Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

UFC 311: Umar Loses

After a very busy fight week in LA for UFC 311, Khabib & Umar Nurmagomedov are already with teammate Usman Nurmagomedov in Dubai as he prepares for a title fight against Paul Hughes at PFL Dubai this weekend!

For some, a 16-hour plane ride might be enough to deter from traveling to an MMA event, but the Nurmagomedov clan goes above & beyond to support each other. Despite Umar suffering a grueling loss and breaking his hand against Merab Dvalishvili only less than a week ago, he still showed up to be in Usman’s corner for his PFL fight.

UFC 311 not only saw Umar Nurmagomedov in action as both Tagir Ulanbekov & Islam Makhachev also fought (and won). Khabib was in attendance along with many more Nurmagomedov team members too. There are no days off for the team as they packed their bags from LA to Dubai before they return home to Russia.

Even though Islam retained his title and Ulankebov beat a very skilled undefeated prospect, Umar losing his first MMA fight likely has left a bad taste for team Nurmagomedov. This is likely why it’s “all hands on deck” in Dubai for Usman’s fight.

PFL Dubai | Poster

PFL Dubai: Usman Title Fight

Usman Nurmagomedov, the undefeated Bellator lightweight champion, defends his title against the rising star Paul Hughes on January 25th in Dubai. This matchup, dubbed “Dagestan vs. Ireland 2,” promises an exciting battle with Nurmagomedov looking to continue his dominant run with his insane grappling skills, while Hughes aims to shock the world with his striking and cage control.

A title may be on the line, but the legitimacy of it is certainly in question with the recent announcement of Bellator being “dead”. This fight likely has massive implications at play for PFL’s 2025 year of fights. Usman looks to retain his dominant championship reign while Hughes hopes for another upset after recently beating AJ McKee.

For the first PFL event of 2025, fans are in for an absolute treat of a main event.

Photo | CNN

Nurmagomedov Legacy

There is undoubtedly a ton of pressure that comes along with being a part of the greatest family of combat sports athletes in the world. Overall, the Nurmagomedov team is one of the most successful to ever do it in MMA. A few examples:

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov: 29-0
  • Usman Nurmagomedov: 18-0
  • Islam Makhachev: 27-1
  • Umar Nurmagomedov: 18-1

Naturally, anytime a Nurmagomedov affiliated fighter loses, it garnishes tons of attention due to the lack of losses on their overall records. Everyone remembers when Islam Makhachev was KO’d and it is still talked about to this day, likely due to the fact it is the only blemish on his record. Similarly, the loss Umar faced this past weekend seems to be the focal point in the world of combat sports, probably because it is his first ever loss in a fight he was “expected” to win.

The normal pressure to win is still on the line for Usman this weekend, but also extra pressure mounts to remain as one of the most dominating PFL fighters to ever fight. A loss wouldn’t just be another rare mark on the Nurmagomedov resume, but it could also potentially put Usman’s PFL legacy in question.

Paul Hughes being from Ireland only adds more pressure for Usman to perform. The two nation’s have lots of history against each other, especially in combat sports, fueled by Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor.

Will Usman take another W home to Dagestan? Or, will the pressure prove to be too much, leaving the Nurmagomedov team at an even 2-2 in 2025?

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