Paul Hughes understands the hype surrounding Bellator light-weight champion Usman Nurmagomedov forward of their struggle at PFL Dubai on Saturday.
With an undefeated 18-0 (1 NC) report together with two title defenses, the 26-year-old Russian has been touted as the way forward for the game along with his coach and cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov stating that he believes Usman may find yourself as one of many top-5 fighters to ever compete in MMA by the point his profession is over. Hughes can’t say if statements like which can be simply meant to construct up his opponent or if there actually is that a lot perception about Nurmagomedov’s potential, however that solely raises the stakes for his or her struggle.
“Whether or not or not they’re simply attempting to hype him up or whether or not or not he’s that [good], there’s loads of tape on him,” Hughes stated when talking to MMA Combating. “I’ve studied him quite a bit. I do know the place is weaknesses are. I understand how to make the most of my sport plan to reveal these weaknesses. It’s a distinct sport while you’re preventing me. It’s the identical factor that occurred with A.J. [McKee]. Doing all of the finding out it’s like this man does this, this man does that, he’s having success right here, however me and my workforce at all times watch it collectively and go ‘it isn’t me, although.’ It isn’t me.
“I simply know my sport and I understand how to get my sport going. So on the subject of somebody like Usman, yeah, he’s appeared unbelievable and he’s fought and beat excellent guys however they’re not me. I transfer otherwise. I’m so excessive stage. I’m elite, elite, elite within the MMA sport. The in-betweens is the place I excel and the place I can expose this man. That’s good that they’re saying that as a result of after I beat him, it’s going to be all that extra spectacular.”
In preparation for the struggle, Hughes says he’s watched as a lot footage on Nurmagomedov as attainable and he’s not going to make false statements claiming the undefeated Russian is in some way overrated or not that good simply because they’re now scheduled to struggle.
If something, Hughes believes Nurmagomedov is simply nearly as good as marketed and has used that to his benefit to intimidate a lot of his previous opponents. A ferocious wrestler with unbelievable management, Nurmagomedov has an innate capacity to drown his opponents and break their will with repeated takedowns earlier than smothering them on the bottom.
Hughes expects Nurmagomedov to return after him with a lot the identical technique, however he guarantees the outcomes are going to be totally different this time round.
“[This fight] offers me 5 rounds to place a f*cking tempo on him that he can’t face up to,” Hughes stated. “Have him taking pictures for the jocks early, sprawl on him, hold the stress on him similar to I did A.J. I’m going to stroll this man down one hundred pc. I do know that I can knock him out but when I’ve to, I do know I can deliver him to the depths of hell, which is someplace that he hasn’t been.
“No person has been placing that stress on him. Most individuals struggle him with concern. Nurmagomedov. Wrestler. This, that. He’s harmful. I’m not going to struggle this man with concern. I’m going to place concern into him early and I’ll stroll him down and I’ll one hundred pc get him out of there earlier than the tip of 5 rounds.”
In some ways, Hughes is dealing with the same scenario as his most up-to-date struggle when he defeated former Bellator champion A.J. McKee in simply his second look with the PFL. McKee has lengthy been touted as probably the greatest fighters on this planet and it nearly appeared inevitable that he would ultimately conflict with Nurmagomedov.
Hughes modified all that when he thwarted McKee’s plans after which earned a title struggle of his personal in opposition to Nurmagomedov on Saturday. The narrative that that is an excessive amount of, too quickly surrounded Hughes going into the struggle in opposition to McKee and it’s nearly an identical for his showdown with Nurmagomedov — and he loves it.
“[The win over A.J. McKee] silenced lots of people however on the subject of Usman, it’s a distinct factor,” Hughes stated. “Folks now know I’m a legit contender and I’m not simply that younger prospect anymore. I’m probably the greatest on this planet, which is what I used to be saying for a very long time now.
“I feel with Usman although, individuals are going to be like ‘however he can’t wrestle. No person’s wrestling him, no person’s taking him down so Usman’s going to smash him as he’s smashed mainly everyone else he’s fought.’ However simply wait till they see as soon as once more.”
