CHICAGO – Undefeated Bellator lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov is ready to make Bellator history.
At Bellator 288, Nurmagomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) challenges Patricky Freire for the lightweight title in the co-main event at Wintrust Arena. It will be the first five-round fight of his unblemished career, but assures he is ready for the task.
Standing in his way of making history as the first fighter from Dagestan to win a Bellator title will be Freire (24-10 MMA, 15-8 BMMA), the 36-year-old Brazilian champion who will be putting his newly-acquired title on the line.
If Nurmagomedov has his say, there will be another changing of the guard in the lightweight division.
“What he used to do from the age of, let’s say 25 to 28, he will never be able to repeat it,” Nurmagomedov told reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “Even if he wants it too much, it’s not going to happen. He’s old, he’s 36.”
Due to his age, Nurmagomedov believes it doesn’t make sense for him to watch footage of Freire’s old fights. “Pitbull” claimed the vacant lightweight title by defeating Peter Queally by second-round TKO at Bellator 270 a year ago.
With youth on his side, the 24-year-old Dagestani plans to pick up his fifth victory under the Bellator banner, and along with it, a piece of hardware and a place in history.
“My name will be written in the history books forever,” Nurmagomedov said. “There was a time nobody would sign fighters from the Caucasus. Nobody knew where Dagestan is, where this part of Russia is located. Now we have two champions from Dagestan in the UFC – past and present. I want to be the first Bellator champion from Dagestan. Nobody will take this away from me. No matter what happens in the future, my name will be saved in the history books.”
