Conor McGregor claims Paul Hughes should have been called the winner of his Bellator Lightweight World Title fight with Usman Nurmagomedov on Saturday night in Dubai.
Nurmagomedov, a cousin of McGregor's long-time rival Khabib, retained his belt with a majority decision win over the Derry native. Two judges sitting cageside had the bout in the champion's favour, both 48-46, while the other scored it a 47-47 draw.
The Dagestan fighter paid tribute to Hughes after the bout, saying: “This is for you guys, Paul Hughes, you are the man, brother you’re tough, I underestimated this guy. But I’m still undefeated, undisputed Bellator Lightweight Champion.”
Meanwhile, Hughes immediately called for a rematch, stating that Belfast should host the next fight between the pair.
He said: "It played out how I expected, I’m so gutted and disappointed I lost. I thought I won the fight, I probably left some in the tank, I need to leave everything behind next time. I really thought I was going to win. The PFL believed in me and I believe in the PFL. We have to do the rematch in Belfast, it has to be in Belfast, I think I’ve earned this.”
McGregor also believes his fellow countryman won the bout and took to social media shortly afterwards.
He wrote: "Tremendous fight and performance! Easy win for Hughes, he DOMINATED THAT FIGHT. And Umar exactly what it says on the tin, a Nurmagamedov. Runner, sprinter, bolter, scarper, scurrying 'fighter'. The Nurmagomedovs are not fighters. They are the most non fighting fighters out of Dagestan and all time. Run away around the cage and shoot ass bitches. Dagestan is better than the Nurmagomedovs and that is a FACT!"
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