The “Lazy King” is able to placed on a “lazy present” for “lazy folks.”
With a file of 15-1, Abdoul Abdouraguimov is seen by many as probably MMA’s greatest prospect exterior of a significant promotion, if somebody with 16 skilled fights might be even thought-about a prospect.
Born in Dagestan, Abdouraguimov has made it a precedence to change into fluent in English, reduce promos, placed on thrilling fights, end opponents, and show his quirky persona. So why isn’t he the UFC?
“That is the actual query,” Abdouraguimov lately informed MMA Junkie. “Myself, even everybody round me, we don’t know. UFC is a non-public firm. They do what they need. Actually, I don’t know why. In the present day, it’s a enterprise. It’s a must to know some good folks on the earth to get previous. In the present day, I don’t have this sort of connection, these robust connections. That’s why with ready. I’m a man, I wish to keep constructive. I’ll do my job and we’ll see if the alternatives are going to return to us after every combat. It’s at all times one thing new that comes, so we’ll see. We’re very constructive. Let’s see what occurs.”
🇫🇷Recap #02:Le jeudi 3 février 2022 avait lieu #ARES3:🇫🇷Abdoul Abdouraguimov -🇧🇷Godofredo PepeyLe fight pour le titre à 77kg a tenu ses (courtes) promesses.✅Victoire par soumission à 2:54min de la fin du premier spherical.Bravo @LazyKingMMA qui passe à (14-1) pic.twitter.com/6NT2M4KNJ7
— French MMA (@FrenchMma_) February 7, 2022
In a day and age the place the “new breed” of blended martial artists, fighters who began practising at a younger age, is spotlighted, Abdouraguimov is a uncommon exception. Whereas he wrestled since 16, he started his MMA fighter path at 21. Inside two weeks, he was a blue belt. He turned professional with none novice bouts.
Abdouraguimov credit a lot of his swift success to an uncommon fighter attribute that earned him his nickname: laziness. Don’t get it twisted, Abdouraguimov places within the work, however solely when he feels prefer it, when it’s mandatory.
“I’ve a lazy character,” Abdouraguimov mentioned. “It’s lazy however sensible. I’m able to work. I’m able to work arduous and all these things, but when it isn’t environment friendly, I don’t need it. For me, it should be environment friendly and optimized. I’m smart-lazy. … To be lazy, you’re going to get much less injured. An excessive amount of work isn’t good. An excessive amount of of something isn’t good. I see some novice fighters. They prepare greater than me. They prepare 4 or 5 occasions a day.”
From Dagestan to Germany to France, Abdouraguimov has been world wide. That’s why he doesn’t wish to single out one particular area, location, or group of individuals he represents. However he does perceive the worth in connecting with followers by way of language and persona.
Simply try the time he stole the present – from the gang – throughout a possible No. 1 contender combat for his ARES FC welterweight title.
Throughout this break, Abdoul Abdouraguimov warms up the viewers within the dome 🤣🤣 #ARES9 pic.twitter.com/1ZruDDsTpm
— ARES Combating Championship (@ares_fighting) November 3, 2022
Multilingual, Abdouraguimov is at present pushed because the face of ARES, a France-based promotion. Already a star amongst followers within the area, Abdouraguimov appeared to many to be a shoo-in for the UFC’s debut in Paris this previous September.
Regardless of a “Submission of the 12 months” candidate triangle towards UFC alum Godofredo Pepey, and a one-sided mauling of Bellator alum Karl Ammosou that led to a physician stoppage, the decision from the UFC by no means got here. Abdouraguimov attended the occasion as a fan as an alternative – all swagged out, in fact.
As he walked the streets of Paris within the hours previous to the occasion, Abdouraguimov had an opportunity encounter with a vital participant within the grand scheme of issues, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard.
“I went to speak with him slightly bit and he mentioned, ‘Sure, I do know you,’ however he doesn’t have the facility to make (these) selections,” Abdouraguimov mentioned.
Maynard is in control of the UFC girls’s divisions, in addition to males’s flyweight, middleweight, mild heavyweight, and heavyweight. Sean Shelby heads the welterweight division’s matchmaking and is the one Abdouraguimov would’ve most popular to run into.
Vous connaissez tous ma propagande acharnée pour Abdoul , vous pensez vraiment que j’allais laisser Mick Maynard 🇺🇸 (recruteur ufc) . Ce baladé tranquillement dans la capitale ? 😂
C’est mal connaitre MMAPropagande 😈.. #ABDOULATUFC Trad en com au cas ou 🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/uEhDGLQKBV
— MMA PROPAGANDE 👊🇫🇷 (@MMAPropagande) September 4, 2022
Till the UFC alternative comes, nonetheless, Abdouraguimov plans to maintain doing what he’s good at: successful. In the meantime, his supporters will proceed their marketing campaign of adorning the UFC’s remark sections with crown and koala emojis, an ode to Abdouraguimov’s impromptu upside-down victory celebration.
Le Lazy present 🤸🦥 pic.twitter.com/Jj6NYo6129
— ABDOUL ABDOURAGUIMOV (@LazyKingMMA) February 17, 2022
With 12 finishes in 15 professional appearances, Abdouraguimov has already captured one title and can go for a second division’s strap Jan. 20 at ARES FC 11 vs. Rafal Haratyk (16-4-2). If the decision comes thereafter, Abdouraguimov will nonetheless be prepared.
“It’s apparent I’ll carry the lazy present to the American folks,” Abdouraguimov mentioned. “I’m the ‘Lazy King’ and I’m making the lazy present. There are usually not many fighters who could make a combat and who could make a present. I could make each. I can speak in English. Present me a variety of fighters who got here from Dagestan, Russia who can speak English and who are usually not shy to speak. I’m not shy to speak. I’m not shy to make a present, a efficiency. I’m not shy to combat, additionally.
“Even in my fights, I don’t know the way it’s going to be completed. I, myself, in one in all my final fights, was stunned I hit an inverted triangle choke. I had by no means accomplished it in my life. I’m very inventive and you’ll anticipate the surprising. I’ll placed on a ‘Lazy King’ present.”
Try MMA Junkie’s full interview with “The Lazy King” under: