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Umar Nurmagomedov plans on turning into UFC champion sooner or later, however for now he’s simply anxious to get again into the cage and resume his climb up the ranks.
The undefeated bantamweight and cousin to UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov hasn’t fought in additional than a yr resulting from an harm that stored him out of his most up-to-date scheduled look towards Cory Sandhagen this previous August. As he ready to return, Nurmagomedov hoped to compete earlier than the top of 2023 however in the end needed to wait till the upcoming UFC Vegas 87 card on Saturday to discover a prepared opponent.
Regardless of his place within the division, Nurmagomedov received’t face a ranked fighter and even an skilled UFC veteran. As a substitute, he attracts newcomer Bekzat Almakhan as a result of that’s all he may get.
“They make me suppose I’m the champion on this [division],” Nurmagomedov stated throughout UFC Vegas 87 media day when requested in regards to the bantamweights who refuse to face him. “They actually make me suppose [that], after which I’m going to the health club and Khabib [Nurmagomedov] or another person smashes me and so they carry me again to Earth.
“I hope they may take this struggle, they may [accept] it, somebody within the high 5 perhaps after this struggle.”
Nurmagomedov admits it will get just a little irritating when his undefeated document someway will get dismissed whereas he’s in search of out higher competitors. He’s excellent at 16-0 total in MMA, together with 4 straight wins within the UFC with three finishes alongside the best way.
Regardless of that résumé, Nurmagomedov hears fighters complain that he hasn’t completed sufficient to deserve higher-ranked opponents but. The 28-year-old Dagestani native then can’t assist however marvel what precisely he’s alleged to do to get these alternatives?
“They’re simply speaking about, ‘He doesn’t deserve it, he didn’t beat no person.’ How didn’t I beat no person?” Nurmagomedov stated. “4-0. It’s not unhealthy. What number of fighters start like this? I don’t need to be cocky. I’m not going to say I’m high excessive stage or nothing or one thing like that.
“If any individual involves the UFC and he’s exhibiting a very good efficiency and he smashed all his opponents, it means this man has to struggle with any individual sturdy. You possibly can’t simply say he didn’t deserve, he has to beat any individual. OK, how am I going to beat any individual? Merab [Dvalishvili] talks about this. How am I going to beat any individual in the event that they don’t [accept] it?”
Relatively than complain, Nurmagomedov prefers to simply preserve transferring ahead. Almakhan now stands as the most important impediment in his strategy to staying undefeated. Nurmagomedov is an amazing favourite to win on Saturday, however the odds don’t matter as soon as the cage door closes.
“I didn’t suppose this struggle goes to be very straightforward struggle for me and I didn’t practice,” Nurmagomedov stated. “No, I educated very onerous. I’m coaching like I’ll practice for the title. For my opponent, it’s an enormous alternative, and I believe he’s doing a really nice job too. We’ll see this Saturday.”
Each struggle within the UFC serves as an opportunity to make a press release, however Nurmagomedov doesn’t really feel any undue strain to ship some sort of highlight-reel end simply to get consideration.
In actual fact, he guarantees that he’s by no means going to bat a watch at feedback made about his efficiency — optimistic or detrimental — as a result of that’s by no means actually mattered to him.
“I don’t care about what they’re going to suppose,” Nurmagomedov stated. “I actually don’t care. They’ve their life, I’ve my life, and I’m doing nothing so any individual can be good with me and they’ll say, ‘This man is superb.’ I don’t care. I’ve a household I’ve to care for. I’ve my approach and I’ll be doing what I need.”
If he does get a powerful win, Nurmagomedov will virtually assuredly draw a much bigger struggle and higher identify for his subsequent opponent. Sandhagen already acknowledged that he’ll be watching, and if Nurmagomedov shines in victory, he would think about revisiting that matchup once more.
Whether or not it’s Sandhagen or any individual else, Nurmagomedov’s finish purpose stays the UFC bantamweight title. That belt subsequent goes up for grabs at UFC 299 when reigning champion Sean O’Malley clashes with Marlon “Chito” Vera in the primary occasion.
Nurmagomedov is aware of he’s not getting the following shot on the title, however he expects a well-recognized face can be holding onto that belt — at the least for a short while longer.
“I believe Sean O’Malley goes to smash this man,” Nurmagomedov stated. “Their final struggle, Chito received as a result of O’Malley was injured. We don’t know what was going to occur on this struggle if he’s not injured. As a result of till he was injured, O’Malley was smashing him.”
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