“ To beat one of the best fighters in the world in home territory, you must operate at 110 percent. I didn’t do that, and it is my responsibility, ” Paul Hughes remarked after suffering his third career loss, and his second in the PFL, to the same opponent, Usman Nurmagomedov . The comment stood in stark contrast to his earlier belief that their first encounter had been a closely contested duel. In that fight, Khabib’s cousin even had a point deducted for repeated groin kicks. Notwithstanding Hughes’ humility, the scorecards, 50-45, 49-46, and 48-47 for Nurmagomedov, still left many surprised.

One of the judges at the PFL Champions Series 2 headliner essentially felt Nurmagomedov had taken all five rounds to claim the inaugural lightweight championship! Then just a day later, ac

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