MMASucka Staff Picks: PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes Betting Predictions
PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series is just about here. Taking another trip out the Middle East, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) will make its first appearance in the city of Dubai with a stacked card of some of the top mixed martial arts talent from around the world. Lightweight Gold at St...
PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series is just about here. Taking another trip out the Middle East, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) will make its first appearance in the city of Dubai with a stacked card of some of the top mixed martial arts talent from around the world.
Lightweight Gold at Stake in PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series Main Event Saturday
At center stage in the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series main event, undefeated Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov puts his strap on the line against rising Irish prospect Paul Hughes. Having never lost a professional bout, and defended his 155-lb throne two times against Benson Henderson and Alexandr Shabliy, Nurmagomedov stands as one of the most dominant champions in Bellator.
His adversary, Hughes, however, is no stranger to high stakes title contests, as he won the Cage Warriors Interim Featherweight belt and then successfully unified it to become the undisputed champion.
Looking at PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series Co-Main Event
In the second to last match on the card, light heavyweight legend-turned heavyweight star Vadim Nemkov seeks to continue his unbeaten streak when he meets Midwestern bruiser Timothy Johnson. In the midst of a 13-fight unbeaten streak, Nemkov will be looking to make a statement win for a chance to compete for the PFL Heavyweight Championship after a long reign as Bellator’s 205-lb king.
Coming off a defeat to PFL tournament winner Denis Goltsov, Johnson will have the chance to rebound in a big way by taking down one of the best fighters on the planet in Nemkov.
More Bouts On the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series Main Card
Elsewhere on the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series main card, Irish Bellator and PFL veteran Nathan Kelly locks horns with Dagestani up-and-comer Akhmed Magomedov. Then, undefeated Englishman Ibragim Ibragimov takes aim at Ireland’s Kenny Mokhonoana. Finally, Russian knockout artist Renat Khavalov opens up the main festivities when he battles former Shooto Brasil Bantamweight Champion Cleiver Fernandes.
PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes Betting Predictions and Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL) with Bellator MMA, ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
- PFL and Bellator MMA see picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
- ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2025 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2023 were won by Ben Jamieson with a record of 300-148.
Find our PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes picks and fight odds below.
RECORDS AFTER UFC 311:
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- Michael Hernandez: 1-5
- Jeremy Brand: 2-9
- Michael DeSantis: -10
- Frazer Krohn: 2-8
- Andrew Benjamin: 2-9
- Paul Browne: 3-7
- Hank Strandberg: 1-10
- Drew Zuhosky: 1-10
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*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Renat Khavalov -1800
Vs.
Cleiver Fernandes +1000
BANTAMWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Khavalov by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Khavalov by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Khavalov by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Khavalov by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Khavalov by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Khavalov: 5
Staff picking Fernandes: 0
Ibragim Ibragimov -700
Vs.
Kenny Mokhonoana +500
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Ibragimov by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Ibragimov by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Mokhonoana by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Ibragimov by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Ibragimov by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Ibragimov: 4
Staff picking Mokhonoana: 1
Akhmed Magomedov -230
Vs.
Nathan Kelly +190
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Magomedov by Unanmious Decision
Hank Strandberg: Kelly by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Kelly by Submission
Andrew Benjamin: Kelly by first round Submission
Frazer Krohn: Kelly by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Kelly: 4
Staff picking Magomedov: 1
Vadim Nemkov -2400
Vs.
Timothy Johnson +1200
HEAVYWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand:
Hank Strandberg: Nemkov by first round Knockout
Drew Zuhosky: Nemkov by first round Knockout
Andrew Benjamin: Nemkov by first round Knockout
Frazer Krohn: Nemkov by second round Technical Knockout
Staff picking Nemkov: 45
Staff picking Johnson: 0
Usman Nurmagomedov -575
Vs.
Paul Hughes +425
LIGHTWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Nurmagomedov by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Nurmagomedov by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Nurmagomedov by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Nurmagomedov by Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Nurmagomedov by round four Submission
Staff picking Nurmagomedov: 5
Staff picking Hughes: 0
