Paul Hughes on 'holy s***' moment and training with Shane Todd and Foy Vance

Irish MMA star Paul Hughes admits his life feels like its speeding 100mph down an undulating motorway. He has barely had time to take everything in over the past few months.

From signing a lucrative contract with the Professional Fighters League to making his Bellator debut in Dublin, and then rubbing shoulders with Cristiano Ronaldo and the Crown Prince of Dubai.

Not bad for a young lad from Lavey in Co Derry. And there is plenty more to come.

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It was announced on Wednesday that Hughes will challenge Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator Lightweight World Championship on January 25 in Dubai.

The 27-year-old has landed the dream shot after earning an impressive win over experienced AJ McKee in Saudi Arabia last month. That success came on the undercard of Francis Ngannou's MMA return.

It was also the event where Hughes got to meet football superstar Ronaldo.

"It is crazy. It is mad, how things are growing," Hughes reflects.

"It is moving so fast that maybe I am not taking it all in. Even you saying that (about meeting Ronaldo). That was only a couple of weeks ago. Mad."

Belfast Live caught up with Hughes during his trip to Dubai, ahead of the Nurmagomedov announcement.

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He said: "It feels like it's been 100mph. I have had a crazy day in Dubai. I have just met the Crown Prince of Dubai with Francis Ngannou. It's absolutely mental.

"Just chilling and having the craic with him. I was doing some media and photo opps, and they just said 'You're going to meet the Crown Prince here', and I was like 'Alright, okay. Cheers'.

"That's definitely new. Things are happening very fast. I don't know if it has just passed me by because it is so fast, or I am getting used to it.

"The Francis Ngannou pay-per-view had a lot of big events and meeting Ministers for Sport and all that. So maybe it is becoming normal."

Hughes' already burgeoning reputation was flexed even further after he beat McKee. It was the latest stellar moment for the MMA fighter, who is fast becoming Ireland's hottest prospect.

"After I fought in Saudi I went to Dubai for a week and chilled out with friends. So the McKee win hadn't really sunk in then," he said.

"When I got home and started doing my normal day to day things, it was a holy s*** moment. I had just done what I did to AJ McKee in Saudi and made it look easy.

"So that made it sink in. But I was straight back to camp, where I wanted to be. And now I am here in Dubai, meeting the Crown Prince and signing a big contract."

Hughes is already in training for his next fight, and has predicted a quiet Christmas void of any Guinness or festive treats. He will leave no stone unturned in his quest to dethrone champion Nurmagomedov.

He did enjoy some down time before switching his focus, however, including a training session with Northern Ireland comedian Shane Todd and renowned singer-songwriter Foy Vance.

Hughes explained how it came about.

"I had Shane Todd and Foy Vance both up at the gym recently, hitting the pads. And it was hilarious," he said.

"I have known both of them for some time now. I have known Foy for about five years, he is a massive fight fan so he has been following and supporting me for a number of years.

"So it was good having them up at the gym, and it was a bit of craic. They were actually doing a show that evening, so it was a cool day."

Asked how the pair performed inside the octagon, Hughes said: "They can both dig. I am being serious.

"They have done a bit in the past. Shane has done his comedians boxing events before, and Foy has been training Muay Thai and MMA, more so Muay Thai.

"So they can both dig and it was a fun day."

When pressed on who has the most potential, Hughes smiled: "I couldn't possibly say."

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