Usman Nurmagomedov dedicated his latest commanding victory to his father after extending his perfect record to 20-0 following a unanimous decision win over Paul Hughes in the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch at the Coca-Cola Arena on Friday.
The Dagestani, returning to the cage eight months after their first meeting, looked in remarkable physical shape as he dominated the lightweight title rematch.
He also had a partisan crowd backing him at a packed arena along with his father, Abubaker, family members including the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov and coach Javier Mendez in his corner.
“Amazing feeling. I feel how you support me, how you support our team. I won this belt in front of my father. I'm so happy, and I dedicate this fight to him,” Usman said after receiving the belt.
“I felt I was winning every round, but it was a very tough fight with a very tough opponent. I wasn’t underestimating him this time, I think he underestimated me.
“Maybe he made a mistake, but anyway, happy to see you again, and thank you so much for the fight, Paul, big respect for you and your team. We gave the Middle East, and Dubai in particular, a very big night, and I'm so happy for that.”
Khabib, too, paid tribute to Hughes, 28, and his team for the fights he put up against Usman, 27.
“First of all, I want to say thank you, because this guy (Hughes) pushed him last January,” Khabib said.
“Tonight, it was also not an easy fight but we showed the improvements. These two fighters have age on their side to continue to improve in the next five, six years. They have got a lot going for them.”
Usman revealed his preparation was overseen by coach Mendez and not Khabib.
“The truth is it was Javier Mendez,” he responded. “I worked with him and it was hard. Of course, I also have all my team including Khabib, Usman, Islam as always. But yes, it was with Javier I prepared.”
The fight was not as close as the first meeting. Usman was marginally ahead in the blows exchanged and also tried several take downs, but Hughes was able to slip out every time.
The Dagestani almost had Hughes in a rear naked choke attempt in the first of those takedowns in round one, but the Northern Irelander did well to escape.
“He gave me this fight. I know he's strong. I know he will come strong. I know everything. I knew it was going to be hard to finish him but I tried,” Usman said.
What’s next?
“To make it 21 (wins),” Usman added.
While Hughes will have now to work his way back to a title contest, PFL 2025 lightweight tournament winner Alfie Davis has emerged as a front-runner for a possible match against Usman.
“Alfie Davis, anytime, anywhere, I'm waiting for you,” the champion said when asked of a potential showdown against the Englishman.
Hughes was gracious in defeat, having ended the five-round contest with a nearly closed left eye. He didn’t get a post-fight interview, but thanked his fans and promised he will be back.
In the co-main event, Corey Anderson won the PFL light heavyweight belt with a unanimous decision over Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.
Anderson received a few heavy blows in round 1 but held on to end the Albanian’s seven-fight winning run.
Anderson’s boxing skills and takedown attempts saw his opponent run out of gas at the end.
Earlier in the card, Dubai-based Iranian Pouya Rahmani provided a quick finish by knocking down Slim Trebelsi in a heavyweight contest.
A popular figure among Dubai fans, Rahmani threw a power-packed right to send Treblesi to the canvas, followed by a flurry of punches before the referee stopped the contest after two minutes 47 seconds in the first round.
Rahmani was meeting the Tunisian after winning a grappling contest against him in May.
“He's a good wrestler, he went to the Olympics. I'm a wrestler too, but I had grappled him on the ground, so I didn't care if he goes for a takedown,” he said.
“Tonight, I wanted to stand and fight to show people who doubted me just as a grappler. I have showed them I can finish people with my hands. That was the plan.
“I can't wait to fight again. I heard after four months again they're gonna come to Dubai, so I'm waiting for anyone they give me.”
Results
Middleweight showcase: Jarrah Al Silawi defeated Gregory Babene (split decision)
Lightweight showcase: Makkasharip Zaynukov def John Mitchell (unanimous decision)
Lightweight showcase: Takeshi Izumi def Vinicius Censi (unanimous decision)
Lightweight showcase: Mirafzal Akhtamov def Luann Sardinha (split decision)
Welterweight showcase: Florim Zendali def Omar El Dafrawi (unanimous decision)
Heavyweight showcase: Pouya Rahmani def Slim Trabelsi (TKO 2:47, round 1)
Contract Weight showcase: Jack Cartwright def Caolan Loughran (unanimous decision)
Bantamweight showcase: Archie Colgan def Jay-Jay Wilson (unanimous decision)
Bantamweight #1 Contender: Sergio Pettis def Magomed Magomedov (knockout in 4:31, round 2)
Light heavyweight title: Corey Anderson def Dovlet Yagshimuradov (unanimous decision)
Lightweight title: Usman Nurmagomedov def Paul Hughes (unanimous decision)
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
