Victory is a Slippery as Blood | Paul Hughes
- Mike David
- Apr 29
- 8 min read
Hello, I'm Mike David, and welcome to The Commando Episode Series. This article is the first in a three-part series called "The Irish Triangle," a report highlighting the significant wave of combat sports athletes emerging from Ireland.
3-Part Series | The Irish Triangle: A New Wave in Combat Sports
Victory is as Slippery as Blood: The Ascent of Paul Hughes
In the modern era of combat sports, few can generate the kind of electrifying buzz that Ireland's Paul Hughes has managed in MMA. A contemporary of the UFC's rising star Ian Machado Garry, and currently navigating a complex, brewing rivalry with Irish MMA icon (and reported presidential hopeful) Conor McGregor, Hughes is carving out a wider lane on a proven path.
After a dominant run in Cage Warriors, his status as a "free agent" was short-lived. He decisively chose the PFL, grasping the contract he believed would best maximize his career. In doing so, "Bad News" Hughes has already positioned himself as a title contender for the second time, impressively achieving this in just four fights with three wins.
To put Hughes's trajectory into perspective, consider his last two title victories in Cage Warriors. He defeated Jordan Vucenic (currently on a two-fight losing streak in the UFC) and Morgan "The Last Pirate" Charrière (who is coming off a loss and currently holds a record of two wins and two losses after four fights in the UFC). While Charrière might be faring better promotionally than Vucenic, neither has ignited the same widespread excitement as Paul Hughes.
We’ll come back to Hughes’s marketability, but my flash-thought was: would Vucenic or Charrière have found more consistent success honing their skills within the PFL framework? Or did the perceived allure of the UFC still outweigh the promise of a potentially more lucrative, yet strategically more confusing, PFL?
I emphasize the financial and strategic aspects, particularly considering the notable roster dynamics and high-stakes contracts associated with the PFL, especially following its acquisition of Bellator. I know I sound like a PFL CFO telling investors to read between the lines. Fighters are fleeing the PFL in Titanic fashion. Point. Blank. Period. So, back to the promotional power behind Paul Hughes.
Paul Hughes is an Anomaly
Or is he a product of the positive groundwork laid by Conor McGregor, albeit with a crucial difference? How does one create a buzz without public distractions and destruction? Perhaps Hughes represents a new generation, one that recognizes the "McGregor path" not as a persona to replicate, but as a blueprint for strategic success—a path to be navigated on his own terms, distinct from the man himself.
As the biggest names in the PFL have become more outspokenly negative about management's ability (or inability) to supply competitive opponents, many have used the lack of consistent competition as a breach of contract and have begun a mass exodus (the UFC says hello to Pitbull and Patchy Mix). Paul Hughes, however, looks to be the flourishing anomaly.
Anomaly = Entertainment
As a fan who has worked in an accounting department for the majority of my life, knowing the financial structure behind budgets, cash flow, and accruals, I know Paul Hughes occupies a position of flexibility not even reserved for champions; it's reserved for the type of business partner who brings his own audience. And you can't grow an audience without entertainment.
Let’s break down the financial position the PFL might be in, given that fighters are asking to be released based on inactivity. Here goes the magic behind the anomaly: imagine the budget that won't have to be spent on Kayla Harrison, Patrício Pitbull, Aaron Pico, or Patchy Mix. See, when you cut the fat, the savings from a legend like Gegard Mousasi might equate to the cost of four PFL tournament winners. If you eliminate high-priced contracts by default or inactivity, the PFL’s budget frees up money (magic!) that can be applied to marketing its assets—you know, assets like comically large checks, Dakota Ditcheva, and Paul Hughes.
But this isn't a story about how the PFL mishandles the bag by:
holding on to the “bag” too long [shelving fighters in their prime];
fumbling the bag [not having a basic streaming solution for all regions, like YouTube]
...this is a story about the ascent of Paul Hughes in spite of PFL's shortcomings.
From the beginning of time, “sport” has been entertainment. Sports Entertainment is a business, and the fan is why the business exists. The fact that the Derry native can navigate through an organization with so many struggles suggests the MMA gods must be watching over Ireland's son.
I’ve been a combat sports fan since WWE was illegally called WWF. From K-1 to Pride and so on, professional fighting is something I’ve analyzed since childhood. At this level of life, UFC’s APEX Fight Nights allow for the separation between entertaining fighters and fighters looking for the best path to victory. [Episode Coming Soon - The Zenith of MMA | UFC APEX Fight Nights]
I am not jaded enough to not know the difference between skill and entertainment. Think Movsar Evloev for skill and Jean Silva for entertainment.
I am jaded enough to know I don't want to see good fighters; I don't even want to see the best fighters in the world. I want to see the best fighters in the world do something I’ve never seen before—not boring split decisions, unanimous decisions, or anything that resembles Augusto Sakai vs. Don'Tale Mayes. To personalize the thought further, as a fan of Sports Entertainment, the entertainment factor becomes heavier than the win-loss factor. I'd rather argue about the best fighter than the best fight record.
