‘Paul Hughes had his opportunity’: Archie Colgan fully confident he’s fighting Usman Nurmagomedov next

Archie Colgan was anxious to get back to work when he received word that he was not only booking his next fight but he was competing in a No. 1 contender’s match with the winner earning a shot at lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.

That was music to his ears but not so much for Paul Hughes, who has been gunning for a rematch against Nurmagomedov ever since he lost a razor-close majority decision to him back in January. When the PFL initially announced Colgan’s fight with Mansour Barnaoui with those stakes, Hughes responded on social media saying “hey, quit with the rage bait.”

While Hughes may very well end up getting another title shot in the future, Colgan says his fight was always presented as a No. 1 contender’s match and now he’s earned that opportunity after a dominant win over Barnaoui.

“I had known that leading into it,” Colgan told MMA Fighting. “[My manager] Ali [Abdelaziz] had told me that my next fight was going to be a No. 1 contender fight.

“I do [expect to fight Usman next]. If I didn’t it would have made no sense [labeling] it as a No. 1 contender’s fight. They should have just called it a showcase fight then. It would have made no sense for them to go the extra mile and say ‘the No. 1 contender’s fight’ and the winner will be fighting Usman Nurmagomedov. They can’t get anymore cut and dry than that. So as of right now, I am expecting to be the next guy who fights Usman.”

Colgan understands why Hughes might be upset with the way things played out, especially after he scored a blistering quick finish in his most recent fight to put him back on track following the loss to Nurmagomedov earlier in the year.

That said, Colgan believes he’s earned this opportunity while amassing an impressive 12-0 record along the way as he made a steady climb up the lightweight ranks.

“No shade against Paul Hughes,” Colgan said. “I think he’s a great fighter. I think Paul Hughes had his opportunity and he put on a great fight. A very good fight and he came up a little bit short. That was his opportunity at the time. I think that I am due that next opportunity. I don’t plan on coming up short.”

As close as Hughes came to winning, he ultimately lost a close decision on the scorecards.

During that fight, Hughes showed incredible takedown defense and grappling ability to thwart some of Nurmagomedov’s best weapons, especially when it came to his wrestling. Colgan respects that Hughes was able to give Nurmagomedov some headaches in that part of the game but he promises it’s a completely different matchup with him involved.

Before he was a top lightweight prospect, Colgan was a standout wrestler at the University of Wyoming so he knows he presents problems for Nurmagomedov that Hughes just couldn’t produce.

“That is the argument. That’s my argument at least,” Colgan explained. “Not only when [Usman] goes to take me down, it will be hard for him and he’ll know going into it that this guy has a good wrestling base so the grappling exchanges are going to be harder. But also what happens when he gets taken down? He’s never really had to look at fights from that perspective.

“What happens when this guy takes me down? What happens when I have to build back up and stand up and fight hands to stand back up? That is not just a possibility but it’s going to happen. I will get takedowns. I will score takedowns. I agree that he’ll probably take me down, he’s a very high level fighter. I’m aware of that. I get taken down and I’m prepared for that. No shade against Paul but I pose an offensive threat [with my wrestling], not just a defensive threat of stopping your takedowns but I’ll take you down.”

As of now, Colgan says PFL hasn’t made an overtures as far as scheduling goes but he’s expecting the fight against Nurmagomedov to happen sometime around October or November.

Assuming the fight goes his way, Colgan welcomes any challenges the PFL throws his way and then maybe Hughes can get another opportunity to fight for the time but for now he needs to get in line.

“Of course [I would fight Paul Hughes],” Colgan said. “At that point, the shots are called then. You’re champ, you own the belt, you become the hunted. Whoever they see fit to be the person. Just like I’m lined up here. There will be a list.

“I’m sure Usman would want a rematch. I’m sure Paul Hughes would want his crack. Then there’s obviously the tournament, probably in my opinion is Gadzhi [Rabadanov] would probably be the tournament winner. There’s going to be a list of guys.”