Nurmagomedov-Hughes 2 set for PFL Dubai in October

Usman Nurmagomedov will defend the PFL lightweight championship in a rematch with Paul Hughes in the main event of PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai on Oct. 3, the promotion announced Wednesday.

Nurmagomedov beat Hughes in their first meeting, earning a majority-decision victory in a Fight of the Year candidate in January. It was the final title fight in Bellator history before the PFL retired that brand.

Many in the MMA community were interested in an immediate rematch after the close fight, but the promotion went in a different direction. Hughes returned to action at a PFL Europe event in May in his hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland, knocking out Bruno Miranda in 42 seconds.

Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, hasn't stepped into the cage since his win over Hughes. The 27-year-old Dagestani, who is a cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, has successfully defended his title three times since becoming champion in 2022. He holds a 19-0 (1 NC) record as a professional.

Hughes made his PFL debut last year following a stint in Cage Warriors. The 28-year-old won his first two fights in the SmartCage - including a split decision over former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee - before losing to Nurmagomedov. Hughes is 3-1 in the PFL and 14-2 as a pro.

In the PFL Dubai co-main event, Corey Anderson will face Dovlet Yagshimuradov in a rematch for the light heavyweight title. Anderson is a former Bellator light heavyweight champion, while Yagshimuradov won the PFL's 205-pound tournament in 2024.

The promotion also announced that Artem Lobov will return to MMA for the first time since 2018 for a grudge match against fellow UFC veteran Zubaira Tukhugov. Lobov and Tukhugov were scheduled to fight in the UFC in 2018, but the promotion pulled Tukhugov from the matchup after he was involved in the infamous UFC 229 brawl.