2021-03-18 James Hendin Win
Decision (Unanimous)
2020-12-12 Jordan Vucenic Loss
Decision (Split)
2020-09-26 Aidan Stephen Win
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
2020-03-07 Youri Panada Win
KO (Head Kick)
2019-10-26 Kalifa Seydi Win
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
2019-09-06 Mateusz Makarowski Win
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
2019-03-09 Stephen O'Neill Win
TKO (Punches)
2017-02-24 Adam Gustab Win
TKO (Punches)

All Paul Hughes's Losses

Who all beat Paul Hughes?

Paul Hughes's defeat

Paul Hughes's defeat

Date Opponent Result Notes
2025-01-25 Usman Nurmagomedov Loss
Decision (Majority)
2020-12-12 Jordan Vucenic Loss
Decision (Split)

Paul «Big News» Hughes Highlights

Joshua Cook
Who will win: Nurmagomedov or Hughes?

Nurmagomedov and Hughes are worthy opponents.
It is difficult to predict which of the fighters will win.

Nevertheless, I think that Usman Nurmagomedov will win by unanimous decision.

Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star Rating Star  4,2/5
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