Who has the better fighters, Ireland or Dagestan? The topic has been debated within MMA ever since Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov faced each other inside the Octagon. That night, the Dagestani eagle swooped in, dragged the Irish icon to the mat, pummeled him, and then sealed the victory with a neck crank that left no room for doubt. But time hasn’t buried the feud. If anything, ‘The Eagle’ has kept it alive. Earlier this year, as his cousin, fan-favorite Usman Nurmagomedov, prepared to defend his PFL lightweight crown against Irish standout Paul Hughes, ‘The Eagle’ reignited the fire by declaring, “Ireland don’t have fighters, brother.”

Yet ‘Big News’ wants to change the narrative. Though Usman Nurmagomedov walked away with a narrow win when the two fought for the first time in January, the Irishman dragged him into a gritty battle and earned respect with his fearless performance. For many, Paul Hughes proved that Ireland’s fighting spirit isn’t just alive—it’s thriving through fighters like him. Now, as Dubai’s heat fades into a calmer season, the Coca-Cola Arena is setting the stage once again for PFL Champions Series 2 on October 3. Two rising stars, born of different cultures but bound by the same hunger, are ready to clash. And once more, the question comes swinging back: Who truly rules the fight game—Ireland or Dagestan?

Why Usman Nurmagomedov enters as the clear favorite

Undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov is more than just Khabib’s cousin. Sure, the family name opens doors, but Usman has carved his own path with a deadly combination of world-class wrestling and sharp striking. Trained first under his uncle and late coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and now under Khabib, with striking guidance from Javier Mendez, the Dagestani star has built a record that demands attention: 19–0 (1 no-contest), with 14 finishes in 19 wins, a 74% finish rate. “I see Usman as being the pound-for-pound greatest fighter myself,” Mendez told Red Corner MMA. “He’s the most talented I’ve ever trained.” This year, the Nurmagomedov family saw its first crack when Usman Nurmagomedov’s older brother Umar fell at UFC 311, losing his 18-fight win streak to bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili.

When it comes to fighting style, Usman Nurmagomedov exemplifies the well-rounded Dagestani approach—a precise, fluid blend of technical striking and grappling mastery. In particular, he uses his reach like a barrier, keeping opponents at a distance while delivering a diverse arsenal of kicks—including lead leg, inside leg, and body strikes—woven seamlessly with calculated range management to set up takedowns. Additionally, he mixes well-timed feints and sharp wrestling to dominate the action, which made Nurmagomedov a strong champion at PFL Championship Series 1.

How Paul Hughes can turn the odds in his favor

Ahead of his showdown with Usman Nurmagomedov at the PFL Championship Series 1, Paul Hughes entered as the clear underdog. But when the cage door closed, the Irishman showed he wasn’t there to make up the numbers. He didn’t walk away with the win, yet the Irishman had ‘Team Khabib’ sweating through every round. By the final bell, his forehead had a split, and blood streaked the canvas—a fallen hero, but he was far from finished. Before the PFL, Hughes had already carved out a name as the former Cage Warriors featherweight champion.

Like Conor McGregor, he’s an aggressive, well-rounded striker, mixing punishing kicks and knees with crisp boxing. A Fight Academy Ireland product, Paul Hughes is a proven finisher: eight of his first eleven wins came via knockout or submission. In the cage, his weapons are leg kicks, body kicks, clinch knees, and a deadly switch kick—the same liver kick that floored Nurmagomedov in Round 2 of their first bout. Standing 5’9″ with a 70″ reach, Hughes fights orthodox and presses forward relentlessly, with cardio that often outpaces his Dagestani rivals.

Even Khabib Nurmagomedov took notice, praising him online and extending the invitation: “I invite you and your whole team and family to Dagestan, any time you want, believe me you will like it and your arrival will serve as a good example for many young generations.” Paul Hughes’s strengths are his durability, pace, and killer instinct. He absorbed some of Nurmagomedov’s best shots without flinching and battled through a nasty cut from a head clash.

Since that narrow defeat, ‘Big News’ is back in the win column—his May knockout of Bruno Miranda in under a minute reigniting his confidence and momentum. Paul Hughes, with sharp striking, relentless pressure, and renewed belief, is ready to win their rematch. With the bout just hours away, all eyes turn to the cage: how will the rematch unfold?

Can Paul Hughes rise to the occasion and bring the belt home to Ireland, or will Usman Nurmagomedov’s Dagestani precision prove too much? Share your predictions below and weigh in on this high-stakes showdown.