Paul Hughes is expecting a Belfast battle with ultra-durable lightweight contender Jay Jay Wilson when they clash on April 16 at the SSE Arena in Northern Ireland.
“Big News” didn’t believe he’d get another opportunity to top the bill in his home city following his , but was pleasantly surprised when PFL told him the plan. Promotion officials announced Monday that Hughes vs. Wilson will serve as PFL Belfast’s main event.
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“It’s one of the best fighting cities in the world, no question,” Hughes told Uncrowned.
“We’ve got such a long fighting history in this city, and I really felt that last time out here. It was on my bucket list to headline a big event in Belfast, and I really didn’t expect to get a second opportunity to do it. This will be another unbelievably meaningful experience for me again.”
Wilson (11-2) has only lost to the cream of the crop at 155 pounds. His most recent outing saw him drop a decision to undefeated lightweight contender Archie Colgan. His only other defeat came at the hands of 2024 PFL tournament winner Gadzhi Rabadanov.
Hughes has no doubt that the Kiwi will be a handful on fight night.
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“He’s a formidable opponent and someone I greatly respect,” Hughes said. “I really respect his fighting style. He’s a dog, he comes to go to war every time. Watch any fight in his career and he’s throwing down trying to win. He’s never been finished and I think he’ll be coming in like a man on a mission with something to prove.
“At the end of the day, this is the biggest opportunity in his career by far. If he beats me, he’ll be next in line for the world title. Absolutely everything is on the line for him, but everything is on the line for me too. This is the beginning of my redemption arc — it starts with Jay Jay. It’s not good enough to have a good performance, I need to finish you and put myself in the mix again.”
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PFL lightweight champion and Hughes’ main rival, Usman Nurmagomedov, recently put on a dazzling display against Alfie Davis, underlining how close the champ’s five-round clashes with Hughes were.
While there is no doubt a third meeting would be just as competitive, Hughes conceded that it’s not something at the forefront of his plans, having already come up short in their two previous meetings.
“I’m not thinking too much about the trilogy fight. Realistically, a very short period of time ago, I had the opportunity to go in, beat and finish Usman — and I didn’t do that,” Hughes said. “I think that no one can really come close to me and Usman at the top of the division, but I don’t think it’s time to be talking about trilogy fights. As I said, I’m looking at this like it’s the beginning of a redemption arc.”
“I plan to never lose again in mixed martial arts, so I do think our paths will cross again some day,” he added.
PFL’s April 16 event was initially slated for the United States. Despite the late switch to Belfast, the television slot remains at the U.S.-friendly hour of midnight local time. Sources suggest the card should be wrapped up by about 1:30 a.m. local time, but Hughes is adamant the action inside SSE Arena will be worth missing a few hours of sleep if it goes how he forecasts.
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“It’s going to be a war. I want to put on a show for the Belfast fans,” he said. “Last time, it was only 42 seconds. This time around, Jay Jay has never been finished. He is an absolute dog, and I think it’s going to be a three-round war. If I can get him out of there, I would be extremely happy with myself.”
Last year’s PFL event in Belfast saw Hughes win Uncrowned’s Walkout of the Year, as Foy Vance serenaded the venue with Irish rebel ballad, “Grace.” While the third crack at Nurmagomedov seems elusive for now, the Derry man is confident he can make it a repeat when he makes the walk in April.
“I’ll be coming to get that Uncrowned ‘Walkout of the Year’ two years in a row,” Hughes said.
