LOS ANGELES – Patricky Freire thinks Usman Nurmagomedov’s last name has everything to do with him getting a title shot.
Lightweight champion Freire (23-10 MMA, 14-8 BMMA) will make his first title defense against Nurmagomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA), cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, in the Bellator 288 main event Nov. 18.
The unbeaten Nurmagomedov has finished his past three opponents in the first round, but Freire thinks the level of competition he’s fought doesn’t warrant a title shot.
