Paul Hughes "Crushed" by Knee Injury, Withdraws from PFL Belfast Main Event

MMA fighter Paul Hughes has publicly addressed the severe knee injury that has forced his withdrawal from an upcoming fight.

Known as "Big News," Hughes was slated to headline PFL Belfast on April 16 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, facing Jay Jay Wilson. However, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced his forced exit from the event earlier this week due to a significant knee injury.

The 28-year-old Irish fighter will be replaced by his compatriot Darragh Kelly. Kelly, originally set to fight Sergio Cossio on the same card, will now step in on short notice to face Wilson.

Following his withdrawal, Hughes voiced his deep disappointment, particularly as he had been eagerly anticipating competing in his home country.

Hughes Issues Emotional Statement Following PFL Belfast Pull-Out

Paul Hughes used social media to directly address his unexpected exit from the PFL Belfast main event. He shared a heartfelt message, expressing profound devastation and offering an apology to his fans and supporters.

"Big News" further disclosed the severity of his injury, stating that it requires immediate attention, with surgery already planned for the upcoming week.

"I’m out of PFL Belfast. Did everything I possibly could. Surgery next week to fix the issue. I’m sorry to all my supporters. I am absolutely crushed… I will be back as soon as humanly possible. The obstacle is the way."

— Paul Hughes via Instagram

Hughes's last appearance was at the PFL Champions Series in Dubai in October 2025, where he lost a unanimous decision in a rematch against the current lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov. Before that loss, the former Cage Warriors lightweight champion had bounced back from his initial encounter with Nurmagomedov by securing a swift 42-second knockout victory over Bruno Miranda in May 2025.

"Big News" currently holds a professional MMA record of 14-3, which includes a 2-2 record within the PFL promotion.