Hot on the heels of this week's announcement that Paul Hughes will headline the PFL Europe event in his hometown of Belfast on May 10th, came today's news that the Irish star will face Brazilian lightweight Bruno Miranda.
After Hughes (13-2) was outpointed over five rounds in an epic encounter with Usman Nurmagomedov at the PFL's Road to Dubai event in January, he requested either an immediate rematch with Nurmagomedov or the chance to headline an event in the city he's called home for several years.
With Nurmagomedov unavailable until later in the year, the PFL granted "Big News" his second wish and found a tough challenge for the 28-year-old in Bruno Miranda (17-5).
"Robusto" has won four of his six fights under the PFL banner since joining the organization in 2022. He was most recently in action last June, earning a split decision victory over fellow Brazilian Patricky Pitbull in Salt Lake City.
Having accumulated nine knockout wins so far in his professional career, Miranda will be no pushover for Hughes, something the former Cage Warriors champion is fully aware of.
"What I know about my opponent is that he's a very dangerous guy", Hughes said in a video posted to PFL social media accounts. "Bruno is someone that if you're not switched on, he will knock you clean out and I certainly do not want that in front of my hometown fans, so I will absolutely be on my game May 10th.
"Bruno is a very dangerous striker and comes from a kickboxing background I believe. I have watched and studied a lot of his fights previous to him even being my opponent. He's very dangerous and he will not be taken lightly.
"May 10th, I will be on my game (as I always am). I need to make sure that first of all, I put on a show for everyone, but second of all that I get a very convincing victory".
"My message to Bruno is 'Look, first of all, much respect for taking the fight when many people wouldn't but at the end of the day, you're coming into my backyard. I will not lose in front of my hometown crowd, there's absolutely no question of that, and it's my homecoming after all, so it's going to be a huge night, it's going to be my night'".
