The PFL recently signed top Irish prospect Paul Hughes, and they’re wasting no time getting “Big News” into the cage.
Hughes (11-1) will face Hawaiian Bobby King (12-6) at Bellator Dublin on June 22, 2024 at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Promotion officials announced the booking via press release on Monday.
The card will be the brand’s third since the PFL purchased Bellator late last year, and rebranded it the Bellator Champions Series.
Now competing as a lightweight, Hughes is a former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, and has spent most of his career to date with the U.K.-based promotion. Currently riding a five-fight win streak, Hughes holds victories over the likes of James Hendic, Jordan Vucenic, and current UFC fighter Morgan Charriere.
Bobby King, who gets to welcome the hot prospect to the PFL/Bellator family, has lost his last two fights, and is 3-3 under the Bellator banner overall. He was last seen dropping a decision to UFC alum Aalon Cruz in April 2023. King holds notable wins over UFC talents Steven Siler and Westin Wilson, as well as Bellator/PFL vet Keoni Diggs.
Bellator Dublin on June 22, 2024 is headlined by a welterweight title fight, as champ Jason Jackson puts his title on the line for the first time, against Ramazan Kuramagomedov. The following match-ups have been announced for the event:
- Jason Jackson (c) vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov – for the UFC welterweight championship
- Paul Hughes vs. Bobby King
- Sinead Kavanagh vs. Arlene Blencowe
- Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. Dalton Rosta
- Kasum Kasumov vs. Matheus Mattos
- Simeon Powell vs. Abdullah Er-Ramy
- Brian Moore vs. Francesco Nuzzi
- Sarvarjon Khamidov vs. Marcirley Alves
- Nathan Kelly vs. Fabacary Diatta
- Olena Kolesnyk vs. Sara Collins
- Michelle Montague vs. Karolina Sobek
