Usman Nurmagomedov completed his objective of proving he’s a extra full preventing than Alexander Shabliy within the Bellator Champions Collection: San Diego primary occasion – even when he didn’t get the stoppage.
Nurmagomedov (18-0) added to his unblemished report Saturday with a unanimous determination win over Shabliy (24-4) at Pechanga Enviornment to defend his Bellator light-weight strap. It was a extremely tactical affair, albeit sluggish at instances outdoors of a fourth-round burst the place the champion had his problem on the ropes from a head kick.
However, it was a transparent victory for Nurmagomedov, who mentioned he was happy to silence Shabliy’s criticism of his path towards the belt by beating him with the gold on the road.
“My sport plan was to combat him,” Nurmagomedov informed reporters on the post-fight press convention. “I do know all the pieces. I can strike, I can kick, wrestling, grappling – I’m MMA fighter. That’s why I’m right here. It was my plan to point out to the world who I’m, present to the world my coronary heart. I feel I did this.
“When Alexander Shabliy mentioned, ‘Usman don’t combat with no person, however he go to the title shot very quickly’: I’m solely 26, however when Alexander Shabliy was 26, no person is aware of the place he’s preventing even. Now in his prime and in my situation finest for proper now, I gained the combat now. That is going to make extra proof for myself.”
Nurmagomedov, 26, mentioned he couldn’t have conquered Shabliy with out the help of his workforce. His cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov was in his nook for the primary time since turning into champion, and his pre-fight request of getting “The Eagle” wrap the belt round his waist grew to become actuality within the aftermath of the efficiency.
Nurmagomedov’s workforce additionally consists of American Kickboxing Coach Javier Mendez, his cousin Usman, UFC light-weight champ Islam Makhachev and lots of others. With out them, Nurmagomedov mentioned he wouldn’t have been in a position to thrive in the best way he did.
“I like these guys a lot,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “They assist my development, not as simply an MMA fighter – as a human, I develop greater than as an MMA fighter or one thing. I simply need to say thanks for all of those guys.”
Khabib mentioned within the post-fight interview that his cousin is an excessive expertise, and if he meets his potential to go down as the good of all time in MMA.
“I’ll show (him proper),” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “That is the longer term. I’m the longer term.”
The victory marked a major second for Nurmagomedov, who was away from competitors for 11 months after a failed drug check and suspension. Nurmagomedov has been steadfast in his denial of taking any performance-enhancing substances, and may now put that chapter in his previous.
After dropping almost a 12 months of his profession coping with the scenario, although, Nurmagomedov is eager to make up for misplaced time and hold constructing his profile within the sport.
“I need to combat in Dubai as a result of in Dubai I feel they’ve an occasion in January,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “I don’t know precisely. For me this is superb date. I need to keep lively. I need to combat each three or 4 months as a result of I’m solely 26. I need to combat. I’m hungry.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion web page for Bellator Champions Collection: San Diego.
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