Paul Hughes (fighter)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 8:14:15 AM Wikipedia source
Paul Hughes (born 27 March 1997) is a professional mixed martial artist from Northern Ireland who currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). A professional since 2017, Hughes is a former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion.
Infobox
Born
(1997-03-27) 27 March 1997 (age 28)Sydney, Australia
Other names
Big News
Height
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight
155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
Division
Featherweight Lightweight
Reach
70 in (178 cm)
Fighting out of
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Team
Fight Academy Ireland
Years active
2017–present
Total
10
Wins
8
By knockout
7
By submission
3
By decision
3
Losses
2
Tables
Professional record breakdown · Mixed martial arts record
By knockout
By knockout
17 matches
By knockout
14 wins
7
3 losses
0
By submission
By submission
17 matches
By submission
14 wins
3
3 losses
0
By decision
By decision
17 matches
By decision
14 wins
4
3 losses
3
| 17 matches | 14 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 0 |
| By submission | 3 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 3 |
· Mixed martial arts record
Loss
Loss
Res.
Loss
Record
14–3
Opponent
Usman Nurmagomedov
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
PFL Champions Series 3
Date
October 3, 2025
Round
5
Time
5:00
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Notes
For the inaugural PFL Lightweight World Championship.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
14–2
Opponent
Bruno Miranda
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
PFL Europe 1 (2025)
Date
May 10, 2025
Round
1
Time
0:42
Location
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Loss
Loss
Res.
Loss
Record
13–2
Opponent
Usman Nurmagomedov
Method
Decision (majority)
Event
PFL Champions Series 1
Date
January 25, 2025
Round
5
Time
5:00
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Notes
For the Bellator Lightweight World Championship. Nurmagomedov was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeated groin kicks.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
13–1
Opponent
A. J. McKee
Method
Decision (split)
Event
PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants
Date
October 19, 2024
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
12–1
Opponent
Bobby King
Method
TKO (punches and elbows)
Event
Bellator Champions Series 3
Date
June 22, 2024
Round
2
Time
4:50
Location
Dublin, Ireland
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
11–1
Opponent
Fabiano Silva
Method
TKO (knee and elbows)
Event
Cage Warriors 170
Date
April 6, 2024
Round
1
Time
4:37
Location
Dublin, Ireland
Notes
Catchweight (160 lb) bout.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
10–1
Opponent
Jan Quaeyhaegens
Method
KO (punches)
Event
Cage Warriors 161
Date
October 14, 2023
Round
1
Time
2:47
Location
Dublin, Ireland
Notes
Return to Lightweight.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
9–1
Opponent
Jordan Vucenic
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
Cage Warriors 145
Date
November 4, 2022
Round
5
Time
5:00
Location
London, England
Notes
Won and unified the Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
8–1
Opponent
Morgan Charrière
Method
Decision (majority)
Event
Cage Warriors 128
Date
October 1, 2021
Round
5
Time
5:00
Location
London, England
Notes
Won the interim Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
7–1
Opponent
James Hendin
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
Cage Warriors 120
Date
March 18, 2021
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
London, England
Loss
Loss
Res.
Loss
Record
6–1
Opponent
Jordan Vucenic
Method
Decision (split)
Event
Cage Warriors 119
Date
December 12, 2020
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
London, England
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
6–0
Opponent
Aidan Stephen
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
Cage Warriors 116
Date
August 11, 2020
Round
3
Time
4:21
Location
Manchester, England
Notes
Return to Featherweight.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
5–0
Opponent
Youri Panada
Method
KO (head kick)
Event
Cage Warriors 112
Date
March 7, 2020
Round
2
Time
2:33
Location
Manchester, England
Notes
Catchweight (150 lb) bout.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
4–0
Opponent
Kalifa Seydi
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
Cage Conflict 2
Date
October 26, 2019
Round
1
Time
1:43
Location
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Notes
Lightweight debut. Won the inaugural Cage Conflict Lightweight Championship.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
3–0
Opponent
Mateusz Makarowski
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
Cage Warriors: Unplugged 2
Date
September 6, 2019
Round
1
Time
2:34
Location
London, England
Notes
Catchweight (164 lb) bout.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
2–0
Opponent
Stephen O'Neill
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
Cage Conflict 1
Date
March 9, 2019
Round
1
Time
3:00
Location
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Notes
Won the inaugural Cage Conflict Featherweight Championship.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
1–0
Opponent
Adam Gustab
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
BAMMA 28
Date
February 24, 2017
Round
1
Time
1:32
Location
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Notes
Featherweight debut.
