Preview: PFL Super Fights - Battle of the Giants ‘Brace for Impact’

Lightweights
A.J. McKee (22-1) vs. Paul Hughes (12-1)

The fact that this fight opens the card proves how big of an event this is. Hughes is one of the biggest signings in PFL history, and the promotion hasn’t wasted any time scheduling him marquee matchups. The former featherweight and lightweight Cage Warriors champion shone in his second-round TKO win over Bobby King last June. Hughes electrified the Dublin crowd with his charisma and striking, but fans were shocked when the 40-year-old Hawaiian dropped him in the first round. Hughes bounced right back to his feet and showed the poise of a champion by becoming the first man to finish King in the Bellator cage.

Although Hughes is an exciting, charismatic, up-and-coming star, he still has holes in his defense. He has a solid ground game but will always stand and strike with who’s before him. Hughes knows how to put on a show and putting him on the card was a genius decision.

That said, he’s out of his depth.

AJ McKee is one of the best fighters that Bellator has ever produced. Blessed with lightning-fast hands and footwork, fans often forget that McKee’s best strength is his ground game. In February, Clay Collard hoped to stand and bang with the former Bellator featherweight champion but was shocked when McKee made him look silly with a first-round armbar. With six knockouts and eight submissions on his record, “The Mercenary” is a fighter who can take you out wherever the fight ends. This was evident in his Bellator 300 showdown with Sidney Outlaw. Although Outlaw could push McKee back and put him on the ground, McKee dominated the fight with sharp elbows from his back. He truly is one of the most versatile fighters in MMA.

That said, McKee is a fighter who reacts instead of attacks, and while this keeps him ready for all threats, he can sometimes be outworked and outhustled. Hughes must bring the fight to him and keep him uncomfortable while changing the pace throughout the fight. Both fighters have shown themselves to have sturdy chins and have never been finished, but McKee appears to be the more polished fighter in every aspect of the game. Hughes is an exceptional prospect, but McKee is too far along at this stage of his career to take the upset.

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Ngannou vs. Ferreira
Cyborg vs. Pacheco
Eblen vs. Edwards
Kadimagomaev vs. Mohsen
McKee vs. Hughes
The Prelims