PFL Champions Series Dubai: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes - Fight card, date, start time, streaming, how to watch, venue, and more

The PFL Champion Series Dubai is set to kick off the promotion's 2025 with a bang as Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his lightweight title against Paul Hughes. The event also features a stacked card of talent, with the action taking place at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The card is also being dubbed as 'Dagestan vs. Ireland 2', as many of the fighters are from the respective regions. Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes is the most notable, but the likes of Vadim Nemkov, Akhmed Magomedov, Nathan Kelly, and Kenny Mokhonoana are also set to feature.

For a full list of the entire fight card, including the prelims, check here:

• Bellator Lightweight Main Event: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes
• Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Vadim Nemkov vs. Tim Johnson
• Featherweight: Akhmed Magomedov vs. Nathan Kelly
• Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov vs. Kenny Mokhonoana
• Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov vs. Cleiver Fernandes
• Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman vs. Ahmed Samy
• Middleweight: Yakub Sulimanov vs. Jarrah Al-Selawe
• Lightweight: Mirafzal Akhtamov vs. Mike Thompson
• Flyweight: Hadi Omar Al Hussaini vs. Ruel Pañales
• Lightweight: John Mitchell vs. Souhil Tairi
• Middleweight: Mostafa Nada vs. Haider Khan
• Amateur Lightweight: Saeed Alhosani vs Talal Alqallaf

For fans interested in watching the event, the action will begin at 11:00 am ET (4:00 pm GMT) and will be available live for viewers in the United States on MAX. For those interested in streaming the card outside of the U.S., it will be available live on DAZN.

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Paul Hughes offers his take on Usman Nurmagomedov's history of steroid use

Paul Hughes recently pulled no punches after weighing in on Usman Nurmagomedov's history with steroids ahead of their PFL lightweight title bout this weekend.

Following a unanimous decision win over Brent Primus in Oct. 2023, it was announced that Nurmagomedov had tested positive for taking a prescription drug that contained a banned substance. The result of the fight was overturned to a no-contest and Nurmagomedov was handed a 6-month suspension. He was allowed to keep the title, however, after he argued he had taken the substance by accident.

Speaking in a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hughes was asked for his thoughts on the situation and Usman Nurmagomedov's story, to which he said:

"It's hard to know because I don't know him [Usman] personally but if you look at the history of doping in his region, it's obviously very prevalent. It doesn't surprise me people from his region are still getting popped."

"Do I believe he has taken steroids? I don't quite know, to be honest...But what I do know is, whatever the f*ck he has taken doesn't matter...Steroids isn't enough to beat me...It would take a lot more than steroids to beat me over five rounds."

Catch Hughes' comments regarding Usman Nurmagomedov here (6:00):