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 14–3 | Usman Nurmagomedov | Decision (unanimous) | PFL Champions Series 3 | October 3, 2025 | 5 | 5:00 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | For the inaugural PFL Lightweight World Championship. |
| Win | 14–2 | Bruno Miranda | TKO (punches) | PFL Europe 1 (2025) | May 10, 2025 | 1 | 0:42 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Loss | 13–2 | Usman Nurmagomedov | Decision (majority) | PFL Champions Series 1 | January 25, 2025 | 5 | 5:00 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | For the Bellator Lightweight World Championship. Nurmagomedov was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeated groin kicks. |
| Win | 13–1 | A. J. McKee | Decision (split) | PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants | October 19, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| Win | 12–1 | Bobby King | TKO (punches and elbows) | Bellator Champions Series 3 | June 22, 2024 | 2 | 4:50 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Win | 11–1 | Fabiano Silva | TKO (knee and elbows) | Cage Warriors 170 | April 6, 2024 | 1 | 4:37 | Dublin, Ireland | Catchweight (160 lb) bout. |
| Win | 10–1 | Jan Quaeyhaegens | KO (punches) | Cage Warriors 161 | October 14, 2023 | 1 | 2:47 | Dublin, Ireland | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 9–1 | Jordan Vucenic | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors 145 | November 4, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | London, England | Won and unified the Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–1 | Morgan Charrière | Decision (majority) | Cage Warriors 128 | October 1, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | London, England | Won the interim Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–1 | James Hendin | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors 120 | March 18, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Jordan Vucenic | Decision (split) | Cage Warriors 119 | December 12, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 6–0 | Aidan Stephen | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Warriors 116 | August 11, 2020 | 3 | 4:21 | Manchester, England | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 5–0 | Youri Panada | KO (head kick) | Cage Warriors 112 | March 7, 2020 | 2 | 2:33 | Manchester, England | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Win | 4–0 | Kalifa Seydi | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Conflict 2 | October 26, 2019 | 1 | 1:43 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Lightweight debut. Won the inaugural Cage Conflict Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–0 | Mateusz Makarowski | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Warriors: Unplugged 2 | September 6, 2019 | 1 | 2:34 | London, England | Catchweight (164 lb) bout. |
| Win | 2–0 | Stephen O'Neill | TKO (punches) | Cage Conflict 1 | March 9, 2019 | 1 | 3:00 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Won the inaugural Cage Conflict Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 1–0 | Adam Gustab | TKO (punches) | BAMMA 28 | February 24, 2017 | 1 | 1:32 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Featherweight debut. |
References
- "Paul Hughes ("Big News") - MMA Fighter Page - Tapology"https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/35866-paul-hughes
- Belfast Livehttps://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/mma/paul-hughes-irish-mma-star-29167110
- Yahoo Sportshttps://sports.yahoo.com/time-waits-for-no-man-and-paul-hughes-is-impatient-181146145.html
- mmajunkie.usatoday.comhttps://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/10/cage-warriors-128-results-paul-hughes-claims-interim-belt-in-classic-with-morgan-charriere
- BBC Sporthttps://www.bbc.com/sport/mixed-martial-arts/58773090
- mmajunkie.usatoday.comhttps://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/11/cage-warriors-145-results-paul-hughes-bloodies-jordan-vucenic-to-unify-featherweight-title
- BBC Sporthttps://www.bbc.com/sport/mixed-martial-arts/63522188
- mmafighting.comhttps://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/20/24135820/top-prospect-paul-hughes-ends-free-agency-signs-with-pfl
- BBC Sporthttps://www.bbc.com/sport/mixed-martial-arts/articles/cp99gvyd8rno
- "Reports: A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes targeted for PFL pay-per-view on Oct. 19"https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/08/pfl-books-aj-mckee-vs-paul-hughes-oct-19-ppv-card
- "PFL Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact Results"https://cagesidepress.com/2024/10/19/pfl-battle-of-the-giants-brace-for-impact-results/
- Belfast Telegraphhttps://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/laveys-mma-star-paul-hughes-stuns-aj-mckee-in-saudi-arabia-judging-by-his-face-i-clearly-won/a1679820643.html
- "Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes for Bellator title set for Jan. 25 in Dubai"https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/11/pfl-news-usman-nurmagomedov-vs-paul-hughes-bellator-title-set-dubai
- cagesidepress.comhttps://cagesidepress.com/2025/01/25/usman-nurmagomedov-squeaks-past-paul-hughes-in-pfl-road-to-dubai-thriller/
- BBC Sporthttps://www.bbc.com/sport/mixed-martial-arts/articles/c1jpnednj71o
- mmafighting.comhttps://www.mmafighting.com/2025/3/12/24383912/paul-hughes-bruno-miranda-announced-pfl-belfast-main-event-may
- mmafighting.comhttps://www.mmafighting.com/2025/5/10/24427642/paul-hughes-demolishes-bruno-miranda-in-42-seconds-at-pfl-belfast-calls-out-usman-nurmagomedov
- | sports.yahoo.comhttps://sports.yahoo.com/article/nurmagomedov-vs-hughes-2-leads-123500191.html
- | sports.yahoo.comhttps://sports.yahoo.com/mma/breaking-news/live/pfl-dubai-live-updates-usman-nurmagomedov-vs-paul-hughes-2-results-round-by-round-analysis-highlights-061827550.html
- Fight Matrixhttps://www.fightmatrix.com/fightmatrix-awards/
- Sherdoghttps://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Paul-Hughes-155105