Usman Nurmagomedov couldn’t be happier with his preparation for the Bellator Champions Series: San Diego main event, and he thinks it’s going to result in a dominant performance.
Nurmagomedov (17-0) returns to competition for the first time in 11 months Saturday when he puts his lightweight championship on the line against Alexandr Shabliy (24-3) at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Calif. The entire card streams on Max.
The longest break of Nurmagomedov’s career was a result of a suspension from the California State Athletic Commission after he tested for a banned substance that resulted in his Bellator 300 win over Brent Primus being overturned. He took a prescription medication he claims unknowingly contained a substance that led to the positive test, but has maintained his innocence against any attempt to cheat for performance-enhancing purposes.
With the difficult moment behind him, Nurmagomedov is now looking ahead. He spent the final month of his training camp at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., and is ready to get back to doing what he does best.
“I love this place because it’s one hour (flight) from San Diego, where I will fight,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie. “It’s a very good place for training. Very good people around me. Javier (Mendez), Khabib (Nurmagomedov), my brothers. Everybody is here. Everybody has helped me and I’m ready.”
Nurmagomedov will have an all-star corner for his fight. Mendez, Khabib Nurmagomedov and his brother Umar Nurmagomedov, and that only drives the champion to put on a more spectacular performance.
Khabib has been absent from his cousin’s corner for the past few fights, but Nurmagomedov said his presence has still been felt. It will be special to have him there in person for the first time as a title-fight competitor, though, and Nurmagomedov said it’s his vision to have Khabib wrap the title around him once he wins.
“All the time he was in our corner,” Nurmagomedov said. “Even when (he wasn’t there) and we fight, between rounds he would call to corner us and tell them what we need to do in the fight. People think he went out and he wouldn’t talk about fights, but we all the time talked. He just took some time to enjoy with his family, but now he’s with us and I’m so happy. I hope he’s going to put the belt around my waist. I hope Khabib is going to put the belt on me.”
Nurmagomedov’s bout at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego will be his first since the company was acquired by the PFl. There’s been a litany of changes since the two banners were brought together, with some athletes jumping back-and-forth depending on the circumstances.
The promotional brass haven’t shared much insight on its future plans for someone like Nurmagomedov, and he said he’s not been made privy to how he’ll be used going forward.
“Honestly I don’t know,” Nurmagomedov said. “I didn’t look at the future, but I love these guys from Bellator – all the staff, all of them who give me these opportunities. I just want to say thank you for everybody. I love being in Bellator. I don’t know about the future. I only have one goal: This is to defend my title. But after, we will see.”
For now, Nurmagomedov is focused on the task at hand. Shabliy is far from an easy opponent, and before the PFL-Bellator merger, it was originally meant to be the finals of the Bellator lightweight grand prix.
It’s still a high-stakes title fight, though, and Nurmagomedov’s goal is the same as always: Dominate and keep his undefeated record in tact.
“I think I’m going to maul this guy all five rounds,” Nurmagomedov said. “You can watch this. Enjoy it.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event page for Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.
