Top Reasons to Catch PFL Europe 1

Movers and shakers within the Professional Fighters League can now proceed with discovering just how brightly Paul Hughes’ star can shine.

The former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder will serve as the marquee attraction when he faces Bruno Miranda in the PFL Europe 1 lightweight main event this Saturday at The SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Hughes, 28, has rattled off seven wins across his past eight appearances—a run that includes his upset of A.J. McKee at PFL Super Fights “Battle of the Giants” in October. However, the Irishman finds himself on the rebound following a contentious five-round majority decision defeat to undefeated Bellator MMA champion Usman Nurmagomedov on Jan. 25. It was Hughes’ first setback in more than four years. Miranda, meanwhile, has won eight of his past 10 fights, having lost only to Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Brent Primus. The 34-year-old Bangtao Muay Thai rep boasts 11 finishes among his 17 career victories, seven of them inside one round. Miranda last suited up on June 21, when he eked out a split decision over Patricky Freire at PFL 5.

Outside of the Hughes-Miranda showdown at 155 pounds, here are two other reasons to catch PFL Europe 1:

No Hidden Talent

Lewis McGrillen-Evans probably prefers to have the target on his back. The 2024 PFL Europe bantamweight champion takes the next step in his development when he meets journeyman Alan Philpott in the three-round co-headliner at 135 pounds. McGrillen-Evans, 24, steps back into view on the strength of a three-fight winning streak. The promising Manchester Top Team prospect has secured nine of his 10 professional victories by knockout or technical knockout, including his second-round stoppage of Alexander Luster in the PFL Europe bantamweight final in December. On the other side of the equation, Philpott has won two of his last three bouts after enduring a career-worst four-fight losing streak between Feb. 19, 2020 and Feb. 11, 2023. The former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts champion last saw action at an Eternal MMA show in Australia, where he cut down Tomoya Hirakawa with a knee strike and follow-up punches in the first round of their Feb. 8 encounter.

Second Wind

Connor Hughes wants to rid himself of the bitter taste in his mouth. The Liverpool, England, native keeps his foot on the gas when he locks horns with Sebastien Di Franco in a 2025 PFL Europe lightweight quarterfinal. Hughes, 27, operates out of The MMA Academy, where he trains under Jason Tan and Peter Davis. He has not fought since he succumbed to a volley of fourth-round elbow strikes from the unbeaten Jakub Kaszuba in the 2024 PFL Europe lightweight final on Dec. 4. The loss snapped a three-fight winning streak for Hughes and cost him a $100,000 payday. Di Franco, meanwhile, makes his promotional debut as relative unknown. The 30-year-old Belgian has recorded six wins across his past eight outings. Di Franco last strapped on the gloves on Sept. 14, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Nikita Leshukov under The King of Fighters banner.