For instance, here goes an original quote: “If it boils down to entertainment, Dustin 'The Diamond' Poirier is the Lightweight GOAT.” - Mike David
The WHY
Why do I feel compelled to write these combat sports episodes, and why Paul Hughes?
As a teen growing up with hip-hop in the late 90s, I loved finding mixtapes on the internet, discovering artists before they exploded to mainstream success (50 Cent, Slim Shady/Eminem, K-Dot/Kendrick Lamar). Being a fan of MMA, anything outside the mainstream of the UFC, it feels like there are so many fighters to discover. Fast forward to see this Irish kid call his shot against a gangster like AJ McKee and win; naturally, I was invested in whoever was next for Hughes.
And what I witnessed during Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes became my WHY.
The main image of this episode illustrates a bloody face caused by a headbutt. What can’t be illustrated is the loss of momentum—a headbutt that resulted in a halt in action by the referee, giving both fighters time to recover and regroup. At that moment, while watching the bout, I felt a momentum shift…and the bloody grin that followed on Hughes’s face was confirmed in an interview.
From MMA Junkie: "I felt like the stoppage in the fourth round with the head clash changed the momentum of the fight," Hughes said. "I feel like I was breaking him. I was ripping him so hard to the body and I felt him wheezing. I knew my momentum was coming on and I would've emptied the tank, but that changed the flow and he got recovery. Which, look, the head butt was a head butt. It was accidental. He has all the right to take that recovery." - Paul Hughes
Merab Dvalishvili beating Umar Nurmagomedov in the fashion he did confirmed that the only way to break a Nurmagomedov may be to tire them, as impossible as it may seem. A week later, on January 25th, 2025, Paul Hughes used this technique to great effect by defending takedowns while taxing Usman with pressure—that pressure that comes with the invisible energy of anticipation, keeping Usman on the move, controlling the distance.
Usman, a kick specialist, kept Hughes confused as he peppered his legs, body, and head with accurate, unanswered points, choosing his shots wisely. If Usman looked to be losing, he would secure the round with a takedown that would ignite the Dubai fans into a roar! For Paul Hughes, timing was everything. Consider the pause in action from the constant low blows that finally resulted in a point taken from Usman in the 3rd, or the major break in action effectively right after a positive momentum shift for Paul Hughes, as Usman's body language looked to be slowing down from absorbing too much body damage in the 4th.
This analysis reflects that very notion: we see a different fight without the fouls; we see a new champion without the head clash. This sentiment was poignantly captured after Hughes experienced firsthand just how elusive victory can be. The judges' scorecards can't tell the true story of a razor-close decision loss for Paul Hughes, but he learned a stark lesson that night: triumph can indeed be as "slippery as blood."
Scorecards: 47-47, 48-46, 48-46 (Usman wins by Majority Decision)
Heralded as one of the best fights in PFL history, let alone 2025, a rematch might serve as the opportunistic moment for Paul Hughes to become an algorithm-breaker within the combat sports discussion.
Prefight - This fight was built on redemption for Ireland. It was promoted with the possibility that Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov would face off in opposite corners again, but this time as coaches: Khabib cornering his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov, and McGregor supporting Paul Hughes. Ireland vs. Russia. Only one problem: while Paul Hughes was training to become a champion, changing his life forever, Conor McGregor was an ex-UFC champion fighting to defend his life in court. It was the perfect time for Paul Hughes to drop the narrative that he would want Conor in his corner, but the narrative for Irish redemption would remain Hughes's additional motive.
Postfight - Between the fight hype and fight night, the circus that is McGregor was coming off another career loss in the courtroom, being held liable in a civil case for rape allegations. At the end of the fight, following a video showing Hughes talking to Khabib postfight, Hughes distanced himself from the likes of Conor and his antics. Via X (formerly Twitter), McGregor took a chance to discredit Hughes's Irish heritage. Forged in the mind of a champion, Hughes respectfully declined to respond distastefully or lower his aim for Conor's attention.
Paul Hughes's career decisions embody a calculated risk and a bold vision for Irish MMA. From Derry, Northern Ireland, and beyond, it seems his journey has just begun.
In closing…
Navigating the McGregor Shadow: Overcoming the constant, often implicit, comparison to Conor McGregor is an undeniable challenge. This requires sustained, distinct success and careful narrative control. Hughes has already begun forging an image distinct from prior Irish MMA icons, positioning his brand thoughtfully.
Defining the "New School" Irish Identity: Beyond the cage, Hughes is consciously shaping a "new school" Irish MMA identity for the young fighters watching his rise, just as he once was inspired by the achievements of Conor. His goal is to solidify his legitimacy and success outside the conventional UFC ecosystem. This involves not only exceptional performances but also professional conduct that resonates with a new generation of fans and athletes, potentially influencing their own career path considerations.
Paul Hughes's journey is more than just a fighter's tale; it's a testament to strategic independence and the relentless pursuit of a legacy defined on his own terms. As he continues to navigate the demanding landscape of elite MMA, one thing is clear: he's not just chasing victories; he's redefining what success can look like for Irish fighters on the global stage.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE!
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