1 week Ago By Lewis Thompson
Haider Khan make his PFL return next month after a debut to remember last time out.Khan produced a highlight-reel finish on his first appearance in January, shattering Mostafa Rashed Nada’s arm with a violent kick.Khan takes on Sean McCormac in a middleweight showcase bout at PFL BelfastPFLThe Brit has subsequently been awarded with a fight at PFL Europe Belfast on May 10, which is headlined by Irish star Paul Hughes, who is fulfilling a lifelong dream to main event The SSE Arena.
Hughes takes on Brazil’s Bruno Miranda in the headline act but, before that, Khan will locks horns with Fight Academy Ireland product Sean McCormac in a middleweight showcase bout.Speaking to talkSPORT.com, Khan said the vicious stoppage on his PFL debut was a sign of things to come.
“After my last fight, people are finally starting to see the kind of power and precision I bring into the SmartCage,” he said.“That was just a glimpse of what I’m capable of. I’ve been locked in, training harder than ever, and I can’t wait to step back under the lights and put on another statement performance.
“The next fight’s coming, and I promise to be even more explosive.”Khan’s victory in January marked the third KO/TKO of his career as he progressed to 9-1 in MMA.He has garnered plenty of attention in the fighting world since the finish, with plenty of new fans eager to see his next outing.
The 25-year-old fell in love with the sport after Googling its biggest stars like Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre. He then turned pro at the age of 18 after transitioning from a potential rugby league star.WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW@espnMMA on XNada thought he could block Khan’s kick, but his left forearm disagreed[/caption]@espnMMA on XHis arm instantly flopped towards the canvas, bending the wrong way, and the fight was stopped[/caption]Haider Khan's journey to the PFLTimelineBorn and raised in Glodwick estate, OldhamPlayed for Salford Red Devils [rugby league] academy aged 13Studied Politics and International Relations at universityStarted training MMA ages 18 after Googling Anderson Silva and Georges St-PierreMade pro MMA debut in July 2021Won first four bouts of MMA careerDebuted for Full Contact Contender league, funded by UFC Fight Pass, in 2024Became first British Pakistani MMA world champion in June last yearMade PFL debut in January, defeating Mostafa Rashed Nada with a brutal kickTakes on Sean McCormac at PFL Belfast on May 10This is the second time Khan features on a Hughes undercard, as he fought on the latter’s wild bout with Usman Nurmagomedov, the cousin of UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov, on his debut.
Belfast is the venue for PFL Europe’s first tournament of 2025, which will see fighters enter a bracket to win the promotion’s European title and a cash prize of $100,000 (£77,000).Khan and Hughes contest showcase bouts, therefore are not involved in the tournament bracket, unlike most of the other bouts that will take place on the Belfast card.The co-main event sees Ballymena native Alan Philpott take on Manchester’s Lewis McGrillen.
‘Big News’ Hughes is hoping to earn another shot at Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title further down the line after his return to the Northern Irish capital.“I am obviously going to push as hard as I can to get that rematch as soon as possible,” he told talkSPORT.com last month.
Khan said his last fight showed the ‘power and precision’ he offersHughes headlines PFL Belfast on May 10getty“I would like it to be at the end of the year, but we’re just going to have to go and get a convincing victory here in eight weeks and we’ll see what happens.“Look, that’s what I’m gunning for. So whatever I need to do to put myself in that position, I’m willing to fight anybody.
“I’ll fight every month if I can because I’m getting paid for it now, so what better incentive to fight.”Hughes has the potential to surpass fellow Irishman and UFC legend Conor McGregor in MMA.McGregor attacked Hughes in an X-rated online rant after his last fight, taking shots at his Northern Irish nationality.
Hughes responded by declaring the former two-division UFC champion was a shadow of his former self, meaning he takes his comments with ‘a pinch of salt’..
