TLDR
- Paul Hughes pulled out of the PFL Belfast main event on April 16 due to a knee injury suffered in training
- Hughes will undergo surgery soon and called the withdrawal “one of the lowest lows” of his career
- The Belfast native is 4-0 in his hometown with all four wins coming by first-round finish
- Undefeated Darragh Kelly will replace Hughes and face Jay Jay Wilson in the new lightweight main event
- Former UFC fighter Rhys McKee was added to the card with his opponent to be announced next week
Sources: ESPN | Bloody Elbow | MMA Fighting
Belfast fighter Paul Hughes has pulled out of the main event for PFL’s April 16 card in his hometown after suffering a knee injury during training. The lightweight contender announced the news on Instagram on Wednesday and will undergo surgery soon to repair the damage.
Hughes, who holds a 14-3 professional record, was scheduled to face Jay Jay Wilson in the headline bout. He revealed in a video statement that he consulted with his team and medical professionals before making the difficult decision.
“Unfortunately this injury cannot be pushed through anymore,” Hughes said in his announcement. “I will be having surgery very soon to fix this issue.”
The Belfast native expressed deep disappointment over missing the opportunity to compete in front of his home crowd. He called it “one of the lowest lows” in his career.
🚨| PFL lightweight Paul Hughes has confirmed he is OUT of his #PFLBelfast main event against Jay-Jay Wilson on April 16th due to an undisclosed injury. ❌
Hughes will undergo surgery soon. 🏥 pic.twitter.com/6kayhduzaV
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) March 25, 2026
Perfect Record in Belfast
Hughes has never lost a fight in Belfast, posting a perfect 4-0 record with all four victories coming by first-round finish. The homecoming bout held special meaning for the 26-year-old fighter.
“I think everyone knows how much this means to me, to bring PFL back to Belfast, to not only showcase my skills but to also highlight the talent that we have on this island in front of the world,” Hughes said.
Hughes has challenged for the 155-pound championship in both PFL and Bellator during his career. His withdrawal leaves a major gap in the promotion’s Belfast card.
Card Reshuffled With New Main Event
PFL CEO John Martin confirmed that the event will continue with a new main event. Jay Jay Wilson will now face undefeated Irish fighter Darragh Kelly in the lightweight headliner.
Kelly, who trains at the SBG gym in Dublin, brings a 9-0 record into the bout. He was originally scheduled to fight Sergio Cossio in the co-main event.
Cossio will remain on the card but will now face Pedro Carvalho instead. Carvalho is a former Bellator featherweight title challenger who also trains at Conor McGregor’s SBG gym in Dublin.
The promotion has also added former UFC fighter Rhys McKee to the Belfast card. PFL officials plan to announce McKee’s opponent next week.
Martin addressed the change in a video message posted to PFL’s Instagram account. “We’re wishing Paul a speedy recovery and hope that he’ll be back in the cage with us relatively soon,” he said.
Wilson holds an 11-2 professional record and will now look to capitalize on his main event opportunity against Kelly. The Australian lightweight was preparing for Hughes but will get three weeks to adjust his game plan for the new opponent.
The PFL Belfast card will still feature Irish fighters in prominent positions despite Hughes’s withdrawal. Kelly and Carvalho will represent Ireland in key matchups on the April 16 event.
Hughes did not provide a timeline for his return to competition. The recovery period will depend on the extent of his knee injury and how the upcoming surgery progresses.
