Paul Hughes added to Bellator Dublin card

Irish lightweight star Paul Hughes has his first assignment since joining the PFL roster, and it’s a matchup on the upcoming Bellator Champions Series event in Dublin.

The event, which takes place on Saturday, June 22, will see Hughes take on Bobby King in a lightweight co-main event matchup at Dublin’s iconic 3Arena.

Hughes, who arrives on the big stage with an 11-1 record, will face 12-6 King looking to make an instant impact in the 155-pound division. The former Cage Warriors featherweight champion is already signed to compete in the 2025 and 2026 PFL Global Seasons, but will be booked to fight in showcase bouts across the PFL and Bellator brands, with the potential chance of challenging for the Bellator lightweight title, currently held by Usman Nurmagomedov, somewhere down the line.

But first, Hughes gets the chance to make a big first impression on home soil on a fight card packed with local heroes.

Women’s featherweight contender Sinead Kavanagh returns to action against Arlene Blencowe in a battle of former title challengers, while bantamweight Brian Moore takes on Italy’s Francesco Nuzzi. Nathan Kelly is also set for action, with the Irishman taking on France’s Fabacary Diatta in a featherweight matchup.

The fight card also features English middleweight hot prospect Norbert Novenyi, who will be looking to gatecrash the 185-pound title picture with victory over fellow rising contender Dalton Rosta.

Another English talent, former PFL Europe light heavyweight finalist Simeon Powell, will make his Bellator debut against Abdullah Er-Ramy. And New Zealand’s former IMMAF World Champion Michelle Montague will look to move to 5-0 in her pro career when she opens up the event against Karolina Sobek.

The event will be headlined by a battle for the Bellator welterweight title, with newly-crowned 170-pound champion Jason Jackson putting his title on the line for the first time against undefeated 12-0 contender Ramazan Kuramagomedov.

Bellator Dublin: Confirmed fight card

• Jason Jackson vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov – for Bellator welterweight title
• Paul Hughes vs. Bobby King
• Sinead Kavanagh vs. Arlene Blencowe
• Norbert Novenyi Jr vs. Dalton Rosta
• Kasum Kasumov vs. Matheus Mattos – bantamweight No. 1 contender bout
• Simeon Powell vs. Abdullah Er-Ramy
• Brian Moore vs. Francesco Nuzzi
• Sarvarjon Khamidov vs. Marcirley Alves
• Nathan Kelly vs. Fabacary Diatta
• Olena Kolesnyk vs. Sara Collins
• Michelle Montague vs. Karolina Sobek