Khabib Nurmagomedov defends Umar Nurmagomedov’s title shot at UFC 311.
Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) within the Jan. 18 co-main occasion (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Dvalishvili was by no means offered on Nurmagomedov because the No. 1 contender and needed extra time to organize for his first title protection. His discontent was evident in the course of the latest UFC 311 pre-fight press convention, and Nurmagomedov thinks the strain of being champion has already gotten to “The Machine.”
“That is his downside, Merab’s downside,” Nurmagomedov stated in a latest press convention (h/t Purple Nook MMA). “I believe when he was starting his profession, he was performing good. When he grew to become champion, he can’t cope with this as a result of life altering. Earlier than champion and after champion there’s two life. You need to cope with this.
“About Umar (getting a) reward, Umar is 18-0, and he’s on a six-fight win streak within the UFC, they usually gave him a really powerful opponent in his final combat, five-round predominant occasion vs. Cory Sandhagen. I believe Umar deserve. I don’t know why Merab nervous. Umar right here not as a result of he’s my cousin. He’s right here as a result of he’s 18-0 and 6-0 within the UFC. Umar desires to create his legacy. He’ll present January 18. He’ll present why Merab nervous.”
Dvalishvili’s complaints stem from the truth that Nurmagomedov solely has one ranked win en path to a title shot – a unanimous determination towards Cory Sandhagen within the UFC on ABC 7 headliner in August.
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