Nurmagomedov in peak form ahead of Dubai rematch with Hughes

Nurmagomedov hasn't stepped into the cage since, dedicating all his time to preparing for the highly anticipated second chapter of the rivalry

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Dagestani star Usman Nurmagomedov will face off Irish contender Paul Hughes in one of MMA'S most anticipated rematches on Friday.

The fight is part of the "Road to Dubai" Champions Series mixed martial arts event, organized jointly by the Professional Fighters League (PFL), the Dubai Sports Council, and the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai.

The clash is set to take place on October 3 at the Coca-Cola Arena, headlining the prestigious Road to Dubai Champions Series.

Back in January, the two delivered an instant classic — an early contender for Fight of the Year.

Nurmagomedov, cousin of the legendary former UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov, scraped through by the slimmest of margins, claiming a majority decision even after being docked a point for an accidental headbutt.

Now, Northern Ireland's rising star Hughes is back, fuelled by fire and vengeance.

He returns to Dubai with destiny in his sights, stepping into the biggest battle of his career yet. His dream? To seize the gold and carry it triumphantly home to Belfast, setting the stage for a colossal title showdown beneath the lights of Windsor Park.