Paul Hughes said he is happy to be tagged as the underdog against the undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov ahead of their title clash in Dubai.
At stake for the Irishman is the PFL world lightweight title belt in the landmark 10-fight card in the inaugural Road to Dubai Champions Series at the Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday.
Hughes earned his title shot after an impressive win over American AJ McKee in the Battle of the Giants headlined by Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira in Riyadh last October.
Like McKee, Nurmagomedov is the hot favourite. The Dagestani fighter arrives with a perfect 18-0 record, but Hughes with a 13-1 career record, sees it otherwise.
Nurmagomedov has said he does not believe Hughes represents a challenge for him. But the Irishman insisted the champion was making a “massive mistake” in underestimating him.
“I absolutely hope that he thinks that because if he underestimates me that it certainly plays in my favour and yeah, let's see what happens on Saturday," Hughes told The National.
Hughes acknowledged he will be stepping up a level against Nurmagomedov, who not only has a perfect record but also the reputation that comes with being the cousin of the former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I don't see any weaknesses in Usman's game. It's up to me to implement my game plan on fight night. Just like I did in my last fight against McKee. I was a massive underdog then and now,” Hughes added.
“And look, Usman is a fantastic fighter. I have tremendous respect for his skills. He's a champion and he's undefeated. So he has no reason to doubt himself, but this is a fantastic opportunity for me to prove just what I've been saying all along.
“I was a massive underdog against McKee. Nobody gave me a chance against him, but I proved them wrong. This of course is a step up but I’m ready for it.”
Hughes has already spent more than three weeks in Dubai as well as spending training time South Florida and back in Belfast before arriving in the UAE.
And the 27-year-old is confident that he is acclimatised and well-prepared both physically and mentally ahead of the big night.
“When you're in training camps, the farther away from the fight you are, I find it's a more physical game, but the closer it gets, it definitely becomes more mental, and that's where we're at right now,” he said.
“It's been fantastic for me in Dubai. I've got so much better as a fighter. I've really improved, and I feel like I'm starting to hit my prime in this game and it's the perfect time for me.
“So, it's been wherever I've needed to go for the best training, that's what I've done.
“In Dubai, it's about acclimatising to the environment, you know, setting up my routine, maximising my training to make sure it's perfect while I'm here in Dubai.
“I'm fully acclimatised and I don't have to worry about sleep schedules, about where I'm going to train, what I'm going to eat, because everything is already taken care of.
“So, when it comes to the fight week, everything is looked after. There's no stress in my mind. All I focus on is the fight.”
Nurmagomedov’s last fight saw him defend his lightweight Bellator title with a unanimous decision against Alexander Shabliy in California.
Russian Shabily proved a tricky opponent who went into the bout on the back of a nine-fight win-streak.
And while Hughes is respectful of Nurmagomedov’s abilities, the Australia-born fighter believes he is ready to take his career to new heights in Dubai.
“I haven't made any adjustments to my own strengths as I believe that my skill set has been there for a long time. I just need to implement my game and that's my key to victory in this fight,” he added.
“This is by far the biggest night of my career and the biggest night of my life. It's an absolutely life-changing opportunity I have ahead of me here. And where better to do it than here in Dubai?
“I have had no worries about mental focus ever since my first amateur MMA fight over 10 years ago.
“Every single training camp that I have done has been with my full abilities, with my full focus, and that is that is how I live my life, you know, and that is why I'm in this position.
“I said I want to fight Usman as soon as I possibly can. I said give me my debut in Dublin which I got and they gave me Usman right after that.
“That was my plan. This is what I've said since day one because I knew that this would be the biggest fight in this organisation and potentially take my career and the organisation to new heights.”
