Irish mixed martial artist Paul Hughes made an impressive return to the cage on Saturday, May 10, 2025, headlining the inaugural PFL Europe card in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Hughes faced the formidable Brazilian lightweight Bruno Miranda after a tough majority decision loss against 155-pound Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov in his previous bout. Although fans clamored for an immediate rematch with Nurmagomedov, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) organization chose to feature Hughes in his hometown, where he has established a strong local presence, despite originally hailing from Australia.
The PFL Europe: Belfast event took place at the SSE Arena, and if you were in the U.K. or Ireland, you could catch all the action live on DAZN. Sadly, there were no plans for a broadcast in North America for this exciting card. But for fight fans, this particular event was one you didn't want to miss, showcasing a mix of local and international talent.
In the main event, Paul Hughes delivered a spectacular performance, defeating Bruno Miranda within the first 42 seconds of Round 1 by TKO. This decisive victory not only showcased Hughes's striking skills but also solidified his position in the lightweight division. During the co-main event, Lewis McGrillen submitted Alan Philpott in Round 2 via rear-naked choke at 3:17, demonstrating his grappling prowess and establishing himself as a strong contender in the bantamweight category.
Other exciting matches filled the card, highlighting impressive victories from a range of fighters. Connor Hughes secured a victory over Sebastien Di Franco with a knockout in Round 2 at 2:46, surprising many and keeping the momentum alive in the lightweight tournament. In another thrilling lightweight tournament bout, Gino Van Steenis won via unanimous decision against Decky McAleenan, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 in his favor.
Haider Khan put on a strong showing, defeating Sean McCormac by unanimous decision with judges scoring it 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27. The lightweight division continued its highlight reel as Alex Chizov knocked out Mark Ewen with punches 1:33 into Round 1. Claudio Pacella also dominated his lightweight tournament opponent Gavin Hughes, winning by unanimous decision, with judges scoring it 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28.
Welterweight fighter Eoin Sheridan made his mark in Belfast as well, knocking out Malichi Edwards with punches just 1:53 into Round 1. In a women's flyweight showcase, Gemma Auld submitted Sammy-Jo Luxton with a rear-naked choke in Round 2 at 2:43. Lastly, Corey McLaughlin rounded off an exciting night of fights by winning against Nahom Wedi via unanimous decision, with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.
This first PFL Europe event in Belfast was a massive success and showcased the depth of talent in the organization. With fighters like Paul Hughes making statements and securing victories, the PFL is set to create more thrilling matchups moving forward. These results will likely ignite conversations about the potential implications for title shots and upcoming bouts, making it crucial to keep an eye on this ever-evolving lightweight landscape.
