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DUBAI: Ireland’s rising mixed martial arts star Paul “Big News” Hughes has his sights set on becoming the new face of the game-changing Professional Fighters League.

The 27-year-old from Belfast plans to do so by knocking out reigning and defending Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.

Hughes and the undefeated Nurmagomedov go head-to-head in the main event of the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

While taking on the reigning Bellator champion is a challenging task for someone who just recently started to make noise in the MMA world, Hughes believes in himself.

“I absolutely foresee a knockout. I think it’s my destiny to knock him out here and to just rise to superstardom of the MMA sphere. I can feel it within my bones, I can feel it in my preparation, everything’s just going right,” Hughes told MMA journalist Paul Browne recently.

He added: “I think this is just my time to make my mark in this sport, not just become the Bellator lightweight champion and one of the faces of PFL — probably the face — but to be one of the biggest superstars in the sport and to forge my own pathway in this sport, to trailblaze my own way.

“That’s what I’ve foreseen when I made my decision to come to the PFL.”

With the Bellator brand being folded by the PFL, Hughes has plans to make his mark. “I’m gonna be making a few different pieces of history: first global MMA show in Dubai, last-ever Bellator titleholder.

“And potentially, I would love if they made a PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series (belt), if they made a new belt. I mean, I’m just putting that out there. If I can leave there with two belts, that would be even better.”

He added: “There’s gonna be no denying that when I knock Usman out, I’ll be the face of the PFL, or at least one of them. There’s no denying that any fight I have from here forth is going to be big, and that’s what I deserve.

“I’m here for the big nights, I’m here for the big fights, and I see myself selling out venues around the world. But where I would like to do that first is absolutely, no question, in Belfast.”

ABU DHABI: The MI Emirates produced a clinical display with both bat and ball to hand the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders a 28-run defeat at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.

The MI Emirates had the likes of Romario Shepherd and team captain Nicholas Pooran to thank as they played a crucial part in helping their side get to within two points of the table toppers. Their bowlers were in fine form, with four of them picking a wicket each while Alzarri Joseph and Shepherd bagged two each to derail the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ chase.

Put into bat first, the MI Emirates started off well, with openers Kusal Perera and Muhammad Waseem. After the duo put on a 42-run stand, Sri Lankan Perera was the first to depart for 23, just before the end of the powerplay. In walked Tom Banton who, along with Waseem, ensured the MI Emirates kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Halfway into the innings Banton was dismissed for nine and, soon after, Waseem followed on 38. Skipper Pooran was joined by Kieron Pollard, but the veteran right-hander found it tough to get going and was eventually knocked over by Ali Khan for five.

At this point, the score read 102/4, with just over six overs to go.

Dan Mousley was the next to fall for six, after which Shepherd joined his captain for the final phase of the innings. Pooran, striking cleanly, was closing in on his half-century before Jason Holder had his number after a well-made 49.

That put the focus on Shepherd in the final few overs. The big-hitting right-hander then went through the gears and smashed three maximums along with four boundaries, to finish with an unbeaten 38 from 13 deliveries. The MI Emirates, who had slowed down for a few overs in the middle, eventually posted 186/6.

The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders got off to a quick start, as openers Kyle Mayers and Andries Gous took the attack to the MI Emirates bowlers. Mayers, who smashed three sixes, scored 22 off 14 deliveries, before Dan Mousley ran him out with a fine a piece of fielding. That ended a 39-run stand in the fourth over, after which the MI Emirates took control.

Akeal Hosein dismissed Joe Clarke for three, after which Shepherd accounted for Michael-Kyle Pepper for five and Alishan Sharafu for four. At the end of an action-packed powerplay, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders were 56/4.

Waqar Salamkheil cleaned up Laurie Evans for seven, and Zahoor Khan then had Gous caught out in the deep for 34, which put further pressure on the Knight Riders. That brought Sunil Narine and Andre Russell to the middle, and the big-hitting batters put on a half-century stand, raising hopes of a comeback.

However, in the 18th over, Narine was caught at cover for 13, and Fazalhaq Farooqi then cleaned up David Willey in the 19th. Russell, who remained unbeaten on 37 from 23 deliveries, could not take his side over the line as the MI Emirates came away with a comfortable win.

Player of the match Shepherd said: “It feels good, and we knew how important this game was. I was relaxed because Nicholas Pooran was there and I was just trying to get to the last over and see what I could get. Whenever you do well in one department it gives you confidence.”

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain Narine said, “We were going good till the 18th over, but we had to have a fielder in for the slow over-rate and Shepherd is a powerful player. And we lost a cluster of wickets, but still played good cricket, and we started off good. We need to get on top of the key moments.”

Brief Scores

MI Emirates beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 28 runs

MI Emirates 186/6 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 49, Romario Shepherd 38 not out, Muhammad Waseem 38, Jason Holder 2 for 38, Ali Khan 2 for 58)

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 158/9 in 20 overs (Andre Russell 37 not out, Andries Gous 34, Romario Shepherd 2/14, Alzarri Joseph 2/33, Waqar Salamkheil 1/13)

Player of the Match: Romario Shepherd