The fight, which will be available in a number of regions on DAZN, is one which Hughes called for after an impressive win over veteran AJ McKee last October. 

Hughes is being tipped for a bright future in the sport with some expecting to replicate or better the exploits of fellow Irishman and MMA superstar Conor McGregor. 

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But are people right to think that Hughes is the next "Notorious"?

Nurmagomedov's cornerman, Javier Mendez, rubbished these aspirations and claimed that Hughes is nothing special. 

"No, I do not," Mendez bluntly told DAZN News. "I don't see any McGregor-like tendencies in him other than he's a good talker.

"I see him as a very tough guy. Undefeated guy, very confident guy, But I don't see any of his technical aspect as anything special. 

"McGregor was special, not only in talking, but his skill set was very special."

For Hughes, this is his first shot at a major MMA title with Nurmagomedov making two successful defences of the Bellator belt since claiming it in 2022. 

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