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.
