Irish standout Paul Hughes is set to headline the inaugural PFL Europe event of the year on May 10, facing Bruno Miranda. Miranda reveals he witnessed Hughes` early progress years before his professional debut.
Hughes gained prominence as a Cage Warriors champion before signing with Bellator, where he defeated AJ McKee Jr. He later joined PFL, experiencing a close majority decision loss to champion Usman Nurmagomedov. Miranda, a seasoned veteran with 22 MMA fights plus numerous kickboxing and muay thai bouts, followed Hughes` career trajectory. A shared past on the training mats in Thailand, long before their professional careers, was recently rediscovered through mutual friends.
Having resided in Phuket for over a decade, Miranda recalls observing Hughes train there in 2016 when the Irish fighter was still competing as an amateur.
“I remember we were training at the same gym, Tiger Muay Thai, and he was quite young,” Miranda stated. He expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to fight someone he respects and has seen develop, calling it an honor to compete in a main event against Hughes in Ireland, a country he regards as a fight nation comparable to Brazil.
Hughes` profile significantly rose following his controversial loss to Nurmagomedov in January, a bout where many fans called for an instant rematch. Miranda views this main event slot as “a huge opportunity.” While he doesn`t believe an upset win guarantees a lightweight title shot, he acknowledges it would dramatically enhance his standing within the MMA community.
“He’s had a solid career, and his last fight was great,” Miranda commented, adding, “I think he won, but that’s it.” He declared his intent to “break the odds” and defeat the favorite. He reiterated his respect for Hughes and the Irish nation, stating he arrives “with the utmost respect to bring the fire and get the victory.”
He continued, stating, “I’ll be the thorn in his side.” Miranda emphasized his focus solely on the upcoming bout: “I have no expectations for after this fight. I’m not looking past anything, but I want to be the thorn in his side and bring the victory.” Regarding future title aspirations, he remarked it “could be possible,” but prefers a “step by step” approach. “Whatever comes next is a bonus,” he added, with the primary objective being to defeat Hughes. He concluded by expressing satisfaction with any opportunity PFL might present afterwards.
In his most recent outing in June 2024, Miranda secured a decision victory over former Bellator lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull. This win marked a rebound after consecutive losses to PFL champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier and former Bellator titleholder Brent Primus. Miranda intends to test Hughes` striking abilities when they face off at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
“A fight is a fight and every match-up is unique,” Miranda stated, noting the stylistic differences compared to Hughes` previous opponent. He highlighted Hughes` pressure-fighting style, which he welcomes: “he’s the type of fighter that puts pressure — and I love that.” Miranda described himself as an aggressive fighter and expressed anticipation in seeing how Hughes handles facing “a real striker” across the cage.