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Connor Hughes floors UFC debutant Shem Rock in 64 seconds at PFL Dubai

Connor Hughes needed just 64 seconds to knock out Shem Rock with a sharp combination of hooks in the opening preliminary bout at PFL Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday, moving his PFL record to 6-3.

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Connor Hughes floors UFC debutant Shem Rock in 64 seconds at PFL Dubai
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Connor Hughes dismantled Shem Rock in 64 seconds at PFL Dubai, landing a brutal combination of hooks to earn a first-round stoppage in the final preliminary bout at the Coca-Cola Arena in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

Referee Bryan Miner waved off the contest almost immediately after Hughes connected, leaving Rock with little chance to recover. It was a statement performance from the English lightweight, who improves to 13-3 as a professional and moves his PFL record to 6-3.

The finish was particularly timely for Hughes, who had suffered a third-round defeat to Alex Chizov in December 2025 to snap a two-fight knockout streak. Saturday’s result signals a swift return to form.

For Rock, the loss came on his PFL debut following a brief stint in the UFC, where he dropped both octagon appearances via decision — both against Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady.

The event at the Coca-Cola Arena is headlined by a heavyweight title bout between Vadim Nemkov and Sergei Bilostennyi.

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