After falling short in last year’s PFL Europe lightweight tournament, Connor Hughes is back and seeking the gold that escaped him. A multi-time junior champion in karate and kickboxing, Hughes comes from a family who have trained in such disciplines, with Hughes claiming his accuracy and pressure as his biggest strengths in MMA. After starting his career 7-0, he lost to Dylan Tuke last year during the PFL Europe regular season. He rebounded in a showcase bout at the PFL Europe Championship in December, scoring a second-round finish of Sebastian Santana Guedes.

 

Making his professional MMA debut in 2014, Anatolij Baal won his first seven fights and enters tonight with a 10-3-1 record. A boxing specialist from Germany, Baal has scored eight finishes in his career thus far, with five of them coming in the first round. Baal also made his PFL Europe debut last year against Guedes, facing him last July and also scoring a second-round finish.

 

Who will advance to meet Daniele Scatizzi later this year in the lightweight playoffs?

 

 

Round 1

 

Baal bouncing in and out on the outside as he deals with the pressure from Hughes. Baal fires off a one-two, and Hughes misses a counter hook. Front kick from Hughes. A one-two from Hughes lands on Baal’s guard. Hughes misses a high kick. Baal pressures with a flurry and lands twice. Baal tries to blitz again, but Hughes lands a counter right hook and Baal is knocked out!

 

 

Connor Hughes is back, and he’s hungry for the PFL Europe lightweight crown!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Connor Hughes defeats Anatolij Baal by 1st round KO (1:31) in a Lightweight Regular Season bout. Hughes advances to the 2024 PFL Europe Playoffs. Hughes will face the winner of Chouchane vs. Capella in the Playoffs.