Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov continues to stake his own claim as one of MMA’s best lightweights, but even he touts his teammate Islam Makhachev as the king of the division.
Ahead of his return at Bellator San Diego on Friday, Nurmagomedov actually put himself No. 2 when asked where he sits among the best 155-pound fighters on the planet. The undefeated 26-year-old knows he still has work to do when it comes to defining his own title reign, which continues with his looming defense against Alexandr Shabliy.
Meanwhile, Makhachev has been running roughshod over his UFC competition, rattling off 14 straight wins and three consecutive title defenses, so Nurmagomedov has no problem deferring to his longtime friend and training partner.
“Because Islam is No. 1,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Fighting when asked why he puts Makhachev ahead of himself. “Just look at him. This is pound-for-pound No. 1 king. It’s true.”
That final statement about Makhachev’s standing as the top pound-for-pound fighter shouldn’t come as a surprise given the run he’s on lately, but it’s safe to say UFC CEO Dana White would disagree.
White has spent months touting Jon Jones as MMA’s best pound-for-pound fighter and even went as far as releasing a promo video on Tuesday specifically to praise the long list of accomplishments that belong to the reigning UFC heavyweight champion.
For his part, Nurmagomedov certainly isn’t going to dispute Jones’ greatness but he still feels like Makhachev deserves recognition in the pound-for-pound rankings right now.
“For this time, now, Islam is No. 1 for sure,” Nurmagomedov said. “But of course Jon Jones, this is a legend. Nobody is saying he’s not a legend. Jon Jones is a legend. I grew up watching his fights. I love his style. I love his mentality. This guy is tough. But of course you’re talking about this time, you’re not talking about the past.
“We’re talking about now, and for me, people have different opinions. Dana White has his opinion, you have your opinion. This is good. This is not something bad.”
Of course, Makhachev has been a huge part of Nurmagomedov’s own evolution as a fighter, which has served as a tremendous help as he readies for Shabliy this weekend.
While he doesn’t discount the danger that Shabliy represents, Nurmagomedov can’t imagine he’s going to face anything like he does going up against Makhachev in the gym.
“Islam is a different level,” Nurmagomedov said. “He’s very tough. When you work with Islam and when you feel how you work with him, what you can do, what you cannot do, you understand in your mind this guy is No. 1 in the world. Nobody can beat him. No one.
“You give him good rounds, sometimes good, I think this makes me and other guys that train with Islam mentally strong. I don’t think Shabliy can give me some rounds better than Islam gives me. I don’t think he can push me like Islam pushes me.”
If Makhachev wasn’t enough to swing the pendulum in his favor, Nurmagomedov landed another bonus with his cousin and UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov also returning to coach him full-time after taking a brief break from MMA to focus on his family and other businesses.
Usman confirmed Khabib will corner him against Shabliy on Friday, and that his return has been a welcome addition to the team, not just for Usman, but also for Makhachev, his brother Umar Nurmagomedov, and everybody else associated with them.
“I would say that Khabib is the greatest person in MMA in general,” Nurmagomedov said. “When you’re talking about whether it’s being an athlete himself as a fighter, because he had the best opponents out there, he’s done an amazing defending his title. Also, he trained with Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, that’s his father, who was an amazing trainer. He trained a lot of guys, including myself, and obviously Khabib was doing the training. So now he’s staying as a trainer himself.
“Combining all of his experience together as a coach, as a fighter, working with his father, and just the amount of experience that he gathered is just tremendous. Nobody has it in the MMA world in general. There are coaches, there are fighters, but he combines everything. Having him in the corner, that’s a big support, and you feel that influence and overall he’s very valuable and most important member of our team.”
It all adds up to Nurmagomedov expecting another shutout performance, and he doesn’t give Shabliy much chance to pull off the upset.
“I’m ready,” Nurmagomedov said. “This is only what I can say. Sometimes a lucky punch [can happen], but if not, these things, this guy never can beat me. Not only him, nobody can beat me.”
from MMA Fighting - All Posts https://ift.tt/Yp60s9k
0 Comments
Dear valued readers,
I am writing to you today as LaPhezz, an international man of mystery with a passion for technology and a fascination for analytics. I have traveled the world and lived in many different places, and I have experienced a wide range of cultures and perspectives.
Despite my travels and encounters with countless people from all walks of life, I remain something of an enigma. My true identity is known to only a select few, and even those who know me well are often left guessing at my motivations and intentions.
As a tech enthusiast, I am always looking for new ways to leverage data and analytics to solve complex problems and make the world a better place. I believe that technology can be a powerful tool for positive change, and I am constantly exploring the latest trends and innovations in the field.
I am grateful to have such a diverse and engaged readership, and I am always eager to hear your feedback and insights. Whether you have questions about my work, suggestions for new topics to explore, or simply want to connect with a fellow tech enthusiast, I am always here to listen and engage.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in my work. Together, we can use technology and analytics to create a brighter, more connected world.
Best regards,
LaPhezz