Jakub Kaszuba, who trained in Taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing and wrestling as a youth, has been one of the most impressive performers in PFL Europe to date. Kaszuba defeated Radu Maxim, Dylan Tuke and John Mitchell last year to capture the inaugural PFL Europe Lightweight Title. Now, after wins over Kane Mousah and Daniele Scatizzi, Kaszuba finds himself one win away from making PFL Europe history again.

 

Connor Hughes comes from a family of successful karate and kickboxing champions. After accomplishing in both disciplines himself, Hughes jumped to professional MMA in 2021. He’s won 10 of 11 as a pro, including a 3-1 record with PFL Europe. After wins over Anatolij Baal and Ignacio Capella earlier this year, Hughes is now at the doorstep of becoming an MMA champion.

 

Will Kaszuba become the first two-time PFL Europe Champion? Or will Connor Hughes claim the championship this year?

 

 

Round 1

 

Kaszuba dancing around the outside. Low kick from Kaszuba. A couple of jabs blocked for Hughes. Both men staying patient in this first minute. Uppercut and strong left check hook for Hughes. Left hand from Kaszuba. Knee by Hughes. Low kick misses for Kaszuba. One-two by Hughes. Low kick by Hughes. Right hand blocked by Kaszuba. Two left hands land for Kaszuba. Strong left uppercut lands for Hughes.

 

Kaszuba comes forward, but Hughes displays excellent counterstriking. High kick from Hughes is blocked. Kaszuba comes in and gets clipped by a hook from Hughes. Kaszuba stumbles back to the fence. Left hand from Hughes. Round kick by Kaszuba. Left hand and a low kick from Hughes. Kaszuba shoots in and grabs a leg, bringing Hughes to the fence as he looks for a takedown. Kaszuba goes for a double leg now. Hughes looks to attack the neck. Hughes threatening the choke, only letting go at the horn.

 

 

Round 2

 

Side kick from Kaszuba. Low kick on the inside by Hughes. High kick misses for Kaszuba. Right hand by Hughes. Left hand by Hughes. Check left hook lands for Hughes. Hughes catches Kaszuba with a body lock, and the action goes to the fence. Kaszuba landing short shots with the right hand. Hughes with some knees. Kaszuba reverses the position. Right hand from Kaszuba after he tried for the takedown. The referee breaks the position and returns the two to the center.

 

Hughes uses his jabs. Short stomp kick by Hughes. Strong uppercut drops Kaszuba! Hughes with some ground-and-pound! Kaszuba staying in the fight. Hughes takes the back and has a rear-naked choke in! Kaszuba gets out of it and ends up on top! Kaszuba working with short shots up top, trying to work in the closed guard of Hughes. Kaszuba trying to soften up Hughes’s defenses.

 

 

 

Round 3

 

Kaszuba comes in behind the jab. Hughes circles himself off the fence and goes into a clinch battle with Kaszuba. Kaszuba goes for a trip and he gets on top. Kaszuba with a pair of left hands to the body. Kaszuba tries to work into side control. Kaszuba lands some ground-and-pound. Hughes gets back to his feet, but Kaszuba still has a grip on him and performs a mat return.

 

Some elbows from Kaszuba in side control. Kaszuba doing some body and head work. Another strong elbow from Kaszuba. Kaszuba goes back to landing short shots on the ground. Kaszuba with more peppering left hands. Kaszuba controlling the wrist, and now he’s got the right arm completely trapped. Strong left hands raining down on Hughes! Hughes is busted open across his forehead. Kaszuba with relentless pressure. Kaszuba continues to rain down ground-and-pound with elbows. Right elbow, left elbow, more left elbows. Strong comeback round from Jakub Kaszuba!

 

 

Round 4

 

The fight goes back to the ground almost right away, but Hughes has an arm around the neck. Kaszuba using palm strikes and punches to the side, looking to get out of Hughes’s grasp. He does, and now Kaszuba has to get to work from the top. Brutal elbows coming down onto Hughes’s head. Kaszuba landing short shots and trying to control Hughes’s arms.

 

Brutal elbows again from Kaszuba. Kaszuba continuing to work, the elbows pouring down one after another. More elbows, and Hughes is warned to improve his position. Hughes gets a butterfly hook in, but he’s still overwhelmed by the pressure. Kaszuba now in the mount, and it’s back to the elbows. Hughes is warned to improve his position again. Kaszuba goes back to work. The referee warns one more time. IT’S OVER!

 

 

Just when it looked like he was in danger earlier in the fight, Jakub Kaszuba comes from behind to get the finish and a second PFL Europe Lightweight Championship!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Jakub Kaszuba def. Connor Hughes via fourth-round TKO (elbows, 4:07)