Archie Colgan felt eager to return to action upon learning that his upcoming bout wasn`t just another fight, but a No. 1 contender`s match, with the victor slated to challenge the lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov.
This news was well-received by Colgan but less so by Paul Hughes. Hughes had been actively seeking a rematch with Nurmagomedov following their extremely close majority decision loss in January. When the PFL first announced Colgan’s match against Mansour Barnaoui with these specific stakes, Hughes publicly reacted on social media, telling them to “quit with the rage bait.”
Although Hughes might still receive another opportunity at the title in the future, Colgan stated that his bout was consistently billed as a No. 1 contender fight, and he has now secured that chance after a convincing victory over Barnaoui.
“I was aware of this beforehand,” Colgan explained. “My manager, Ali Abdelaziz, informed me that my next fight would be a No. 1 contender fight.”
“Yes, I expect to face Usman next,” he affirmed. “Labelling it a No. 1 contender fight wouldn`t make sense otherwise. They should have simply called it a showcase bout if that wasn`t the case. It would be illogical for them to specifically market it as ‘the No. 1 contender’s fight’ with the winner going on to fight Usman Nurmagomedov. It couldn`t be clearer than that. Therefore, currently, I anticipate being the next opponent for Usman.”
Colgan recognizes Hughes’ potential disappointment regarding the situation, particularly after Hughes secured a remarkably fast finish in his recent fight, getting back on track after his loss to Nurmagomedov earlier this year.
Despite this, Colgan feels his consistent rise through the lightweight division and his impressive 12-0 record have earned him this shot.
“I have nothing negative to say about Paul Hughes,” Colgan stated. “I regard him as an excellent fighter. I believe Paul Hughes had his chance and delivered a fantastic performance. It was a very strong fight, and he just fell slightly short. That was his moment. I believe I am now entitled to the next opportunity, and I don’t intend to fall short.”
Although Hughes came very close, he ultimately lost the close decision on the judges’ scorecards.
In that contest, Hughes showcased remarkable takedown defense and grappling skill, successfully neutralising some of Nurmagomedov’s primary strengths, particularly his wrestling. Colgan acknowledges Hughes’ ability to trouble Nurmagomedov in this area but assures that the matchup will be entirely different when he steps into the cage.
As a former standout wrestler at the University of Wyoming before becoming a top lightweight prospect, Colgan understands he poses unique challenges for Nurmagomedov that Hughes wasn`t able to.
“That is exactly the point, or my point anyway,” Colgan clarified. “It won’t just be difficult for Usman when he attempts to take me down – he’ll be aware beforehand that I have a solid wrestling foundation, making grappling exchanges tougher. But crucially, what happens if he gets taken down? He hasn’t really faced opponents who make him consider fights from that angle.”
“What occurs when my opponent takes me down? What happens when I need to recover position, get back to my feet, and fight for space to stand? This isn`t just a possibility; it *will* happen. I *will* secure takedowns. I will score them. While I acknowledge he’s a high-level fighter and will likely take me down – I`m prepared for that – unlike Paul, I bring an offensive wrestling threat. It’s not just about defending your takedowns; I will take *you* down.”
Currently, Colgan mentioned that the PFL hasn’t made any formal scheduling announcements, but he anticipates his fight with Nurmagomedov will occur around October or November.
Assuming he wins, Colgan stated he welcomes any future challenges the PFL presents, suggesting that perhaps then Hughes could receive another title shot, but for now, Hughes needs to wait in line.
“Absolutely, I would fight Paul Hughes,” Colgan confirmed. “Once you are the champion, you dictate things. You hold the belt, and you become the one being chased. Whoever the promotion deems the next suitable challenger will come forward, just as I have lined myself up. There will be a queue.”
“I’m certain Usman would seek a rematch. I’m also sure Paul Hughes will want another opportunity. Then there’s the tournament winner – in my opinion, Gadzhi Rabadanov is likely to win it. There will be a number of contenders.”
