On September 8, the Bellator Champions Series in San Diego will feature lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov facing Alexandr Shabliy. This matchup, originally intended for the Bellator Grand Prix finals, will now be a title fight due to legal issues.
Bet on MMA with 1xBetIn an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net, Shabliy:
- discussed his expectations ahead of the fight;
- evaluated his readiness;
- compared Usman to Umar Nurmagomedov;
- revealed that the million-dollar prize was not stipulated in the contract;
- expressed his determination to hand Nurmagomedov his first career loss;
- shared insights about socialization in Dagestan through a story about his mother;
- expressed confidence that Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in Usman's corner.
"I’ve been waiting for this fight for a long while"
– Alexandr, how long have you been in San Diego?
– We arrived Saturday evening from Miami. There is a three-hour difference between these cities and a ten-hour difference with Moscow. We got here early to acclimatize. I used a similar approach before my fight with Tofiq Musayev in San Jose. Both cities are in California, and the climate is similar to Sochi, with less humidity than in Miami. The evenings are already cool enough to wear a T-shirt. The weather is nice.
– Is this a convenient time for you to fight? Were you better prepared for May or February?
– That's up for discussion. I didn't fight in May, so I can't say whether I was prepared better. After the fight, we can assess my condition. Right now, I feel great. Pre-fight talks don’t always reflect reality. I need to step into the cage and show what I can do.
– I was concerned you might burn out due to the delays.
– I’ve been waiting for this fight for a long while, but I managed to take breaks. My first training camp was longer compared to this one. We planned it so that I trained in Kislovodsk, took a week off at home, and then came here to finalize my preparations. We considered all the details.
"My million worries people more than me"
– Can you gauge who is stronger before the fight—Usman Nurmagomedov or Eduard Vartanian, who you fought in 2016?
– I don’t want to downplay Eduard’s achievements, but we haven’t seen how he fights outside of Russia. That has its own nuances. Vartanian is undoubtedly one of the toughest opponents I've faced; he won last year’s ACA Grand Prix and was considered one of the top lightweights. However, fighting in Russia versus abroad has significant differences, which can result in mistakes during the match. I don’t want to exaggerate Usman’s skills either; they are simply different fighters. I’ve faced top-tier opponents like Adriano Martins, who defeated Islam Makhachev and Rustam Khabilov, so I’m prepared for this match. It’s just another fight. I don’t underestimate Usman but I don’t exaggerate his abilities.
– What is the situation with the million dollars that was planned for the Bellator Grand Prix final?
– We'll figure out what to do with the million after the fight. The priority is to secure the victory. It’s too early to count the chickens before they are hatched.
– So, it looks like you will be receiving a fixed fee for the fight?
– Yes, it's a championship fight.
– You can't disclose the amount, can you?
– I can't. But I can say that no fighter in Bellator who participated in the Grand Prix had that million specified in their contract. The PFL situation is understandable. They haven’t announced any figures in their contracts, and the company that owned Bellator didn’t make it clear either. All questions should be directed to the previous owners, who said they would pay the million. The question about this million seems to worry people more than it worries me. I don’t think about it at all. My goal is to win the championship fight.
"Umar dominated Sandhagen on every level"
– Recently, Umar Nurmagomedov fought Cory Sandhagen. Can we draw parallels between Umar’s performance and Usman’s, and what insights can we take from Cory’s actions about what you should or shouldn’t do?
– In the first and second rounds, Sandhagen did everything right. From the third to the fifth, he seemed to slow down. I'm not sure why that happened; maybe it was acclimatization. Typically, Americans who come to fight in Abu Dhabi hit a kind of “wall.” Umar mixed his attacks well: punches, kicks, and grappling, dominating Sandhagen on every level. The game plan focused on the ground work, but other aspects started to work out as well. Cory had enough skills to control the pace of the fight in the first and second rounds, but he ran out of steam.
