Paul Hughes: A.J. McKee and Paul Hughes express interest in challenging Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov ahead of PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants

A.J. McKee and Paul Hughes express interest in challenging Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov ahead of PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants

By Giancarlo Aulino

Modified Oct 18, 2024 18:06 GMT

A.J. McKee and Paul Hughes discuss potential title shot against Usman Nurmagomedov [Image courtesy: PFL - Press release, and Getty Images]

A.J. McKee and Paul Hughes both expressed interest in challenging reigning Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov ahead of PFL: Battle of the Giants. The event is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia tomorrow and is expected to be an action-packed event.

'The Mercenary' and the Irishman are two of the most highly touted 155-pounders in the promotion and could have essentially turned their bout into a title eliminator. Hughes wants the toughest fights available and believes a clash against Nurmagomedov would be massive for the PFL, while also drawing a comparison to the Bellator champion's cousin Khabib's bout against Conor McGregor:

"[Nurmagomedov fight] could be an absolutely massive fight for Bellator-PFL if they promoted it right, which I'm sure they would. It's Ireland vs. Dagestan No.2, you know? It's a Nurmagomedov vs. myself. That sells itself in my opinion...[A win over McKee] puts me in a spot of good leverage."

McKee also believes a clash between himself and Nurmagomedov would be the biggest fight the promotion can book. McKee highlighted their family lineage in the sport and mentioned that the fans want to see that fight most:

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"The fight everybody's wanted for the longest is Usman [Nurmagomedov]...I think that's one of the biggest fights either promotion could put on is Usman and I. Obviously, his background, second generation fighter under Khabib and then myself being under my father [Antonio]...It's two of the young up-and-comings and I think that's the heat right there."

Check out A.J. McKee and Paul Hughes' comments below:

Usman Nurmagomedov weighs in on A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes

It appears as though Usman Nurmagomedov will be watching the PFL: Battle of Giants main card opener between A.J. McKee and Paul Hughes as he will likely find out who his next challenger is.

Bellator posted a statement from Nurmagomedov on their social media, where he wished both McKee and Hughes the best of luck and mentioned that he doesn't have a preferred matchup: