The UFC/MMA Thread

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Not a fan of Jon Jones as a person. But you can't deny that the guy is a very good fighter. That said I would want to see him put his money where is mouth and fight Tom Aspinall. Against someone as over the hill as Mioic he was always expected to win.

Bro this is UFC. Who isn't a drug cheat?

He has been caught several times. Without proof we can simply label all sportstars as drug cheats.
Jon Jones has not avoided any fighter except Tom but he has skipped and delayed several fights just to escape positive drug tests and still got caught several times.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He has been caught several times. Without proof we can simply label all sportstars as drug cheats.
Jon Jones has not avoided any fighter except Tom but he has skipped and delayed several fights just to escape positive drug tests and still got caught several times.

My point is that there is a long list of great UFC fighters who were drug cheats. Being a drug cheat shouldn't disqualify you from greatness in this sport. Jones may be one of the worst abusers but he is still a great fighter which is evident by his record and performances. Many of his most dominant victories have occurred under enhanced testing protocols.

 

[shaz619]

My point is that there is a long list of great UFC fighters who were drug cheats. Being a drug cheat shouldn't disqualify you from greatness in this sport. Jones may be one of the worst abusers but he is still a great fighter which is evident by his record and performances. Many of his most dominant victories have occurred under enhanced testing protocols.

If the sport was governed with any ethics at all he would be banned for life, he is not just one of the worst abusers or another fighter who happens to fail a test here or there, but one of the biggest drug cheats in history across all sports and people don’t really comprehend the physical advantage in a combat sport, just because his technique is good or that he is a draw for Dana / a cow he will always protect because it has not had its final milking yet, shouldn’t overlook what a dirty fighter he is, his career will always have a giant asterisk next to it no matter what.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If the sport was governed with any ethics at all he would be banned for life, he is not just one of the worst abusers or another fighter who happens to fail a test here or there, but one of the biggest drug cheats in history across all sports and people don’t really comprehend the physical advantage in a combat sport, just because his technique is good or that he is a draw for Dana / a cow he will always protect because it has not had its final milking yet, shouldn’t overlook what a dirty fighter he is, his career will always have a giant asterisk next to it no matter what.

I mean I can't argue with anything you said. But by that same rationale you have to disqualify someone like Anderson Silva from that GOAT debate too. And put an asterisk next to other fighters like Brock and Chael Sonnen. As far as I am concerned whether you abuse once or multiple times, you're a cheat. Unfortunately this stuff has been normalized in this sport far too much at the cost of someone drawing money.

 

[shaz619]

I mean I can't argue with anything you said. But by that same rationale you have to disqualify someone like Anderson Silva from that GOAT debate too. And put an asterisk next to other fighters like Brock and Chael Sonnen. As far as I am concerned whether you abuse once or multiple times, you're a cheat. Unfortunately this stuff has been normalized in this sport far too much at the cost of someone drawing money.

Nobody has done it like him in the prime of their career with all their faculties in-tact, his juicing is on another level altogether. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of them are doing it, but you’d have to be doing it on an astronomical level to be caught as many times as he has, think Lance Armstrong except Jon Jones is not half as clever as he thinks he is, but Dana has taken matters into his own hands. The guy use to hide under the ring for hours when the p!ss testers would come look for him, this a proper street level junkie lol So without question, I have no problem removing him from the best ever debate, we need a documentary on his doping.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

I mean I can't argue with anything you said. But by that same rationale you have to disqualify someone like Anderson Silva from that GOAT debate too. And put an asterisk next to other fighters like Brock and Chael Sonnen. As far as I am concerned whether you abuse once or multiple times, you're a cheat. Unfortunately this stuff has been normalized in this sport far too much at the cost of someone drawing money.

In our conversation, you are the one normalizing it bhai.
There are quite a lot of people who like us don't like to consider verified drug cheats in GoaT discussions. No one talks about Marian Jones or Ben Johnson or Lance Armstrong. and Even in UFC, fighters like Khabib have better claim at Goat title. I have far greater respect for DC among the heavies.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Donald Trump is so iconic. Stole the show with his presence.

 

[FearlessRoar]

How enigmatic Jones channelled Bruce Lee to beat Miocic​

It's hard to look at it any other way - Jon Jones is an enigma.

Throughout UFC 309's fight week and his extraordinary career, Jones has been defined by his unpredictability inside and outside the octagon.

At 37 years old, after 23 UFC fights and a record 16 wins in championship bouts, Jones is still finding new ways to puzzle and dismantle opponents.

Jones is a perfectionist - he is known for watching hours of tape on his opponents before fights to seek out their weaknesses.

This time Jones' weapon of choice was a crunching spinning back-kick which dropped opponent Stipe Miocic in front of nearly 20,000 roaring fans at New York's Madison Square Garden.

It was a technique he started working on earlier this year, inspired by legendary martial artist and actor Bruce Lee.

"About six months ago we started training the spinning back-kick. My taekwondo coach would come over to my house, we trained that same kick three hours a week for several months," said Jones.

"Bruce Lee says he doesn't fear the man that knows 10,000 kicks, but the man who has worked one kick 10,000 times. I worked it and it was a devastating shot."

Even before Jones landed the finishing blow, fellow American Miocic had little answer to the diversity of the attacks which were aimed his way.

Some of it was likely to do with age. At 42 and after being away from the octagon for nearly four years, Miocic was nowhere near his prime.

But a lot of it was to do with Jones' deep arsenal, as jabs, high-kicks, elbows, knees from the clinch and takedowns were all used to break Miocic down.

And it's not just when he fights - Jones has been as unpredictable outside the octagon this week as he was in it.

Earlier in the week he used an expletive to describe Britain's interim champion Tom Aspinall, who Jones has largely dismissed as a prospect to fight next.

The same day he walked out of an interview with sports broadcaster TNT Sports, citing he was expecting an "Aspinall fest".

Then he turned on Miocic, refusing to shake his hand at a news conference before changing his mind and accepting a handshake the following day at the weigh-ins.

Jones is polarising and has been so throughout his UFC career, which has been punctuated by doping bans and problems in his personal life.

UFC president Dana White knows this better than anyone.

"Me and Jon Jones never got on out of the cage. We had a horrendous relationship for 10 years," said Dana White.

"We don't have that kind of relationship anymore, but I didn't have to like him to realise who he is and what he's capable of and seeing the brilliance. He is the best to ever fight, period.

"It's unbelievable what he did tonight. As long as he's active he's the pound for pound best in the world.”

There are few fighters that look more at home in the build-up to a fight than Jones.

On Thursday, Jones beamed backstage as he was presented with an electric guitar from a staff member at Madison Square Garden in honour of his UFC achievements.

On the day of the fight, Jones could be seen sparring in the octagon in an empty Madison Square Garden - something which is uncommon for UFC fighters.

Hours before he was due to walk out to face Miocic, Jones could be seen live on Instagram, singing with his team as he made his way to the arena.

Jones had hinted at retirement before his win over Miocic but says he plans to carry on if the UFC makes him an offer he can't refuse.

If they don't, Jones feels content with the way his historic UFC career will come to an end.

"Professing my love for Jesus in front of everyone tonight, being an American champion, doing that in front of my president [former and the next US president Donald Trump]. If Stipe was my last fight, that was the way to do it," said Jones.

UFC 309 Jones vs Miocic: How enigmatic Jon Jones channelled Bruce Lee to retain title

Jon Jones says he channeled legendary martial artist Bruce Lee to beat Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 at New York's Madison Square Garden.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Fury to make boxing return against Till in January

Tommy Fury will make his return to boxing after more than a year out when he fights former UFC star Darren Till in Manchester on 18 January.

The half-brother of former heavyweight world champion Tyson has not fought since a points win over fellow social media star KSI in October 2023.

The 25-year-old cruiserweight will face Till at Co-op Live in his home city.

"It feels great to, finally, say that I am back," said Fury. "I have been out of the ring far too long.

"This is extra special as I am the A-side and headlining a massive event in my hometown and in front of my fans."

Prior to his win against KSI at Manchester's AO Arena, Fury beat YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul by split decision in Saudi Arabia in February 2023.

Paul, 27, beat 58-year-old former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson in a controversial bout in Texas on Friday.


BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Hughes to fight Nurmagomedov for Bellator title

Paul Hughes will challenge Usman Nurmagomedov for the Russian's Bellator lightweight title on 25 January at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

Hughes secured the biggest win of his career as he outstruck AJ McKee to win their lightweight bout by split decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October.

The Derry fighter, 27, was an underdog going into the fight against McKee, who is a former Bellator featherweight champion.

The Hughes-Nurmagomedov bout, which is called the Champions Series World Title, marks the beginning of a multi-year partnership between the Professional Fighters League (PFL), Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and Dubai Sports Council (DSC).

"It’s great to have a quick turnaround [from the McKee fight] - it’s what I wanted," Hughes told BBC Sport NI.

"I went to the venue yesterday. It’s a huge arena - it’s unbelievable.

"This [PFL] is the first global MMA organisation to come here, so it's the first one in the history of Dubai. There's been small local shows but this is history.

"It's huge for PFL Bellator and it's huge for Dubai and certainly a huge thing for me, so the magnitude of this fight is huge."

Bellator: Paul Hughes to fight Usman Nurmagomedov for lightweight title

Paul Hughes will fight Usman Nurmagomedov for the Russian's Bellator lightweight title on 25 January at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

www.bbc.com

 

[shaz619]

Not watched a lot of Tom, but from the little I’ve seen, I don’t get the hype. JJ would stop him.

 

[hassan918]

UFC boss Dana White says he is done with ‘disgusting’ politics after backing Trump​

New York (CNN) — Dana White is tapping out of politics.

After embracing President-elect Donald Trump, the Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive said in an interview this week he won’t help future presidential campaigns, stating he “want nothing to do with politics.”

“I’m never f***ing doing this again,” White told The New Yorker. “I want nothing to do with this s***. It’s gross. It’s disgusting.”

White played a key role in Trump’s second ascension to the White House, helping him reach millions of young male voters. A longtime friend of the president-elect, White stumped for Trump on the campaign trail, praised him at the Republican National Convention and walked alongside him at Saturday’s UFC match at Madison Square Garden.

White also used his connections to leverage appearances for Trump on friendly, right-leaning podcasts with millions of young listeners. White was upfront about his motivation in connecting Trump with so-called manosphere or bro-casters, saying the move was intended to tap into young voters.

“You’re getting conversations in these podcasts, and you yourself, as a young kid, get to really see who Donald Trump is,” White told The New Yorker. “Not the bulls*** you hear from the far-left media.”

In interviews with UFC fans outside Madison Square Garden, young voters told CNN they decided to support Trump after listening to podcasts helmed by Joe Rogan and other influential figures.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/22/media/dana-white-ufc-trump-politics/index.html

 

[BouncerGuy]

Ditcheva first British woman to win MMA world title as Loughnane beaten

Dakota Ditcheva delivered another emphatic performance to stop Taila Santos in the second round and become the first British woman to win an MMA world title.

Manchester's Ditcheva, 26, ended the contest with a flurry of body shots to secure the Professional Fighters League (PFL) flyweight title and $1m (£785,000) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The victory extends the unbeaten start to her career to 14, a run which has seen a remarkable 13 stoppages.

"I've been telling you, I've tried to tell you, I just keep proving them wrong," said Ditcheva.

"The world is mine. I just beat the best girl out there. Me and PFL will come out with something amazing again."

In the main event, fellow Mancunian Brendan Loughnane missed out on a second PFL featherweight world title as he lost by unanimous decision to Russia's Timur Khizriev.

Loughnane, 34, was cut on the bridge of the nose early in the fight and struggled to find his rhythm against 29-year-old Khizriev, who extended his unbeaten run to 18.

Ditcheva makes 'toughest test' look easy

Ditcheva came into the bout as arguably the PFL's biggest female star after a remarkable start to her MMA career.

Since joining the PFL in 2022, she has won nine fights all by stoppage, with seven of her wins coming in the first round.

Brazil's Santos, 31, is a former UFC flyweight title challenger and was tipped to provide the toughest test of Ditcheva's career, but like many previous opponents, the Briton made it look easy.

After winning last year's PFL Europe flyweight title, Ditcheva has transitioned effortlessly to the global stage, securing three first-round knockouts to set up the showpiece bout with Santos.

Ditcheva looked relaxed during her walkout, despite the magnitude of the occasion, dancing her way to the cage as a pocket of fans from the UK cheered the Manchester fighter.

Ditcheva opened the contest with a trio of leg kicks, setting the tone for a dominant performance by navigating the grappling exchanges well.

She outclassed Santos on the feet, attacking with an array of kicks, knees, elbows and punches, bringing "oohs" from the crowd, as the Brazilian struggled to defend herself.

A thudding knee and flurry of body shots midway through the second round signalled the end as the referee stepped in, crowning Ditcheva Britain's first female MMA world champion.

She celebrated by putting lipstick on in the centre of the octagon, before embracing her team, including her mother and former kickboxing world champion Lisa Howarth, and roaring with joy.

"They've been talking, 'she's just a Barbie, she should be a model'. Well a model just beat you in round two, so shut up," said Ditcheva

She then paid tribute to her family, adding: "I honestly could not do this without my team. I cried pretty much every day this camp."

"These guys have kept me stuck together. My brother put his whole life on hold for me. He's not even got a girlfriend because he's always with me. This belt is for him."

'Ditcheva is going to be an absolute superstar'

Not only has Ditcheva broken Britain's barren run for a female world champion, she has done it in a dominant fashion rarely seen in women's MMA.

Her 13 finishes, 12 of them knockouts, make for a glittering resume and she has all the attributes to flourish at the very top of the sport.

She is creating viral moments, not only with her world-class striking, but with her ruthless personality, illustrated by her lipstick celebration after defeating Santos.

The UFC is seen as the golden standard in MMA and victory over a former title challenger in the promotion in Santos, is a big indicator she would be at home there.

Fans and pundits are already describing Ditcheva as being among the world's best, with the Briton also becoming the PFL's youngest ever champion at 26.

Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg congratulated Ditcheva, saying: "Spacing, timing, distance. Dakota Ditcheva is dangerous and only getting better with each performance."

British UFC featherweight and fellow Mancunian Lerone Murphy added: "The UFC should have got Dakota years ago. She's making these girls looks amateur. Mad."

Loughnane misses out on history

Loughnane was aiming to become the first British two-time MMA world champion following his success in 2022.

But throughout the fight, Loughnane - perhaps struggling with a leg injury according to the PFL's commentary team - lacked the fluidity he has shown in previous bouts.

The first round saw Khizriev get the upper hand with the grappling, ducking under a Loughnane spinning back kick and controlling the action on the ground for the remainder of the round.

The Russian then showed he was equally dangerous in the striking department, stunning his opponent with an uppercut as blood started to pour from the Briton’s nose.

Another uppercut would follow, sending Loughnane's mouthguard flying across the cage, before a takedown from Khizriev as the Briton wore a bemused expression on the canvas.

Loughnane started to find a home for his right hand in round four but Khizriev navigated the final round safely to clinch his first world title.

BBC

 

[FearlessRoar]

Shavkat Rakhmonov clears up Ian Machado Garry sparring rumours with blunt claim​

Shavkat Rakhmonov has confirmed rumours that he submitted Ian Machado Garry during their past sparring sessions, ahead of their fight at UFC 310.

On Saturday (7 December), the unbeaten welterweights will clash for a shot at champion Belal Muhammad, squaring off in the co-main event at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena.

Rakhmonov was in fact due to challenge Muhammad at UFC 310, but Machado Garry stepped in when the champion withdrew due to a bone infection.

Earlier this year, Rakhmonov hinted that he got the better of Machado Garry in their sparring rounds, tweeting: “Looks like Ian forgot what happened during those training sessions. I don’t mind reminding him in the future.” Then, in November, an alleged teammate claimed the Kazakh submitted the Irishman twice.

Now, Rakhmonov has made the same claim.

“At the time, his wife asked me if she can film the footage of the sparring, and I accepted it,” the 30-year-old told Uncrowned on Tuesday.

“But they didn’t ask me if they can release it or not, and I wonder why they didn’t release the other part of this sparring.”

Rakhmonov, who said he sparred with Machado Garry three or four times, was then asked what happened in the rest of the footage.

“Ian Garry taps,” Rakhmonov replied. “It was a submission. A choke.”

Machado Garry, 27, also discussed the sparring rounds with Uncrowned this week, saying on Monday: “Training is training. What are we doing in training? We’re trying to evolve and grow. We’re trying to be better. We’re trying to do things that put ourselves in scenarios where we need to learn.

“So, if Shavkat believes that the training we had in the past is going to be the same [as] Saturday night, when he steps into the Octagon with me, then Shavkat... I’m speaking to you directly: You’re going to be severely mistaken. And if I was you, I would change that mentality very quickly.”

Rakhmonov is 18-0 with 18 stoppage wins, while Machado Garry is 15-0 with eight stoppages.

Last time out, Machado Garry beat Michael “Venom” Page via decision in June. In his previous fight, he outpointed Geoff Neal in February.

Meanwhile, Rakhmonov submitted Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson 12 months ago, after submitting Neal last March.

Shavkat Rakhmonov clears up Ian Garry sparring rumours with blunt claim

The unbeaten welterweights will clash in the co-main event of UFC 310 on Saturday

www.independent.co.uk

 

[FearlessRoar]

Dana White gives blunt response to Saudi plans for Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou​

UFC president Dana White has shut down Saudi plans to match Jon Jones against Francis Ngannou.

Jones retained the UFC heavyweight title against divisional great Stope Miocic in November, seemingly setting up a defence against interim champion Tom Aspinall.

Jones, 37, has said he is more likely to retire or return to light-heavyweight – where he was a two-time champion – than fight Aspinall, 31. But White insists that Jones vs Aspinall will be next for each fighter.

That is despite the wishes of Turki Al-Sheikh, the Saudi adviser behind the Kingdom’s boxing ventures. Saudi Arabia recently began staging MMA events, too, and Al-Sheikh this week said he wants to arrange Jones vs Ngannou.

Ngannou was UFC heavyweight champion from 2021 until early 2023, when he vacated the title upon leaving the promotion. He then joined the PFL, before Jones won the vacant UFC belt.

Ngannou then boxed twice in Saudi Arabia, dropping Tyson Fury but losing a controversial decision in October 2023, and suffering a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua this March. But Ngannou’s return to MMA was a successful one, as he beat Renan Ferreira via TKO two months ago.

While Al-Sheikh and the PFL are keen on a crossover bout between Ngannou and Jones, White is opposed to such a move – in part due to his longstanding issues with Ngannou.

One Instagram user put the prospect of Jones vs Ngannou to White this week, and the UFC president replied: “Not true. Jon vs Tom [is next].”

Earlier in the week, Al-Sheikh told Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo: “I have, on the table, two options for Francis. The MMA... You know, all the time, my answer is: we want to do the biggest things…

“We need to send Dana White to the moon.”

Al-Sheikh also suggested that the second option for Ngannou was a boxing match with former champion Deontay Wilder.

UFC boss gives blunt response to Saudi plans for Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou

The UFC president has longstanding issues with Ngannou, who left the UFC for the PFL in 2023

www.independent.co.uk

 

[BouncerGuy]

If McGregor fights it will be sometime next year – White

UFC president Dana White says if Conor McGregor fights again in the promotion it "will be sometime next year".

Last month an Irish jury found McGregor liable for assault in a civil rape case taken by Nikita Hand.

The Irishman was ordered to pay Ms Hand almost 250,000 euros (£206,000) in damages and her legal costs.

McGregor, who had denied the allegations, has already said he will appeal.

When asked by journalists in a news conference following UFC 310 for his reaction to the outcome of the civil case, White responded: "If I had a comment I would have put it out already."

White was then asked to clarify McGregor's position in the UFC.

"He hasn't been fighting here in how long? If he does fight it will be sometime next year," White added.

McGregor has not fought in the UFC since breaking his leg in defeat by Dustin Poirier in 2021, while his comeback against Michael Chandler in June was cancelled after the Irishman broke his toe.

The jury at the High Court in Dublin found McGregor had assaulted Ms Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

Some journalists were asked by the UFC not to ask questions about McGregor to fellow Irishman Ian Machado Garry during UFC 310 fight week.

The UFC said Machado Garry did not want to discuss the issue and would prefer to focus on his fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov, which the Kazakh welterweight won by unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, White was not seen at Thursday's pre-fight news conference - an event he usually hosts - but did field questions at another news conference on Friday promoting UFC 311 in January. He was not asked about McGregor.

Could the UFC ban McGregor from fighting?

In short, yes the UFC could move to ban McGregor from fighting in the promotion.

The UFC's Athlete Conduct Policy, external gives guidelines on behaviour the organisation expects from its fighters.

It says athletes should not engage in behaviour which would "reflect negatively upon or bring disrepute, contempt, scandal, ridicule, or disdain to the athlete or UFC".

It adds that sanctions may be imposed on fighters who engage in misconduct, listing a number of examples, including "violent, threatening or harassing behavior, bullying, assault, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct".

Although the UFC has imposed sanctions on athletes before for violating the policy, examples are sparse and disciplinary actions are more often linked to the sport, rather than a fighter's behaviour away from the octagon.

Jon Jones was punished by the UFC on two separate occasions in 2015, including being fined £19,500 for taking cocaine, while he was later suspended and stripped of his light-heavyweight title for his part in a hit-and-run incident.

One of the most recent times the UFC imposed sanctions was in December 2022, when it released Darrick Minner and warned fighters against training with coach James Krause, external after the pair allegedly violated its betting rules, pending an investigation by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).

The UFC later confirmed fighter Jeff Molina was suspended as part of the same investigation, which is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, McGregor has escaped punishment by the UFC numerous times over the years for behaviour which could be deemed to violate its policy.

In 2018 McGregor injured several fighters by throwing a metal dolly into a bus. He was not punished by the UFC but was ordered to perform five days of community service by a US court.

Months later McGregor was involved in a large-scale brawl inside the octagon following defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov. Again, the UFC did not sanction the Irishman, but he was suspended for six months and fined by the NSAC.

Last year, White was not punished by the UFC after a video emerged of him in a physical altercation with his wife, while numerous fighters have escaped sanctions for using homophobic slurs and for being involved in brawls away from fighting.

No public action was taken against Jorge Masvidal when he punched British fighter Leon Edwards backstage at an event in 2019.

The UFC's disciplinary process is essentially at its own discretion and the promotion often leaves external issues to be dealt with by the authorities or state athletic commissions overseeing its events.

However, other major American sports do regularly sanction athletes for actions away from the sport.

The NFL made sweeping changes to its personal conduct policy in 2021 to include punishments for conduct away from the sport, including domestic violence and sexual assault.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was banned for 11 games in 2022 after numerous women accused him of sexual assault.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

'I've trained since I was three' - Hughes' unpopular MMA move

Connor Hughes followed his mum and uncle around the world from the age of three during their kickboxing careers, so not many MMA stars can claim to match the Liverpudlian's fighting background.

On Saturday, Hughes faces the biggest bout of his own sporting life as he takes on the undefeated Jakub Kaszuba in the PFL Europe lightweight final in Lyon.

Having won two fights in the tournament so far this year, one by stoppage, the 27-year-old Hughes has a chance to become champion and claim the £78,000 ($100,000) prize.

"It was never about money, it's world titles and legacy I want," he told BBC Sport.

"The money will come if I stay focused, it's all about legacy."

Hughes' mother, Lorraine, and uncle, David, are multiple world champions in kickboxing.

Connor started kickboxing at the age of three, and at 18 he made the transition to MMA with The MMA Academy in Liverpool.

"I've been training since I was three, travelling the world watching my mum and my uncle David win titles, it's just been my life," he said.

"There was no other option for me. I'd come home from school and go straight to the gym."

Hughes' story is not unlike that of 2023 PFL Europe champion and 2024 PFL champion Dakota Ditcheva, whose mother was a kickboxing world champion.

Manchester's Ditcheva went from winning the PFL's European series to winning their flyweight world title a year later.

Her mother, Lisa, was the one to hand her the first world title last month.

Despite Hughes' family background in fighting, his decision to move over to MMA was initially not a popular one.

"At first my mum wasn't too happy. I'm the first one to step outside of kickboxing and chase MMA," he said, laughing.

"But over time they saw how consistent I was and how I believed in myself, so when I made my amateur debut everyone there realised I could do something with this."

Hughes made his professional MMA debut in July 2021 and now holds a record of 10-1, the only loss coming in his PFL debut last year.

'I could've gone into boxing, but this is true fighting'

The defeat came in the first round of the 2023 PFL Europe tournament and Hughes insists that the experience of losing has helped him reach the final this time round.

"The loss has made me 10 times better than any win ever has. I believe in this game, as long as you keep training hard, you've got to lick your wounds, come back and you will get there. I'm proof of that," he said.

"When I was younger, I just wanted to be a world champion. I've always wanted to be known as one of the best or the best fighter, and I don't think you can do that without MMA.

"I could've gone into boxing, but this is true fighting."

On Saturday he faces the opportunity to move one step closer to that goal with a win over Kaszuba.

Having fought on the same card in September, Hughes was cageside for 29-year-old Kaszuba's semi-final bout against Italian Daniele Scatizzi.

The Polish star, nicknamed 'The Auditor', is unbeaten in 13 fights with seven finishes.

Hughes watched Kaszuba outpoint Scatizzi, but says he saw "nothing new" from a fighter aiming to becoming a two-time PFL Europe lightweight champion.

"I didn't look at the performance and go 'wow'. He's effective in what he does and he's obviously physically strong," Hughes said.

"I'm about to prove I'm number one in Europe, so next I've got to prove I'm number one in the world.

"Without looking past Jakub, I've got to prove that next."

BBC