Connor Hughes followed his mum and uncle around the world from the age of three during their kickboxing careers, so not many MMA stars can claim to match the Liverpudlian’s fighting background.
On Saturday, Hughes faces the biggest bout of his own sporting life as he takes on the undefeated Jakub Kaszuba in the PFL Europe lightweight final in Lyon.
Having won two fights in the tournament so far this year, one by stoppage, the 27-year-old Hughes has a chance to become champion and claim the £78,000 ($100,000) prize.
“It was never about money, it’s world titles and legacy I want,” he told BBC Sport.
“The money will come if I stay focused, it’s all about legacy.”
Hughes’ mother, Lorraine, and uncle, David, are multiple world champions in kickboxing.
Connor started kickboxing at the age of three, and at 18 he made the transition to MMA with The MMA Academy in Liverpool.
“I’ve been training since I was three, travelling the world watching my mum and my uncle David win titles, it’s just been my life,” he said.
“There was no other option for me. I’d come home from school and go straight to the gym.”
Hughes’ story is not unlike that of 2023 PFL Europe champion and 2024 PFL champion Dakota Ditcheva, whose mother was a kickboxing world champion.
Manchester’s Ditcheva went from winning the PFL’s European series to winning their flyweight world title a year later.
Her mother, Lisa, was the one to hand her the first world title last month.
Despite Hughes’ family background in fighting, his decision to move over to MMA was initially not a popular one.
“At first my mum wasn’t too happy. I’m the first one to step outside of kickboxing and chase MMA,” he said, laughing.
“But over time they saw how consistent I was and how I believed in myself, so when I made my amateur debut everyone there realised I could do something with this.”
Hughes made his professional MMA debut in July 2021 and now holds a record of 10-1, the only loss coming in his PFL debut last year.
‘I could’ve gone into boxing, but this is true fighting’
The defeat came in the first round of the 2023 PFL Europe tournament and Hughes insists that the experience of losing has helped him reach the final this time round.
“The loss has made me 10 times better than any win ever has. I believe in this game, as long as you keep training hard, you’ve got to lick your wounds, come back and you will get there. I’m proof of that,” he said.
“When I was younger, I just wanted to be a world champion. I’ve always wanted to be known as one of the best or the best fighter, and I don’t think you can do that without MMA.
“I could’ve gone into boxing, but this is true fighting.”
On Saturday he faces the opportunity to move one step closer to that goal with a win over Kaszuba.
Having fought on the same card in September, Hughes was cageside for 29-year-old Kaszuba’s semi-final bout against Italian Daniele Scatizzi.
The Polish star, nicknamed ‘The Auditor’, is unbeaten in 13 fights with seven finishes.
Hughes watched Kaszuba outpoint Scatizzi, but says he saw “nothing new” from a fighter aiming to becoming a two-time PFL Europe lightweight champion.
“I didn’t look at the performance and go ‘wow’. He’s effective in what he does and he’s obviously physically strong,” Hughes said.
“I’m about to prove I’m number one in Europe, so next I’ve got to prove I’m number one in the world.
“Without looking past Jakub, I’ve got to prove that next.”
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