Elite Lightweights go head-to-head when AJ “Mercenary” McKee meets Ireland’s Paul “Big News” Hughes
PFL PPV Super Fight takes place Saturday, October 19 – Live on ESPN+ PPV in the U.S. and DAZN worldwide
The Professional Fighters League has added another high-stakes matchup to the main card of the next PFL PPV Super Fight - Battle of the Giants - on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
Opening the main card will be a Lightweight bout featuring former Bellator Featherweight World Champion AJ McKee (22-1), serving as the toughest test of Paul Hughes's (12-1) young career as the man with the longest winning streak in Bellator history (18) will face an Irishman whom many consider to be the top Lightweight prospect on the planet.
The aforementioned bout joins a card headlined by MMA superstar and undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the world, Francis Ngannou (17-3) making his highly anticipated return to the sport of MMA. “The Predator” faces the most-feared fighter in PFL, 6-foot-8 PFL Heavyweight Champion Renan “Problema” Ferreira (13-3, 3 NC) for the newly minted PFL Super Fights Championship Belt. Ferreira most recently defeated Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds in February in the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions event in Riyadh.
The co-main event will feature another major world title fight featuring the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all-time, Cris “Cyborg” (27-2, 1 NC), whose legacy will be on the line when she squares off against PFL two-division Champion Larissa Pacheco(23-4), who looks to prove she is the greatest women’s MMA fighter on the planet.
The event will emanate from the state-of-the-art Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The monumental cultural venue hosts significant national and international events in the heart of Riyadh, serving as a perfect backdrop for the “Battle of the Giants” mega event.
PFL’s “Battle of the Giants” PPV event takes place Saturday, October 19 and can be seen live on ESPN+ PPV in the U.S and DAZN worldwide.
AJ McKee vs. Paul Hughes - Lightweight Main Card Bout
Synonymous with Bellator since signing with the promotion at 20-years-old in 2015, AJ McKee has gone on to do incredible things throughout his 23-fight run with the promotion, including a Featherweight title run. With wins against Patricio Pitbull, Darrion Caldwell, Pat Curran and others, McKee has the second-most wins in Bellator history and the longest winning streak to start a career at 18-0. Only 27 years of age, Paul Hughes accomplished everything possible on the regional stage before entering free agency, where he was pursued by every major mixed martial arts promotion on the planet before choosing to join PFL. A former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion before moving up to Lightweight, Hughes is currently in the midst of a six-fight winning streak. Eight of his 12 professional victories have come via stoppage. Most recently, he defeated Bobby King in his promotional debut at Bellator Champions Series: Dublin.
“Battle of the Giants” Main Card:
ESPN+ PPV (U.S.) | DAZN (Worldwide)
Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saturday, October 19
Early Card: 1:30 pm ET / 8:30 pm AST
Main Card: 4:00pm ET / 11:00 pm AST
Heavyweight Main Event: Francis Ngannou (17-3) vs. Renan Ferreira (13-3, 3 NC)
Women’s Featherweight Co-Main Event: Cris “Cyborg” (27-2) vs. Larissa Pacheco(23-4)
Lightweight Main Card Bout: AJ McKee (22-1) vs. Paul Hughes (12-1)