After simply two weeks on the free agent market, sizzling Irish prospect Paul Hughes has signed a take care of the PFL that may preserve him with the promotion for the subsequent three years.
Hughes made his title in Cage Warriors the place he gained the featherweight title and amassed an 8-1 document, turning into probably the most thrilling names in European MMA. There was numerous chatter surrounding the place he would find yourself after defeating Fabiano Silva by way of first spherical KO initially of April, with many calling on the UFC to signal the longer term star.
Ultimately, Hughes signed with the PFL as an alternative, the place he’ll struggle 3 times in 2024 earlier than getting into the 2025 and 2026 million greenback light-weight tournaments.
“To have a promotion just like the PFL snap me up so shortly after testing free company is only a testomony to them,” Hughes informed Sky Sports activities. “They clearly imagine in me, they imagine in my abilities, and look — on the finish of the day I’m the very best on the earth so that they’re fairly proper to select me up and I’m completely happy I’ve reached a take care of them after lower than two weeks since I fought. So I’m extremely excited proper now.”
“The PFL million greenback event is in my view undeniably one of many hardest competitions in all of sports activities,” he stated. “It’s 4 fights within the span of a ten month interval preventing for the last word glory: 1,000,000 {dollars} and a world title. It’s a simple promote, man. I imagine I’m the very best on the earth, I imagine I’ve all the abilities, and I imagine that I can be a millionaire by the top of subsequent yr.”
Hughes laughed when requested if the UFC had made him a proposal.
“Positively not a significant provide,” he stated. “They got here in with a proposal, you realize, however I do know my worth on this recreation and the PFL are conscious of my worth on this recreation and they’re prepared to spend money on me and that’s the reason — individuals suppose it might be a tough resolution, it was the simplest resolution in my life. If you happen to weigh up the contracts, it’s an easy resolution to go be part of the PFL event.”
Over the previous couple of years, the UFC has turn out to be extraordinarily proof against providing any prospects a severe deal. Paddy Pimblett was pressured to signal a $12k/$12k contract to get his foot within the door. French star Cedric Doumbe walked away from a $20k/$20k UFC contract to make over $100,000 per struggle with PFL.
So whereas it’s disappointing that one other thrilling new title isn’t coming into the UFC, it’s not precisely shocking.
