Hughes Stops Miranda In 42 Seconds In Belfast

Derry's Paul Hughes sewage backmost successful nan triumph file pinch an explosive 42-second knockout triumph complete Bruno Miranda successful Belfast.

Hughes soaked up an electrical ambiance wrong nan SSE Arena earlier producing a capacity that matched it.

The 28-year-old lightweight, who dropped Miranda pinch a immense near hand, said: "I wish it went connected a small longer, I cognize group wanted to spot a scrap, but what do you do? I conscionable deed excessively hard.

"I made my master debut successful this arena complete 8 years agone and each azygous clip I drove past it I said I americium going to conflict location [again] and my dream came true.

"We're a mini state but we're dong large things connected nan world stage. I dream I correspond you each well, because I americium going to nan top."

Fighting connected location ungraded for nan first clip since 2019, Hughes mightiness person felt nan weight of a federation connected his shoulders.

After a narrow defeat by erstwhile Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov successful January, Hughes needed a large capacity connected location ungraded to liking his declare for a rematch.

But location was zero motion of nerves from Hughes, who wore a wide grin from nan infinitesimal he emerged from backstage.

Hughes appeared alongside section musician Foy Vance, who sang a unrecorded type of nan Dubliners 'Grace'.

The crowd sang nan lyrics backmost to Hughes aft relentlessly booing Miranda a fewer moments before.

Hughes entered nan cage to 'Oles' nd location was nary clip for moreover a flimsy lull successful ambiance arsenic Hughes took advantage of a lazy footwear from Miranda by catching it and delivering his knockout blow.

As Miranda collapsed and Hughes unloaded, nan referee stepped successful to extremity nan contest.

"Usman Nurmagomedov, you tin tally and you tin effort hold this rematch arsenic agelong arsenic you want, but your time is coming," Hughes said successful nan aftermath.

Hughes improved his grounds to 14 wins and 2 losses and will see himself successful rod position to conflict Nurmagomedov successful nan adjacent future.

In nan co-main event, Englishman Lewis McGrillen upset section combatant Alan Philpott by submitting nan Antrim man successful 2 rounds.

Manchester's McGrillen, fighting for nan first clip since winning nan 2024 PFL Europe bantamweight tournament, produced a ascendant capacity to spot disconnected 32-year-old Philpott.

He capped nan conflict disconnected pinch a rear-naked choke, to unafraid nan first submission triumph of his career.

McGrillen, 24, improved to 11 wins and 1 nonaccomplishment and had a elemental connection aft his latest victory.

"Give maine PFL Manchester," he said.