Mackenzie Dern vs Gillian Robertson Predictions & Picks – Back Dern To Remain Champion At UFC 330
10 Aug 2026Read More
Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes 2 Preview & Picks – Usman To Retain At PFL Champions Series 3
- Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes 2 picks for Friday, October 3
- PFL Champions Series 3 is taking place at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai
- Preview, predictions, stats & form
Usman Nurmagomedov (Getty Images)
- Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes 2 Preview & Picks
- Head To Head
- Usman Nurmagomedov Form
- Paul Hughes Form
Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes 2 Preview & Picks
Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes 2 Preview & Picks
Usman Nurmagomedov is tipped to retain his lightweight title in Dubai.
Paul Hughes gave him all he could handle in the first fight, but we expect Nurmagomedov to make the necessary adjustments and grind out another decision win here.
- Usman Nurmagomedov has a perfect 19-0 record
- The previous meeting between the two men went the distance
- Both of Paul Hughes’ career defeats have come by decision
- 4 of Usman Nurmagomedov’s last 5 fights have gone the distance
Head To Head
- Usman Nurmagomedov won by majority decision when they met in January 2025
Usman Nurmagomedov Form
Usman Nurmagomedov is the current PFL lightweight champion with a career record of 19-0 (8 KOs, 6 Subs) with 1 no contest.
Nurmagomedov signed with Bellator in 2021 and wasted little time in climbing to the summit in the lightweight division.
He beat Mike Hamel by decision in his debut, and backed that up with a first-round knockout of Manny Muro.
The 27-year-old Dagestani then submitted Patrik Pietila and Chris Gonzalez in the first round to secure a shot at the 155lb crown.
Nurmagomedov was able to dethrone Patricky Pitbull by decision that night, and in his first defence of the crown he submitted former UFC star Benson Henderson in the first round.
His next success, a decision win over Brent Primus, was later overturned due to a failed drug test, but the Russian put that behind him a year later with a points win over Alexandr Shabily.
He then followed up that victory with a controversial majority decision win over Paul Hughes earlier this year, which resulted in him being promoted to PFL lightweight champion after Bellator was shut down.
Paul Hughes Form
Paul Hughes is a former lightweight challenger with a professional record of 14-2 (7 KOs, 3 Subs).
Hughes made a name for himself on the domestic scene as he compiled an 11-1 record fighting under the Cage Warriors banner in the UK and Ireland.
That earned him a spot on the Bellator Champions Series 3 card in June of last year, and he wasted little time in making an impression as he knocked out Bobby Green in the second.
The 28-year-old, who was born in Australia but grew up in Northern Ireland, then got the better of AJ McKee over three rounds to earn a shot at the Bellator lightweight title.
Hughes was able to push Nurmagomedov to the limit in that fight, but his bid to become champion ended in disappointment as he dropped a majority decision.
He rebounded back in May though, as he took just 42 seconds to knock out Bruno Miranda and set up this rematch with the champion.
Verdict
Paul Hughes gave Usman Nurmagomedov all he could handle, but did he waste his big chance?
That is a massive question mark surrounding this fight, and the reason we are leaning towards Nurmagomedov making adjustments and winning this rematch.
That is a massive question mark surrounding this fight, and the reason we are leaning towards Nurmagomedov making adjustments and winning this rematch.
Usman Nurmagomedov
Winner
@-161.29 - 6 Units
55 Stake Cash no deposit & 550,000 Gold Coins & 5% Rakeback
Use promo code NEWBONUS
Sign up with the code NEWBONUS. When you verify your account get 25 Stake Cash for free PLUS 250,000 Gold Coins and 5% Rakeback! No deposit required. Login each day for the next 30 days and get an additional 30 Stake Cash AND 300,000 Gold Coins. 21+ only. T&Cs apply. Excludes WA, NY, NV, ID, KY, MI, VT, NJ, DE, WV, PA, RI & MD.
Upcoming Events
11 August 2026
Jakub Mensik vs Ben Shelton Tennis
Jakub Mensik vs Ben Shelton Betting Picks & Live Stream – Mensik Looks Value Against Shelton in Montreal
Daniel Merida vs Learner Tien Tennis
Daniel Merida Aguilar vs Learner Tien Betting Picks & Live Stream – Confidence Could Carry Merida Aguilar in Montreal
12 August 2026
Teremoana Teremoana vs DeAndre Savage Boxing
Teremoana Teremoana vs DeAndre Savage Live Stream & Picks – How To Watch Fight Live Online
14 August 2026
BC Lions @ CAL Stampeders NFL
BC Lions at Calgary Stampeders Predictions & Picks – Stampeders To Rebound In CFL
15 August 2026
OTT Redblacks @ WIN Blue Bombers NFL
Ottawa Redblacks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers Predictions & Picks – Bombers To See Off Winless Redblacks In CFL
16 August 2026
Mackenzie Dern vs Gillian Robertson UFC
Mackenzie Dern vs Gillian Robertson Predictions & Picks – Back Dern To Remain Champion At UFC 330
Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott Boxing
Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott Live Stream & Picks – How To Watch & Bet On World Title Fight Live Online
Islam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry UFC
Islam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry Predictions & Picks – Islam To Retain Title At UFC 330
How To Watch UFC 330: Makhachev vs Machado Garry Live Stream
23 August 2026
Rolando Romero vs Teofimo Lopez Boxing
Rolando Romero vs Teofimo Lopez Live Stream – How To Watch World Title Fight Live Online
29 August 2026
04 September 2026
College Football Outright Betting Tips NFL
College Football Predictions & Picks – Miami To Finally End ACC Conference Title Wait
13 September 2026
20 September 2026
Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Manny Pacquiao 2 Boxing
Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Manny Pacquiao 2 Preview & Picks – Mayweather To Repeat 2015 Victory
31 October 2026
31 December 2026
UFC Betting Specials 2026 UFC
UFC Bad Beat Refund Offer – Money Back If Your Fighter Loses In Final Round
UFC Split Decision Insurance - Money Back If Your Pick Loses By Split Decision
UFC Split Decision Breaker – Money Back If Your Fighter Loses Via Split Decision
Ultimate Fighting Jackpot – Win 1 Bitcoin & Share Of $2,000 For Every UFC Card
Poker EventsStarts in
Daniel Merida vs Learner Tien
Teremoana Teremoana vs DeAndre Savage
BC Lions @ CAL Stampeders
OTT Redblacks @ WIN Blue Bombers
Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott
Mackenzie Dern vs Gillian Robertson
Islam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry
Rolando Romero vs Teofimo Lopez
Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic
College Football Outright Betting Tips
Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn
Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Manny Pacquiao 2
Latest News
-
And Still -
And StillIslam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry Predictions & Picks – Islam To Retain Title At UFC 33010 Aug 2026Read More
-
UFC Live StreamHow To Watch UFC 330: Makhachev vs Machado Garry Live Stream07 Aug 2026Read More
-
Upset AlertMateusz Gamrot vs Quillan Salkilld Predictions & Picks – Gamrot To Score UFC Fight Night Upset05 Aug 2026Read More
-
UFC Live StreamHow To Watch UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs Salkilld Live Stream30 Jul 2026Read More
