Paul Hughes recognises that he’s now spearheading Irish MMA ahead of a career-defining fight on Friday night.Hughes, 28, rematches Dagestan’s undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov for the PFL lightweight title on October 3 in Dubai.Hughes was outpointed by Usman at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai eight months agoGettyThe Irishman bounced back with a 42-second KO win over Bruno Miranda and returns to Dubai on Friday for another crack at Usman’s titlePFL Europe‘Big News’ came up short in their first fight, suffering a majority decision defeat to the cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov at PFL Champions Series 1 in January.The inaugural clash between Hughes and Usman, 27, was an instant Fight of the Year candidate and the former knew he wanted one thing next – a rematch.However, with Usman not interested in a quick turnaround, Hughes was forced to stay active, fulfilling his lifelong dream of headlining a card in his home city when he knocked out Bruno Miranda in May.Hughes stopped the Brazilian in 42 seconds and the Belfast crowd, entirely there in support of the hometown fighter, erupted. Paul Hughes driven by carrying the flag for Ireland“I don’t take that lightly, and I certainly do feel everybody’s support,” Hughes told talkSPORT.com, speaking on the support he receieved before, during, and after the Miranda fight.“I feel like I’m carrying the flag now, so I have to represent well. I guess you could say that definitely drives me.“But most of my motivation has always been internal. These external things, I definitely take notice of them, but my drive is totally, totally intrinsic, and it always has been that way.”After just his second professional MMA defeat to Usman – the first a split decision to Jordan Vucenic at Cage Warriors 119 – Hughes was on the receiving end of a grim, social media attack from his former idol, McGregor.McGregor had praised Hughes straight after the final bell in Dubai, calling the fight an ‘easy win’ for the Irishman.But ‘The Notorious’ quickly changed his tune when Hughes had a conversation with Khabib in the cage, telling the Russian, ‘I’m not like this other guy,’ in reference to McGregor.Hughes has rightfully distanced himself from McGregor in the MMA world after he received multiple threats from the UFC fighter following his defeat to UsmanThe 28-year-old from County Derry has vowed to be the ‘best in the world at the hardest sport in the world’PFL EuropeMcGregor proceeded to embark on a vile, X-rated rant towards Hughes, which many viewed as an unintentional passing of the guard to the younger fighter as the new main representative of MMA in Ireland.Hughes told talkSPORT.com before he fought Miranda in Belfast that McGregor wasn’t on his mind ‘at all,’ unsurprisingly separating his identity from the UFC star, who is expected to fight at the White House in 2026.His fight with Usman had been promoted as ‘Dagestan vs Ireland 2’ by the PFL in light of McGregor’s famous UFC rivalry with Khabib, which ended with the Irishman tapping out to the Dagestani in the fourth round at UFC 229 in 2018.The narrative of their first meeting was based on Hughes righting the wrongs of McGregor’s defeat to Khabib, but, only nine months later, it has completely shifted.Hughes noted that an advantage going into the Usman rematch is his desire to be the very best in the world at what he does.Hughes: My drive to succeed is a huge bonus“I’ve always been a competitor,” he said.Hughes has vowed to bring Usman back to Northern Ireland for a trilogy after their rematch in Dubai on FridayPFL Europe“I grew up playing Gaelic and Hurling, and I was always a competitor, always left it all out there, always had a big heart – now I’ve just found my thing.“I remember many, many years ago saying to myself, ‘Right, this sport might be the hardest sport in the world, it might be the most demanding sport in the world.“But I’m going to be the best in the world at the hardest sport in the world, because why the f*** not?’ Why the f*** not?“I have no reason to think that, absolutely no reason. From where I come from, there’s no MMA scene.“I had to seek that out, but I think that’s a big advantage for me.”‘Big News’ goes into the rematch with Usman knowing a victory could cement his status as the face of the promotion, while making him one of the most attractive names in the sport.Hughes wants to finish Usman in their rematch. and not let the judges get involvedGETTY‘Big News’ thrived under the lights and the crimson blood when the both men fought in JanuaryPFL EuropeBut Hughes doesn’t see too many differences from his approach to the pair’s first fight.“I’m not sure if much has changed,” he added.“When you fight somebody, especially over five rounds, you do garner some level of respect for them, because ultimately, you know what it takes to get in there, and it’s difficult. “It’s all-consuming, so I wouldn’t say much has changed personally. “It’s not a secret that I believe that he was ducking the rematch, and I know that it was a fact…“At this point it’s just clear, I don’t give a f***, it’s just let me fight in a few weeks.”Paul Hughes wants ‘best MMA trilogy’ ever in Belfast after Usman rematch Hughes concluded by asserting his desire to bring Usman back to Belfast for a trilogy.He called the rematch when speaking to talkSPORT.com in May before he even fought Miranda, saying he wishes to drag the Russian to enemy territory for a trilogy he described as having the potential to be the best in the sport’s history.“When I beat Usman, I believe there’ll be a trilogy,” Hughes declared.“I think it’ll be one of the best trilogies of all time in mixed martial arts, if not the best.“I plan to win that trilogy, I plan to finish him here, I plan to ideally bring him back to Belfast for a trilogy, and when I do that, my name is one of the biggest stars in the whole sport.”Hughes has previously noted fellow Northern Irish boxer Carl Frampton as a huge inspiration in his career.He mentioned Windsor Park – where Frampton stopped Luke Jackson in 2016 – as an ideal venue for a trilogy with Usman.Windsor Park witnessed undefeated Northern Irishman Lewis Crocker become a world champion this month when he outpointed Paddy Donovan, and could soon be ready for its first MMA event through ‘Big News’.