McGregor's decisive KO of Aldo could instill composure in Hughes at PFL Belfast fight
Headlining his hometown: Paul Hughes could learn a thing or two from Conor McGregor
According to former UFC fighter and PFL Europe director Dan Hardy, Hughes, who's set to face Bruno Miranda at PFL Belfast, can draw inspiration from McGregor's lightning-quick 13-second KO of Jose Aldo. Hardy believes that this stunning finish—often underrated due to the rapid pace—demonstrates the importance of controlling the moment and maintaining composure, which Hughes could look to emulate against Miranda.
Hughes, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is poised for a dream fought night when he steps into the Octagon Saturday night. The clash between Miranda and Hughes is an Ireland vs Brazil face-off, similar to the matchup between José Aldo and Conor McGregor. Despite any differences between the two Irish competitors, Hardy encourages Hughes to channel the enigmatic McGregor as inspiration for his bout.
Hughes' rise in the ranks has escalated significantly over the past year, thanks to his impressive performance against PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov. Like the McGregor vs Aldo contest, Hughes enters the fight with Miranda eager to display his skills against another formidable opponent.
"That was one of the best examples of McGregor really controlling the moment better than anybody else that's ever stepped in this—especially against Jose Aldo," Hardy shared with talkSPORT.com. As Aldo was undefeated in seven consecutive UFC title bouts before facing McGregor and widely considered the greatest featherweight champion, making McGregor's fast finish even more impressive.
Aldo continues to compete in the UFC, and faces off this weekend in UFC 315. The knowledge that the great Brazilian is still active might lend an added layer of focus and determination to Hughes' approach.
To prevail against Miranda, Hardy suggests Hughes must engage "composure" during the fight, particularly when under pressure. "That's the kind of composure that Paul's gonna need against Miranda," Hardy explained. "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."
Hughes will undoubtedly be aware that every mistake could prove costly against Miranda, a Muay Thai specialist. Resisting the temptation to rush in and seize victory early on is crucial, as Hardy emphasizes: "[If I was Hughes] I wouldn't be trying to get a first-round finish because that's playing into Bruno's hands."
Miranda, in Hardy's estimation, is at his most dangerous in the opening round, so Hughes needs to show patience and strategize accordingly. "The first round for Paul is about presence and control of the center," Hardy advised. By showing maturity in the early stages, Hughes can gather valuable insight about Miranda's moves and resist any urge to overcommit.
Constantly pushing forward and keeping the center of the Octagon in his sights will help Hughes set the tone for the bout, giving him the edge he needs to control the situation rather than succumbing to the pressure of the moment.
Though McGregor may seem an unlikely mentor for Hughes, his stunning success in a similar contest against Aldo, along with Hardy's guidance, could prove to be the key to victory for Hughes come Saturday night.
- As Paul Hughes prepares to face Bruno Miranda, he might find inspiration in Conor McGregor's lighting-fast KO of Jose Aldo, a feat that demonstrated the importance of maintaining composure.
- Unlike Aldo, who is still active in the UFC, Hughes is set to display his skills against Miranda, another formidable opponent, much like McGregor did.
- Dan Hardy, a former UFC fighter and PFL Europe director, encourages Hughes to emulate McGregor's composure during the fight, particularly when under pressure, to prevail against Miranda.
- In order to control the moments that matter, Hughes must show patience and resist the temptation to rush in, just as McGregor did against Aldo, according to Hardy's advice.
