Paul Hughes might just be the next big thing in mixed martial arts.
Hughes signed with PFL as the most sought-after free agent in MMA after the company outbid UFC.
The 27-year-old is represented by “The Chosen Few,” which also has heavy hitters Max Holloway and Israel Adesanya as clients.
Hughes, 12-1, has made waves as a big Irish personality who steamrolled the competition en route to the Cage Warriors lightweight championship.
Cage Warriors is the same promotion where superstar Conor McGregor got his big break. Hughes has looked unbreakable during his short career and has been talking the whole way.
“Big News” Hughes’ only loss is what most consider a terrible split decision by the judges, as Hughes clearly won the first round while Jordan Vucenic stalled on the fence for parts of rounds two and three.
Even the commentary was shocked to hear Hughes’ name not called in the bout, but that small setback hasn’t stopped the hype train for Hughes.
He’s rebounded nicely since then, though winning six straight, including three by knockout, and he makes his PPV debut Saturday, when he faces former Bellator champion AJ McKee.
“Life is good, I am very, very excited. This is everything that I have worked for,” Hughes told The Post before his bout at the PFL Super Fights “Battle of the Giants” PPV on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, DAZN, ESPN+).
Hughes will surely want to avoid the mat with McKee when they face off Saturday since McKee is an excellent grappler, with his last four MMA finishes coming via submission.
“I’m not concerned. I’m prepared,” Hughes said when asked what would happen if McKee looked to grapple Hughes, a world-class striker. “I do believe he is going to shoot on me early, I look forward to sprawling on him and talking some s–t.”
This matchup is a significant rise in level of competition for Hughes and marks his first time as a betting underdog in recorded history.
After opening as a +200 underdog, Hughes sits at +153 as of Wednesday morning.
“I love being the underdog,” Hughes said.
If he has his way, Hughes wins by knockout and his career launches into stardom.
“I know that I’m going to get him out of there. I know that I’m going to finish him, and when I do, that’s when everything changes for me,” Hughes said. “That’s when I go from local prospect to potential worldwide superstar.”
Hughes has the look and trash-talking chops to make it a reality, as his career looks very similar to that of McGregor’s.
McGregor showed up at Hughes’ most recent fight, a victory against Bobby King, and applauded his talent.
“As soon as I got out of the cage, we talked about the assessment of the fight. I was like, ‘Ah, I was too crazy tonight, I was scrapping too much,’” Hughes said.
Hughes said McGregor replied, “‘Ah I loved it, you showed that you’re a dog, you know?’ We had a brief moment. I thanked him for inspiring me. It was a very cool full-circle moment for me.”
Hughes would welcome the chance to train with McGregor.
McGregor trains at SBG Ireland in Dublin, just a few miles from Hughes’ training camp.
“If the opportunity arises, I wouldn’t turn it down,” Hughes said.
