Cage Warriors featherweight champion Paul Hughes took a significant leap in his career by signing a promotional deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) following his recent free agency status after his last Cage Warriors fight earlier this month. PFL president Ray Sefo, who seemed excited about the acquisition, announced the news on both media channels and his Instagram, proclaiming they had signed one of Europe’s top fighters.

This statement might have ruffled feathers over at the UFC, as CEO Dana White, likely would not have wanted to lose a talent like Hughes to PFL. Later, in an interview, Hughes himself revealed the reasons behind his decision to join the PFL.

Paul Hughes exposes Dana White’s offer

In a recent interview with Sky Sports journalist Nik Hobbs, former Cage Warriors star Paul Hughes appeared excited throughout the conversation. Suddenly, Hobbs asked if the UFC had ever presented a meaningful offer. Hughes (shifting slightly) replied, “Definitely not. A meaningful offer came in, but I know my value in this game. The PFL is aware of my value and is willing to invest in me. It was honestly the easiest decision in my life when you weigh up the contracts. It’s a very, very easy decision to join the PFL tournament.”

Hobbs didn’t stop there. Capitalizing on Hughes’ openness, he pressed on, asking him how far the UFC went in trying to sign him for one of their events. To this, the fighter replied, “The PFL made an offer I could refuse. It’s that simple. Okay, I understand. I think this is a fair question. Hope we take it in the right spirit.”

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However, losing fighters like Paul Hughes might prompt the UFC to do some introspection. The recent departure of Demetrious Johnson and Francis Ngannou, followed by the loss of a rising star like Hughes, indicates potential issues. It’s not too late for Dana White and Company to address fighter contracts and opportunities to prevent further talent drain.

Francis Ngannou left UFC for PFL

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou signed a contract with PFL last year. Ngannou (17-3) will soon be making his debut on pay-per-view this year. The best thing about this is that PFL allows Ngannou to compete in boxing, which is why he became one of the biggest free agents in MMA history.

Additionally, Ngannou plans to take on the executive role and become an equity owner of PFL Africa, a regional league set to launch in 2025. Alongside this, he got a position on the PFL Global Advisory Board, which also includes former UFC fighter Randy Couture.

No doubt detaching from the UFC proved to be the best move for “The Predator”. However, his plan has only succeeded for him in monetary terms. His recent defeats to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua highlight this. It remains to be seen how he’ll perform in PFL, but his future holds exciting possibilities both inside and outside the cage.

What do you think about Hughes and Ngannou’s move to the PFL? Share with us in the comments below.