In a highly anticipated rematch that captivated fight fans, Usman Nurmagomedov once again emerged victorious over Paul Hughes, successfully retaining his PFL lightweight title. The undefeated star secured his championship with a unanimous decision after another thrilling five-round encounter that went the distance, solidifying his dominance in the division. The victory marked a second triumph for Nurmagomedov over the Irish hero Hughes, following their initial clash in January for the Bellator lightweight title, which also ended in a unanimous decision for the Russian.

The rematch, held at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, saw Nurmagomedov declared the winner with controversial scoring. Judges' cards read 50-45, 49-46, and 48-47, leading to a lopsided decision that many observers felt did not reflect the closeness of the fight. Despite the questionable scores, Nurmagomedov, cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, asserted his conviction, stating, "I feel I win every round. But it was very tough fight, he was very tough opponent." He also noted, "I don't underestimate the brother this time. I think you underestimate me. Maybe you make mistake. But anyway, big respect guys."

The fight began with immediate intensity, as both fighters wasted no time engaging. Early in the bout, Hughes was hit with a low-blow, reminiscent of their first encounter where Nurmagomedov had a point deducted for a similar infraction. Nurmagomedov started strong in round one with sharp jabs and a late takedown. However, Hughes demonstrated resilience, bouncing back in the second round to apply significant pressure, landing knees and hooks. The third round proved to be a tight affair, with both Nurmagomedov and Hughes exchanging effective jabs and right hands, showcasing their striking prowess.

Controversy flared again in the fourth round when Hughes was left in agony on the canvas after another low-blow, which this time went unpunished in the champion's favor. Throughout the round, the Dagestani grappler attempted, though ultimately failed, to secure submission holds, yet his control was evident. In the fifth and final round, Hughes came out on the front foot, relentlessly backing an exhausted Nurmagomedov into the corners of the cage. Despite Hughes' late surge, as the final bell sounded, the challenger appeared to anticipate a home-crowd decision would be awarded against him, which materialized with the wide scorecards.

Following the bout, Paul Hughes, sporting a visibly busted right eye, defiantly addressed his supporters who had traveled to Dubai. "They were trying to cut me off there! I said I have to talk to my people for travelling over here. I want to thank everybody so much for travelling to Dubai. The Irish fans are truly the best." He vowed, "I will be back. Trust me, I will be back. And thank you Usman and his team as well. So much respect." Meanwhile, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who cornered his cousin, publicly thanked Paul Hughes for pushing Usman, highlighting his cousin's improvement and future potential, stating, "He's only 26, 27 and after five years his prime is gonna come. Can you guys imagine?"

The undercard also featured a memorable moment, with Sergio Pettis delivering a "Knockout of the Year" contender against Magomed Magomedov, courtesy of a stunning spinning elbow that left his opponent out cold.