Next stop @3ArenaDublin
☘️ pic.twitter.com/UpDYghVPDc— Paul Hughes MMA (@paulhughesmma)
April 29, 2024
Coveted mixed martial arts prospect Paul Hughes
claims the choice between the
Professional Fighters League and the
Ultimate Fighting Championship was a no-brainer for him.
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After fighting out his
Cage Warriors Fighting Championship contract with a first-round
knockout win over Fabiano
Silva last month, Hughes briefly explored free agency before
signing with the PFL. “Big News” recently explained that while the
UFC had an offer on the table, it stood no comparison to the
PFL’s.
“It [the choice] wasn’t really difficult, to be honest, at all.
[The PFL’s offer] was just a lot better, a lot better,“ Hughes said
on „The MMA Hour“. “They [the UFC] had an offer but it
just wasn’t… No, it wasn’t [a Contender Series offer], it was
mentioned but it wasn’t concrete and that was it. It [the PFL’s]
was just a way better offer, it was just a real no-brainer.”
While the PFL has declared themselves industry co-leaders after the
company acquired Bellator, the UFC remains the world’s largest
mixed martial arts promotion. Hughes revealed that while there has
been no dearth of detractors over his choice, they have mostly been
those unaware of the intricacies of the sport.
“Some people were super disappointed. But the people who are
actually in the industry or the people who actually know me were
absolutely over the moon. So, it’s the people who don’t really know
the ins and outs and pay and all these kinds of things. They be
like, ‘Oh we want to see him in the UFC.’ It’s because they watched
the UFC on Saturday and they want to see me in there as well. But
they don’t know the ins and outs. But as the time has went on the
more and more happy I’ve been with my decision, to be honest. I’m
honestly over the moon, absolutely over the moon… People have been
saying everything, they’ve been saying everything, but I knew that
was gonna be the case whenever I signed, so doesn’t bother me at
all.”
Hughes is scheduled to make his promotional debut against Bobby King
(12-6) at the
Bellator Champions Series in Dublin on June 22. The Irishman
already has a callout planned after a potential win along with his
career trajectory in the promotion for the next five years.
“Yes, it’s part of the 2024 plan, there’s a plan. Trust me, I
didn’t come here to just make noise or to just take easy fights. I
came here to f—-ing takeover and to change the game in the PFL,” he
said. “Truly that’s what’s I came here to do. Tournaments, but this
as well. I’ve got a one-year plan, I’ve got a two-year plan, I’ve
got a three-year plan. And the one-year plan people are gonna see
on June 22 after I knock this guy out, who I call for next.”