Hughes calls judging of loss ‘pretty ridiculous’

Paul Hughes, an Irishman, believes that he should have won the lightweight title match against Usman Nurmagomedov on Saturday night in Dubai.

The champion admitted afterwards he had “underestimated” Hughes but retained his belt and extended his record to 19-0 after the judges scored the fight 47-47, 48-46, 48-46 in his favour.

The 27-year-old challenger, however, said the decision was “pretty ridiculous”.

“As always I’m going to have to watch it back to get a good assessment and a clear-minded assessment, but as we know, we all thought I won that one”, he said in a video posted on his Instagram account.

“I think the judges ‘ scorecards were pretty ridiculous, but as I say I’ll watch it back with a clear mind.

The fourth-round stoppage caused by a clash of heads “changed the momentum” of the fight, according to Hughes, who echoed his post-fight plea for a rematch.

After the incident that left Hughes with a cut to the forehead, Nurmagomedov needed to have his condition checked by the doctor.

The Russian successfully completed the round when the fight resumed, landing several kicks to Hughes’ thigh in the fifth round.

” I’m not going to make excuses, though, I should have pushed harder and I will the next time. I know we’ll fight again, “Hughes added.

The fight’s momentum was altered by the stoppage in the fourth round, according to “I felt.”