The power of the clan: what to expect from Usman Nurmagomedov at the PFL tournament in Dubai

On the evening of January 25, the PFL Road to Dubai: Champions Series tournament will take place in Dubai, with Usman Nurmagomedov's main event featuring a bout against Ireland's Paul Hughes. Also in the card will appear Vadim Nemkov, who is on an incredible winning streak, and three more natives of Russia. Read more - in the material "Izvestia".

Usman Nurmagomedov - Paul Hughes

Khabib's cousin will have a difficult mission: to dissuade Russian fans that the Nurmagomedov clan has begun to give up. A week earlier, Usman's brother Umar lost in the title fight to Merab Dvalishvili and failed to become champion - Usman will have to defend his Bellator belt for the third time. And if we take into account the recognized failed fight with Brent Primus (Usman won by unanimous decision of judges, but his doping sample was found banned substances), then the fourth.

Unlike his brother, Usman remains an undefeated fighter, his record is 18 wins without a loss. Umar's first number in the record is the same, but in the second number zero changed to one. Usman won the Bellator belt by defeating Brazilian Patricky Pitbull, and defended the title in fights against Benson Henderson and Alexander Shablia. Usman choked out the former UFC champion in the first round, while the Russian top lightweight was outgunned on points.

Usman's opponent will be little-known Irish fighter Paul Hughes. Usman and Hughes' fight was announced with the sign "Dagestan vs. Ireland, Part 2," as if reminiscing about one of the greatest fights in MMA history between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. The latter, by the way, was ready to be present in Hughes' corner, but it never came to the actual organization of such an event as a meeting between Khabib and Conor on different sides of the cage.

The Irishman has only recently started competing in the big leagues. Just nine months ago, he fought in McGregor's native league Cage Warriors, where he first took the belt in the featherweight division, and then rose to 70 kg. Hughes was a bit short of Conor's success: the latter was a double champion of the Irish promotion - just in the featherweight and lightweight divisions. After going 8-1 in Cage Warriors, Paul signed with Bellator and delivered a brutal knockout from the ground-and-pound in a fight against Bobby King. Hughes then fought in the PFL, defeating former Bellator main event star A.J. McKee by decision.

Vadim Nemkov - Tim Johnson

Nemkov couldn't wait for a new opponent for a long time - the PFL league was in no hurry to schedule him a fight, so Vadim intended to leave the promotion and move to the UFC. It's possible that's exactly what he'll do when he takes the fight against Johnson. Initially, the league planned to give Nemkov a fight against Corey Anderson, who Vadim fought twice. The first fight was canceled due to a clash of heads, the second fight ended with the victory of the Russian, who beat Corey on points without any questions. Nemkov refused from the trilogy, honestly admitting that there is no sense in this fight for him, as Corey is a dangerous opponent, and there is little time for preparation.

"If I'm going to be a champion, it's one that doesn't need to be protected."

One of the best fighters of Russia Magomed Ankalaev - about Pereira, Vakhitov and possible transition to heavyweight division

Tim Johnson is not used to fighting Russians. The American heavyweight did it six times and only once, in 2015, defeated Shamil Abdurakhimov in the UFC by technical knockout in the first round. From there, only losses: to Alexander Volkov by split decision, to Vitaly Minakov by first-round knockout, to Valentin Moldavsky by unanimous decision, to Fedor Emelianenko by first-round knockout and to Denis Goltsov by second-round TKO.

Nemkov himself realizes that his current opponent is weaker than Anderson, but Vadim recently became a heavyweight and has only had one fight in this division - against Bruno Capelozza. Nemkov previously competed at 93 kg, and now he is riding a streak of 12 wins (the first fight with Corey was not counted), and eight of them were early. Vadim won the Bellator belt in 2020 by defeating Ryan Bader. Then he defended the title against Phil Davis, Julius Anglickas, the mentioned Corey Anderson and Yoel Romero.

Akhmed Magomedov - Nathan Kelly

Another Dagestan-Irish confrontation, but no longer for the belt. Akhmed Magomedov will be making his debut in the PFL, previously he, like most of the fighters of this card, appeared in Bellator, where he won one victory and suffered one defeat. In 2022 Magomedov defeated Kevin Boehm by choking him out in 76 seconds, but eight months later he lost to Henry Corrales by unanimous decision - the first defeat of his career for the Russian. Akhmed previously competed at Brave, where he had five fights.

His opponent will be Nathan Kelly. The Irishman has been in the Bellator and PFL system for a long time - in the first promotion he held and won three fights, and in the second - four. There are no serious names among Kelly's opponents, but nine of his 11 wins have come in the first round. There were also two defeats in the Irishman's career - at the very beginning of his career, when he still had no experience of professional fights.

Ibragim Ibragimov - Kenny Mohonoana

Ibragimov fights under the flag of England, as he has lived in this country since childhood, but he himself is a native of Dagestan. The 20-year-old fighter has only eight professional MMA bouts in his career, but he has won every one of them, with only two failing to finish early. In the PFL, Ibrahim had two fights - first choking out Josh Reed in 50 seconds and then defeating Nacho Campos by judges' decision.

Ibragimov's opponent is Irish fighter Kenny Mohonoana. Kenny has even fewer fights in his career - only six. He won each of his victories early, but most often he won by choke holds. He lost to Mohonoana by decision in his previous fight against Josh O'Connor.

Renat Khavalov vs. Claver Fernandez

Khavalov is a pupil of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov school and one of the promising newcomers to Khabib's team. Renat competes in the category up to 61 kg, during his short career he has fought eight fights and never lost. Khavalov was the champion of Khabib's league Eagle FC, where he defended the belt four times, and he got to the PFL by transit through UAE Warriors, where he knocked out his opponent in the second round.

His opponent will be Brazilian Claver Fernandes with a 9-1 record. Fernandes is a pronounced grappler, he has no wins by knockout, but he has five wins by submissions. Claver's opposition is not outstanding, but he has won three of his last four fights by decision. Fernandez was also the champion of Shotoo Brazil promotion - in the title fight he choked out his opponent in the fifth round.