"Fight With Nurmagomedov Is A Gift". Kazakh UFC Debutant Almakhan Ready To Impress And Aims For Championship

On March 2nd, UFC Fight Night 238 will take place in Las Vegas, featuring undefeated Russian bantamweight fighter Umar Nurmagomedov. Making his debut against him will be league newcomer Bekzat Almakhan.

In an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net, Almakhan:

• called Nurmagomedov a gift for his career;
• admitted dreaming of fighting Umar in particular;
• named Shavkat Rakhmonov and Khamzat Chimaev as favorites in a potential match;
• expressed confidence in his own ability to become a champion;
• stated that Conor McGregor was his favorite fighter.

- Was the fight with Umar Nurmagomedov a requirement for you to enter the UFC?

- Yes, this fight was our ticket into the UFC, a first obligation. We were told they were looking for an opponent for Umar and were ready to offer a contract. We immediately accepted the fight.

- Nurmagomedov talks about wanting to fight for the belt this year. Is he jumping the gun?

- Just a bit.

- Does Umar have the skills to fight a champion or a contender in this division?

- Yes, I've been watching him for a long time. He is a well-rounded and versatile fighter, strong in all aspects. He has the right to fight strong fighters in his division. We've always wanted to fight with good fighters. That was an opportunity, and we took it.

- Merab Dvalishvili believes that Umar's three opponents in the UFC were nobodies. Is that statement true?

- It's not my place to judge Nurmagomedov's opponents. In my opinion, Umar fought good guys. But he has not faced a fighter like me yet.

- Are there many people who are confident of your victory?

- Yes, there are. Fans and supporters know what I'm capable of. There are those who do not believe in my victory. That gives me extra motivation.

- Is Nurmagomedov facing the biggest challenge of his life?

- You could say that.

- What do you think of bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley?

- He's a good striker and a good wrestler. I have nothing bad to say about him.

- Do you find the fight between Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera intriguing?

- I don't know Marlon Vera's skills, so I can't make a prediction.

- How do you think Petr Yan vs. Song Yadong will end?

- I only know Petr Yan, I do not know Song Yadong, I have not seen any of his fights.

- Who do you think is the strongest fighter in the bantamweight division?

- I studied this division before I signed with the UFC. One of the top fighters was Umar Nurmagomedov. And as fate would have it, he'll be my first opponent! They assigned him to me right away. The rest is not important for me. The only thing that's important to me is to beat Umar.

- Did you get the most amazing gift you could ever dream of?

- You could say that.

- What opponent in the welterweight division could stop Shavkat Rakhmonov?

- In the welterweight division I don't see anybody who could stop Shavkat. I really hope and believe that he will become a champion this year.

- Who do you see as the favorite in a potential Rakhmonov vs. Khamzat Chimaev fight?

- If Chimaev returns to the welterweight division, makes weight, then Shavkat will be the favorite.

- What fighters did you look up to at the beginning of your career?

- When I started my career, I liked Conor McGregor. The way he handles himself in terms of showmanship, promotion and so on. Also his fighting style. I liked his approach.

- Who were you rooting for in the McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov fight?

- It was 50-50, but because Khabib is our Muslim brother, I was rooting for him.

- Asu Almabaev and CJ Vergara. What can Almabaev do to win?

- Asu is a very versatile fighter. He is strong in wrestling, striking and so on. But his strongest side is wrestling, so he will take his opponent to the ground.

- Shavkat Rakhmonov is considered a potential UFC champion. Can you name another fighter who could win the belt in the future?

- You will see me soon as a champion or a title challenger.