BELFAST, Northern Ireland — A blind man could have told you what nationality Paul Hughes was Saturday night at PFL Belfast.

As the evening’s featured attraction neared, Foy Vance’s rendition of “Grace” — a ballad about Joseph Plunkett, a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising, marrying his love Grace Gifford hours before his execution — hit the assembly like a gut punch, transforming the chaos into a respectful chorus.

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Hughes hit the ramp as soon as Nipsey Hussle’s “Victory Lap” hit the sound system. Men of a similar age poured themselves over metal barriers roaring words of encouragement as the Irishman prepared to fight in the same venue where he made his professional debut eight years before.

Just before he hit the final check point, he turned back to his Fight Academy Ireland (FAI) coaches Liam Shannon and Pat McAlister, and his boxing coach Donard McNally. While Hughes was certainly the reason why the overwhelming majority of people had parted with their hard-earned money at the door, his brief pause felt like a nod to the hub that FAI has built in Belfast, on a night where it would be unequivocally heralded as the biggest MMA hotbed on the island.

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The visiting headliner, Bruno Miranda, paced back and forth, stimulated by the energy in the venue. Hughes cut a stoic figure, completely still in prayer, preparation or otherwise.

A group of four men wearing Paul Hughes t-shirts acted as my compass to the Common Market as soon as I touched down in Belfast.

The doors of the famed Odyssey Complex venue hosting the event didn’t open for another two hours but already hundreds of the Hughes faithful were gathered, being serenaded by folk singers and bursting into sporadic chants of “Hughesy, Hughesy, Hughesy” whenever an opportunity presented itself.

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Nobody was particularly concerned about Miranda, the Derry man’s opponent. Each time they were asked for a prediction, Hughes’ devotees would insist that the fight wouldn’t leave the first round, some believed it wouldn’t last a minute.

“Big News” confirmed his elite level in a close run bout with undefeated PFL champion Usman Nurmagomedov in January, but tonight was about showing the world what he meant to his people. And it wasn’t only Irish in the assembly — members of “The Big News Crew” had ported in the town that built the Titanic from New York, London, Dubai and Glasgow, among others.

A lull in the tunes signalled it was time to leave. Off they went in their droves, taking the 15-minute stroll past Sammy The Seal, The Big Fish, across The River Lagan, down Sydenham Road and into the Odyssey.

Alan Philpott’s placement in the co-main event felt like a sensible nod to the Northern Irish scene from the PFL. In the Ballymena man’s corner was Rodney Moore, who had coached Norman Parke to a win under the same roof in one of the great All-Ireland clashes against Paul Redmond eight years before — the same night Hughes made his first bow.

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It wasn’t just them, as all around the arena were famed fighting Northmen. UFC’s Rhys McKee took up his position beside the cage at the beginning of the event. Joe McColgan ran back and forth from the locker rooms to see his teammates compete, and back again to help prepare the next one for action. When the main card began, Caolan Loughran appeared cage side, soon to be announced as the PFL’s latest signing.

I wondered if David Patterson was there, one of the founding fathers of Irish MMA. Having been on the frontlines for the inception of the sport on the island, it must be a strange feeling to see a fledgling pro he once trained at Derry’s Elite Fighting Revolution as the face of the national sport.

The sound of a heartbeat suddenly pulsated through the speakers, mirroring the adrenaline that was coursing through the crowd. Vance appeared at centerstage and the first note he sang invited the gathering to join in.

The roar that erupted from the crowd was like a burning building, each voice a gust of wind fanning the flames.

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Miranda lay motionless as Hughes spiraled around with his hands on his head, eventually climbing atop the cage, savoring the moment as plastic beer cups soared through the air in celebration.

He gave his audience their reward in just 42 seconds. Catching Miranda’s kick with his left hand, he used the same limb to scoop the leg across before returning it to the Brazilian’s jaw a split-second later.

It was Hughes’ night and the city moved all around him. What he created at PFL Belfast wasn’t the sequel to previous glories, nor was his billing due to his proximity to storied legends who had come before him. No, the love he received from his people told the world: “He is adored, he is elite — and he represents us.”

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They bayed again when he made the inevitable call for his rematch with Nurmagomedov, a declaration that occupied headlines all over the world.

The climax had come in the form of a Hughes victory, but the night was still young.

Off they went in their droves, out of the Odyssey, up Sydenham Road, across the River Lagan, past The Big Fish and Sammy The Seal, and back to the Common Market to dance the night away.