"Both title fights at Friday's PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai - The Rematch event had their share of fouls early. In the co-headliner, it was back-to-back eye pokes landed by Dovlet Yaghimuradov on ex-Bellator champ and UFC contender Corey Anderson, giving "Overtime" some adversity to fight through. In the main event, a rematch between Bellator lightweight champ Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul "Big News" Hughes, it was a low blow suffered by the challenger. Both fighters were able to carry on."
"For Anderson, the full twenty-five minutes were required to secure a second major title in MMA. The American was given a frosty reception by fans in Dubai, UAE during his entrance, but ignored it and fought his fight, falling back on his wrestling after taking some damage immediately following the consecutive eye pokes - going on to win a unanimous decision with scores of 49-45, 48-47, 49-45."
"As for the main event, Paul Hughes showed solid takedown defense early on in his own rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov. That defense faltered in the championship rounds, with Nurmagomedov getting Hughes down in round four with a trip; he briefly took the back. Usman, however, didn't do much with the position, catching a breather more than anything before Hughes escaped."
Both title fights at PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai - The Rematch featured early fouls, with Dovlet Yaghimuradov landing back-to-back eye pokes on Corey Anderson and Paul Hughes absorbing a low blow in the main event. Anderson weathered the fouls, relied on wrestling, and required the full twenty-five minutes to win a unanimous decision (49-45, 48-47, 49-45), securing a second major MMA title after requesting release from the UFC in 2020. Hughes showed strong takedown defense early against Nurmagomedov, but Nurmagomedov tripped him down in round four, briefly took the back, and ultimately retained the title in a tightly contested rematch.
Read at Cageside Press
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