The Professional Fighters League is bringing another major fight card to Northern Ireland, with Paul Hughes set to compete in front of his home crowd at the SSE Arena.

Hughes will face New Zealand’s Jay Jay Wilson in a lightweight contest scheduled for Thursday, April 16. The matchup pits two ranked contenders looking to surge up the division.

Pre-sale tickets open Tuesday, February 24 at 12 p.m. GMT, with general sales beginning Wednesday, February 25. Arena doors will open at 7 p.m. BST, while the main event is expected shortly after midnight.

Hughes returns to familiar territory

Hughes enters the bout following three significant fights in 2025, including two championship clashes against Usman Nurmagomedov. Their meetings in Dubai were widely viewed as high-level showcases of mixed martial arts.

His third appearance last year produced a rapid finish at the same Belfast venue, stopping Bruno Miranda in just 42 seconds. The performance energized the hometown crowd and reinforced his standing in the lightweight division.

Now looking to rebuild momentum, Hughes aims to deliver another statement performance in front of his supporters. He is expected to draw strong backing from the Belfast crowd once again.

Wilson presents dangerous test

Wilson arrives with a reputation as a well-rounded finisher and a fighter who has never been stopped in 13 professional bouts. The New Zealander owns eight finishes split between knockouts and submissions.

His only defeats came against elite competition, including Archie Colgan and Gadzhi Rabadanov. A win over Hughes would significantly boost Wilson’s position in the lightweight rankings and strengthen his case as a top contender.

The preliminary card for PFL Belfast will stream in the United States on the ESPN App beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. The main card will air on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. ET.