Underdog's Unwavering Confidence Shakes Undefeated Champ in Epic Title Fight

On January 2025, underdog Paul Hughes pulled off a remarkable feat by pushing undefeated champion Usman Nurmagomedov to the limit in their epic title fight. According to former British welterweight fighter Dan Hardy, who was on commentary duty that night, Hughes' confidence was a key factor in the bout.

Just three months prior, Hughes had proven his doubters wrong by beating former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee, despite being the underdog. "This won him 50% of the fight with McKee, he rattled him. And I saw it in Usman - he was trying to figure out why Paul was so confident and that can be very unnerving," Hardy explained.

Nurmagomedov, who had won all 19 of his previous professional fights, was seemingly unsettled by Hughes' unwavering self-belief. The Northern Irishman took that confidence into the lightweight title bout, pushing the Russian champion further than he had been in any of his previous matches.

The article highlights how Hughes' self-assurance played a pivotal role in the fight, ultimately making it a defining factor in the entire event. Despite Nurmagomedov's dominant record, the challenger's unwavering belief in himself proved to be a formidable challenge for the reigning champion.