– Did Sandhagen show a lack of character? Many of his fights seem to follow a similar pattern.
– I’m not a big fan of that fighter. I’ve seen his bouts with Umar, Petr Yan, and his knockout loss to Frankie Edgar. Yes, the same thing happened with Petr. He performed well for two rounds and then slowed down. It’s possible.
– Can we talk about the similarities between Umar and Usman, considering they are from the same level, school, and share skills?
– Usman and Umar are both more stand-up fighters compared to Khabib. Islam Makhachev also has a different fighting style. Umar and Usman are similar; they come from a Muay Thai background and frequently use kicks.
"Usman's undefeated record doesn’t bother me"
– Have you seen Usman progress from fight to fight in Bellator?
– The last three fights have been different from the earlier ones, but the opposition has also been different. I think he will be in a different condition for this match. Nurmagomedov is growing, which is natural for someone at 26 years old. He’s improving physically and technically. In my fight, he will open up in a different way.
– Does a fighter's undefeated record put pressure on their opponents and judges?
– I can’t speak for the judges. They may be influenced by their personal likes and dislikes, which is subjective. After my fight with Eduard Vartanyan, the issue of judging remains under question for me. Each judge has their own scoring system and will always find justification for their evaluation. I know that I am determined to break Usman’s undefeated record in San Diego, and it doesn’t bother me at all.
– What is your attitude towards Usman? Do you feel any anger towards him?
– No, I have nothing to be angry about. This is sports, business, entertainment, and show business. I only see him as an opponent. There’s no personal dislike; just a sporting interest and a competitive rage, and that’s all.
– Do you have any questions for your managers?
– No questions at all. This is business too. There are personal, friendly, and working relationships. We need to be simpler and wiser.
"Grandma sends me encouraging words"
– Did many people come with you to the USA?
– With me is Datsi Datsiev, my striking coach. The other two coaches couldn’t get their visas—they were denied twice. A coach from American Top Team, Parrumpa, and Artem Levin will join me on Tuesday. Both will be in my corner.
– Do you get a lot of support from Russia?
– Yes, many people reached out after my interview with Aslanbek Badaev. I didn’t expect that. It turned out to be a clear, straightforward conversation. Apparently, I revealed a new side of myself to people. However, I thought they already knew me from that side since I’ve given many interviews before. The questions Aslanbek asked are the ones I often get. Now I’ve heard from a lot of people, including some acquaintances I haven’t heard from in a while. And I thought that there was nothing extraordinary about it.
– I was touched by your story about how your relatives turned away from your mother.
Yes, there was a misunderstanding. At that moment, it was hard for them to accept that someone was leaving and marrying a Russian. It was quite a shock, especially for the village people. Now Dagestan has become a bit more socialized, and we communicate better. There are no misunderstandings anymore. I often visit my grandmother, whom I hadn’t seen until I was 21.
Alexandr Shabliy
– Will your family be watching the fight – your grandma, dad, mom, kids?
– My grandmother doesn’t watch the fights. The neighbors and relatives inform her. She cares and sends me encouraging words through my mom. My parents watch the recorded fights, while my kids and wife watch live.
"There will be war"
– Will Khabib Nurmagomedov be in Usman’s corner?
– Yes, since he is here.
– He has missed some fights, including not being in Islam Makhachev’s corner in Australia. Does his presence show that they take you more seriously than the other opponents?
– I don’t know why he missed those fights. I remember he was stepping back from coaching duties at that time. He has recently returned. He was in the corner during the fight with Dustin Poirier, which marked his return to coaching.
– What do you have to say to your fans? What can we expect from the fight?
– A big thank you to those who have supported me and sent messages. I see everything, but I hardly respond to anyone. You know, time is limited. We recorded this interview after two weeks of planning. So, I thank everyone. On September 8, it will be a war. Make sure to watch the fight—it will be interesting. No one will be indifferent. We’ll bury Usman’s record in San Diego.