PFL books Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes title struggle for Jan. 25

PFL will debut within the United Arab Emirates with a giant light-weight headliner.

Bellator light-weight champion Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0) meets Paul Hughes (13-1) within the Highway to Dubai: Champions Sequence predominant occasion Jan. 25 at Coca-Cola Enviornment, promotion officers introduced Wednesday morning.

The matchup is being labeled Dagestan vs. Eire 2 – a reference to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s historic rivalry with Conor McGregor. After arising large as an underdog towards A.J. McKee this previous October at PFL: Battle of the Giants, Hughes invited McGregor to nook him for a possible struggle with Nurmagomedov. Hughes has received his previous seven in a row.

Nurmagomedov, 26, retained his light-weight title in a unanimous resolution win towards Alexander Shabliy in September. Previous to that, Nurmagomedov’s title-win over Brent Primus at Bellator 300 was overturned to a no contest by the California State Athletic Fee resulting from a failed drug take a look at in October.