Paul Hughes can use Conor McGregor’s swift knockout of Jose Aldo as inspiration at PFL Belfast on Saturday night.
That’s according to ex-UFC fighter and Director of PFL Europe Dan Hardy, who believes McGregor’s 13-second KO of Aldo is a good example of a fighter ‘controlling the moment’ and something Hughes can hone in on to remain calm.
Hughes fulfils a childhood dream of headlining a fight card in his native Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday night when he squares off against Brazil’s Bruno Miranda in his PFL return.
The Irishman’s stock has risen tenfold in the last year, after he proved he can mix it up with the very best in his last fight against PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.
Just like McGregor vs Aldo, Hughes’ battle with Miranda is an Ireland vs Brazil clash.
And although the two Irishmen don’t currently see eye to eye, Hardy believes the PFL star can use the old version of McGregor as inspiration.
“That was one of the good examples of McGregor really controlling the moment better than anybody else that’s ever stepped in this, especially against Jose Aldo,” Hardy told talkSPORT.com.
“It’s kind of unfortunate because of that finish, people don’t realise how good Aldo was, but if you followed his career all the way through, it makes McGregor’s finish even more impressive.”
Aldo was undefeated in seven consecutive UFC title bouts before he fought McGregor, and is widely considered the greatest featherweight champion of all time.
The Brazilian, unlike McGregor, is still actively competing and makes his return to action this weekend at UFC 315.
“The reality is, that was a rehearsed sequence,” Hardy continued, referring to McGregor’s KO of Aldo.
“[McGregor] expected Aldo to run onto that punch, but you can’t deliver it unless you’ve got composure.
Hardy said Hughes will need the kind of composure McGregor had against AldotalkSPORT MMA / Getty ‘Big News’ Hughes takes on Bruno Miranda in the main event of PFL Belfast on May 10Jose Peñuela / PFL“And if you’re in that first round and you can see him attacking you and you’re not completely calm, then absolutely he’s gonna wipe you out.
“That’s the kind of composure that Paul’s gonna need against Miranda.
“If he takes one of those low kicks, if he takes a big shot, he’s gonna need to engage that composure in order to not lose his own plan and get off track.”
McGregor actually practiced the shot that knocked out Aldo before the fight, shadow boxing in the changing room before stepping back and throwing a short, sharp left hook.
Hughes will have implemented his own game plan for Muay Thai specialist Miranda, knowing that any mistake could lead to his head bouncing off the canvas.
If it was up to Hardy, who fought ten times in the UFC, including a title fight with Georges St-Pierre, he wouldn’t worry about putting Miranda away early.
Aldo is 32-9 in pro MMA and returns to action this weekend at UFC 315Getty Hardy believes Hughes needs to get past round one for the best shot at victory at PFL BelfastPFL“If I was him, I wouldn’t be trying to get a first round finish because that’s playing into Bruno’s hands,” Hardy concluded.
“He’s the most dangerous in the first round, in my opinion. If the fight keeps going, then he starts to play a longer game. He starts to invest more in the low kicks and stuff.
“But that first round is where he’s going to be the freshest and he’s going to be the most tense and the most excitable, and that’s where you get that extra bit of punching power.
“The first round for Paul is about presence and control of the center. I think if he gets too excited and opens up, he’s playing into Bruno’s hands.
“If I’m Paul, I’m going to start the first round smart. I’m going to pressure, I’m going to control the centre, but I’m not going to really open up too much.
“I want to get him to throw his best shot so I can just cover and get my reads. That really would be the safest thing to do.
“Then, that’s also another good way of alleviating some of that first round pressure, which he’s definitely going to feel.
“Even if he doesn’t really acknowledge it, it’s going to be in his system, and moving in closer to the second round is where he’ll make better calculations.”
Hughes may feel the pressure on fight night, but he has displayed a striking level of calmness in the build-up to his Belfast homecoming.
Should he be victorious, Hughes will rematch Nurmagomedov for the lightweight strap, with that bout likely to take place in September in Dubai.
Elsewhere at PFL Belfast, Briton Haider Khan makes his second appearance for the promotion against Ireland’s Sean McCormac.
Meanwhile, Sammy-Jo Luxton, who was diagnosed with sepsis in 2024 after the passing of her father, makes her highly anticipated PFL debut against Scotland’s Gemma Auld.
Connor Hughes faces Sebastien Di Franco high up the bill, while Decky McAleenan fights Gino van Stennis.
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