PFL Exclusive: Connor Hughes intent on going down as ‘one of the best fighters that’s ever lived’
- Seb Sternik
- 4 July 2023
In an exclusive interview with Planet Sport, Liverpool's Connor Hughes opened up on his family's impressive fighting background ahead of his PFL Europe debut.
Connor Hughes will defend his unbeaten professional record as he begins his PFL Europe campaign against Dylan Tuke on July 8.
Hughes currently boasts a 7-0 pro MMA record and will arrive at PFL Europe 2 with a plethora of fighting experience.
The 25-year-old is taking part in the lightweight tournament which offers $100,000 for the winner, as well as a spot on the main PFL roster in the United States.
The Liverpool-based mixed martial artist is a former kickboxing world champion and also has also enjoyed an extensive amateur MMA career.
Fighting runs through the Hughes family household as his mother, grandfather and uncle all enjoyed successful careers in the industry.
Hughes' mother, Lorraine, is a multi-time World and British champion who currently runs her own gym in St Helens called Hughes Sport Karate Academy.
"My mum opened up her own academy in 2018," son Hughes told Planet Sport. "We've always had our own kickboxing academy. It was first in Prescot but then my mum moved over and started her own thing. I used to help out there a lot but now I'm just solely focused on my fight career.
"But yeah, my mum has been running that for four or five years. She's mostly teaching kids, and who knows, they might progress further on themselves.
"I don't do anything but train. I don't really have any hobbies. I was literally born and raised into a family of martial artists. What we did was go to the gym, knock each other's heads off and then go home. There's not much that I do outside of the gym.
"After training I come home, I chill and relax. Then I'm back out again."
Hughes, who has also won a number of British, European and World kickboxing titles, admitted it was his grandfather who introduced him to the fight game.
He said: "My grandad was a teacher in traditional karate. Started off in that. Then we started going more into the point fighting side like Michael Venom Page. He actually fought on the same team as my mum so I'm close with Michael.
"I started off there, was winning British, European, Worlds. My whole family did it. I travelled the world competing. People think this [weekend's bout with Tuke] will be my first fight abroad - it's not. I've fought all over the world before. Not in MMA but I've fought all over the globe. Collected titles all over the globe.
"I kind of did pretty much everything in that. Won 14 British titles, a European title and the World title. I then started getting into the full contact side. Seeing what that was about.
"My whole family - we travelled the world fighting and winning titles. My mum was a three-time world champion, my uncle was a two-time world champion, my grandad pretty much started us from scratch. As soon as we started to learn how to walk, he would have us in the gym throwing kicks.
"I was very lucky to be bred into the family that I have. I feel like all this has been leading me where I am now. I've got crazy support. I've got fighting in my blood. I feel like I've put here to do this, I've been made to do this.
"Once I started going into full contact, MMA started breaking out. That was it then. Once I saw that, I wanted to get my hands on it. I've always wanted to go down as one of the best fighters that's ever lived. I don't think you can do that without doing MMA. That was my motive towards it.
"I won every junior title you could get your hands on, I think it was time to move up."
Hughes will be looking to continue his impressive run in the fight game when he takes on Tuke at PFL Europe 2 on July 8 in Berlin. Fans will be able to follow the action unfold live on DAZN.
