Fighters are often criticized for failing to prioritize their financial interests in their MMA careers, but no such accusation can be made toward Irish prospect Paul Hughes.

Hughes (11-1), a former Cage Warriors champion, just went through the process of free agency and had bids on the table from both the UFC and PFL. He opted to go with the latter to the surprise of some, but for Hughes it was not much of a debate.

“As the time has went on, the more and more chuffed I’ve been with the decision,” Hughes told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I’d fought for Cage Warriors a long time and to have that opportunity to test free agency was exciting. … I actually opened communication with the PFL six months before this. We had an offer from them, but at the time, I couldn’t get out of my Cage Warriors deal. So I couldn’t entertain that. But the offer was there.

“What that offer did was change things for me. I had six months to basically make this decision if this was the pathway I wanted to go down. I’ve had a lot of time to think about it. … The main driving force behind it was the 2025 $1 million tournament, which I’ll be entering. I’m 27 years old. If I get the opportunity to have $1 million in the bank at 27, I think I’m doing pretty damn good. Fighters need to capitalize in this game. It’s that simple. The last thing I want is to be someone who gave my life to this game and came out the other side with no money in the end.”

Why PFL over UFC?

Hughes confirmed that his free agency process netted an offer from the UFC. He could’ve potentially made an octagon debut on the same UFC 303 card that features the return of Irish superstar Conor McGregor, and it was all tempting.

However, when Hughes sat down with his team and dove into the positives and negatives, it kept coming back to maximizing his position. In that vein, the package PFL presented was difficult to resist.

“I, of course, had an offer from the UFC,” Hughes said. “I’m trail blazing my own path here, and I am on my own journey, and I am forging a new journey for myself. But also for younger fighters coming up through this game that have star potential, you don’t have to always just go this pathway of what you’re being told to do. You’re most likely not getting compensated for it at the beginning of your career. Why should you have to fight a few years before you start making money when you bring the value to the table where you should be getting paid your worth?

“I understand if you’re a younger fighter coming up and you have six, seven, eight fights and you don’t really have a name for yourself, you haven’t won word titles outside of the organization, then go down that pathway potentially. But not many fighters come out the other side of this game with money in the bank, and the value I bring to this game and my fights and this sport and the atmosphere and the feeling that I bring, I deserve to get compensated for that. I believe I bring something different to the table.”

Looking toward Bellator Champions Series debut

The positive light in which PFL views Hughes is evident from the outset. Just days after his signing was made official, the promotion booked him for the Bellator Champions Series: Dublin card on June 22 at 3Arena.

It might be the last time Hughes gets a chance to compete on home soil for several years as he intends to make multiple runs in the $1 million PFL seasons starting next year. He is pleased he gets to keep active before that begins next year, though, starting with a co-main event matchup against Bobby King (12-6).

“I knew this Dublin card was going to be a thing,” Hughes said. “I asked for Patricky ‘Pitbull,’ I asked for Peter Queally – these were the names I was throwing out. They were unavailable, but I said, ‘Get me the hardest fight you can, get me the biggest name value fight you can.’ They loved to hear that, but they said, ‘Look, we’ve got this guy for you, he’s accepted the fight and let’s get the ball rolling.’

“Bobby’s a great fighter and a tough guy, but I truly believe I’m one of the best in the world right now. I truly, truly believe that, so I’m going to make it look easy in there.”

Hughes said he’s grateful to have his debut scheduled so soon after signing and plans to show the PFL brass it made the right decision in bringing him such a lucrative offer. He said he feels respected and appreciated in his new home and intends to deliver with spectacular showings inside the cage.

“They believed in me,” Hughes said. “They gave me a great offer and they have been absolutely incredible to deal with so far. It’s very exciting for me on all fronts to take this next step in my career with the PFL.”

The Ryan Garcia roller coaster ride continues with what could be another big dip.

According to multiple reports, Garcia has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs related to his boxing upset win over Devin Haney 10 days ago. Garcia responded on social media to the news, as well.

Veteran boxing journalist Dan Rafael reported Garcia tested positive for ostarine in a VADA test, and ESPN’s Mike Coppinger reported the substance came back on tests on both fight day and the day before.

BREAKING: Per multiple sources with knowledge of the results, Ryan Garcia tested positive for the banned PED Ostarine in a VADA test related to the Haney fight. #boxing

— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) May 2, 2024

Ryan Garcia tested positive for the PED Ostarine the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney, per a VADA letter obtained by ESPN. Garcia has 10 days to request his B-sample be tested. A-sample also screened positive for 19-norandrosterone but unconfirmed.

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 2, 2024

Garcia can request his second sample be tested by VADA. He posted an “LOL” with crying emojis after the news came out. Additionally, CBS Sports’ Brent Brookhouse reported that Garcia denied any wrongdoing and alleged improprieties in a live post.

lol

— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) May 2, 2024

Garcia on a live deal on here a few minutes ago:
“You guys can see fake news. Fake f—ing news. Don’t believe these f—ers. I never f—ing took a steroid in my f—ing life. I don’t even know how that shit, it’s the weidest shit ever. … Somebody paying somebody.”

— Brent Brookhouse (@brentbrookhouse) May 2, 2024

He later released a statement to ESPN.

Devin Haney released a statement after Ryan Garcia tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance before and the day of their fight last month. pic.twitter.com/0pfEUaqM9e

— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) May 2, 2024

In the buildup to his upset of Haney, the talk was about his mental health when he behaved erratically on social media and in interviews. After the win, he said he drank every night before the fight.

Still, some wondered if he was trolling before the fight, in which he dropped Haney three times en route to a stunning majority decision victory.

Garcia has a long history with Haney dating back to their amateur careers. They’ve fought seven times overall, with Garcia now holding a 4-3 edge. Despite the competitiveness of the series, Garcia was a significant betting underdog coming in to the fight, and that largely was due to doubts around his mental stability.