Paul Hughes, the highly-regarded Irish fighter, is set to headline PFL Europe’s inaugural card of the year on May 10th against Bruno Miranda. Interestingly, Miranda is someone who witnessed Hughes’ skills long before he embarked on a professional fighting career.
Hughes initially gained significant acclaim as the Cage Warriors champion before signing with Bellator, where he defeated AJ McKee Jr. He then faced champion Usman Nurmagomedov under the PFL banner, losing a very close majority decision that many felt he won. Meanwhile, the experienced “Robusto” Miranda, a veteran of 22 MMA bouts and numerous kickboxing and Muay Thai contests, was also competing under the PFL umbrella. It was through mutual friends that Miranda learned they had previously shared training facilities in Thailand.
Miranda, who resided in Phuket for over ten years, recalls seeing Hughes train there in 2016, back when the Irish talent was still developing as an amateur MMA fighter.
“I remember training alongside him at Tiger, and he was quite young at the time,” Miranda shared. “I’m genuinely happy to be fighting him now; he’s someone I respect. I’ve seen his progress, so it’s a true honor to be part of this main event against him in Ireland, a fighting nation comparable to Brazil.”
Hughes’ reputation only grew following the disputed loss to Nurmagomedov in January, a fight where fans widely felt he deserved the victory and have since called for an immediate rematch. Miranda recognizes this upcoming fight as “a massive opportunity.” While the Brazilian doesn`t believe an upset win automatically guarantees him a shot at the lightweight title, he acknowledges it would significantly alter how the MMA community perceives him.
“He’s had an impressive career, and his last fight was excellent,” Miranda stated. “I believe he won that one, but that’s in the past. I’m here to challenge the expectations and defeat the favorite. It’s truly an honor, and I have great respect for him and the entire Irish people. I’m coming there with full respect but also ready to bring intense energy and secure the victory.”
He continued, “I plan to be a difficult obstacle for him. I’m not looking beyond this fight or setting any expectations for what follows. My focus is on being a tough challenge and getting the win. A title shot might be possible, but I prefer to take things one step at a time. Anything that comes next is a bonus. The main goal is simply to beat him. I’ll be pleased with whatever opportunities PFL offers me afterward.”
Miranda recently earned a decision victory over former Bellator lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull, rebounding from consecutive defeats to PFL champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier and former Bellator titleholder Brent Primus. He intends to test Hughes’ striking abilities when they face off at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
“Every fight is unique, and each pairing presents different challenges,” Miranda commented. “I can’t compare myself to his previous opponent because our fighting styles are different. However, he’s a fighter who applies pressure – and I thrive on that. I’m an aggressive fighter throughout the bout, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles the pressure when standing across from a genuine striker.”
