Hughes goes from 'stone broke' to mixing with Ronaldo

Paul Hughes says he is now "in the conversation with some of the biggest MMA athletes in the world" after his "life-changing" lightweight victory over AJ McKee on the PFL Super Fights card in Saudi Arabia.

Hughes' new status was emphasised by him being photographed alongside Cristiano Ronaldo following his deserved win over the ex-Bellator featherweight champion.

"I'm now officially on that world stage," said the 27-year-old from county Derry.

"I'm logging on to the my phone, social media….there are suggested posts coming up on me. All these other things that I would just naturally see on my socials anyway through the biggest stars in MMA. Now I'm there."

After struggling to pay his bills for the majority of his MMA career, Hughes admits the recognition while "kind of weird" is something he always felt he would achieve.

"This has been many years in the making and I believed I would be here some time ago but it does feel good to finally get here," he said.

"I didn't make any money in Cage Warriors. I was just stone broke for years trying to make it. Now I'm getting paid well for what I bring to the table. That's life-changing."

As a long-time Manchester United fan, the Lavey man admits that getting his snap alongside Ronaldo was a particular thrill.

Hughes laughed that the commotion Ronaldo's arrival caused in the venue almost caused him to lose concentration.

"I had just got top position on AJ towards the end of the round one and I had worked so hard to get there and I thought the fans were booing me."

As for the post-fight snap, Hughes said that Ronaldo had called a halt to requests for selfies before relenting for one last picture with him.

"I think he was well done of the attention of the photos at that stage. In fact, he wasn't even doing photos with anybody," he said.

"His security had just said to the PFL, 'zeros photos with anybody' but the PFL said 'there is one lad who needs a photo with you here' and he did it."

Despite his own conviction that he would hand McKee only the second defeat of his 24-fight career, Hughes was a clear underdog going into the contest.

However, the Irishman dropped McKee with a right hook in the first round and he went on to hold a clear edge in the proceedings even though the judges opted for a split decision.

"I actually had a full YouTube video shot and ready to post, literally when I finished the fight because I really believed that I was going to knock him out with a right knee. My god, I came close three times," he said.

"The sequence before I dropped him with a right hand came from a flying knee but before that earlier in the round, there was one knee that just missed him by a millimetre. It would have knocked him clean out and my prediction would have been correct."

Hughes admits having "flashbacks" from his heartbreaking sole career defeat by England's Jordan Vucenic in 2020, a loss he later avenged, when the split decision was announced following Saturday's contest.

"I remember looking at the colour of my gloves and thinking 'is this going to happen again? Am I going to be completely robbed blind here?'

"Thankfully it went my way. It's kind of crazy. I don't know where a split [decision] came from. I don't think anybody does to be honest. This is MMA judging and we see this literally every single weekend of an MMA."

Immediately following the 13th victory of his career, Hughes called for a bout with Russian Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.

Social media chatter also suggests MMA old foes Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov could be in the respective corners of the two fighters if the bout does come off.

"We're trying to get it done. That's the fight I want next. And it's very clear that the PFL want that as well. We're working on it," Hughes said.

A contest with Nurmagomedov would be a huge moment in Hughes' career and would further demonstrate the faith PFL has put in him.

"I said to them when they signed me, 'I’m always going to deliver. Any investment you put in me, I'm going to try and pay off times 10'," he said.

"I don't see why the Nurmagomedov fight can't happen. Social media certainly has blown up over the thought of that happening, which is good for exposure and building the fight."