The highly anticipated and much-demanded PFL title rematch is on.
Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes will run it back Oct. 3 at PFL Champions Series Dubai, the promotion announced Tuesday. The five-round bout will be for the PFL lightweight championship.
The rematch comes seven months after their first meeting, during which Nurmagomedov (19-0) defeated Hughes (14-2) by majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47). The fight was closely contested, with many fans agreeing with the dissenting judge’s even scorecard.
Since that time, Hughes finished Bruno Miranda by TKO in 42 seconds to earn a second crack. Conversely, Nurmagomedov has not competed since.
Also added to the card was a light heavyweight title fight between Corey Anderson and Dovlet Yagshimuradov. That bout is also a rematch. The two fighters collided in April 2021 under the Bellator banner. Anderson (19-6) defeated Yagshimuradov (25-7-1) by third-round TKO.
Since then, Anderson has gone 4-1 with one no contest. Yagshimuradov lost to Karl Albrektsson immediately after the Anderson loss, but has since gone on a seven-fight winning streak that includes a 2024 PFL light heavyweight championship clinch with a 58-second TKO of Impa Kasanganay.
Additionally, a grudge match between former Conor McGregor associate Artem Lobov and longtime Khabib Nurmagomedov training partner Zubaira Tukhugov is scheduled for the event.
Lobov (14-15-1) has not competed in combat sports since 2021 and has not competed in MMA since 2018. Tukhugov (20-6-1) has not fought since 2023.
With the additions, the PFL Champions Series: Dubai lineup includes:
- Champion Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes – for lightweight title
- Corey Anderson vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov – for light heavyweight title
- Pouya Rahmani vs. Slim Trablesi
- Artem Lobov vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
- Omar El Dafrawy vs. Florim Zendeli
