On June 15, at the UFC on ESPN 58 tournament, Ikram Aliskerov will face newcomer Antonio Trocoli. IThe Russian was originally scheduled to fight Andre Muniz, but a few weeks before the fight, the Brazilian withdrew from the confrontation. The bout against Trocoli will be Aliskerov's third under the UFC banner.
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In an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net Ikram:
- commented on working under the guidance of Magomed Bagandov and Khabib Nurmagomedov, and the team's training in Kislovodsk;
- talked about his attitude towards opponent changes;
- shared his thoughts on the title fight in the UFC lightweight division between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier.
"There was a tough grind for two and a half weeks”
- How are the final days before the fight with Antonio Trocoli going?
- The worst days are here, weight cuts. But I'm half a kilogram ahead of schedule.
- How was the training camp in Kislovodsk?
- There were two and a half weeks of 'tough grind.' We trained in the morning and evening. In the fight I’ll show you the benefits of it.
"I have never seen such middleweights as Trocoli before"
- How do you feel about changing opponents, especially two weeks before the fight?
- It's unpleasant because you get used to a certain opponent. But before the UFC, there were times when they changed my opponent two days before the fight. It's nothing new for me.
- Did it cross your mind that after the fight with Muniz was canceled you would be given a higher ranked opponent? Or did you accept the idea that there will be a lesser-known opponent?
- Honestly, I only thought: "Just don't cancel the fight entirely. I hope all this hard work won't go to waste."
- You knew the strengths and weaknesses of Andre Muniz. What can you say about Antonio Trocoli?
- He doesn't even have fights to watch. The last fight I could find on YouTube was published nine years ago. The only thing I know about him is that he's 196 centimeters tall. Very tall, I've never seen middleweights like him before.
- What does a victory over him give you?
- It doesn't give me anything. I just wouldn't want the fight to be canceled. That would be awful.
"I would like to have a fight in Abu Dhabi"
- Have you thought about approaching Dana White in case of a victory?
- If you look at my Tapology, I have names like Nassourdine Imavov, Chris Curtis, Paulo Costa. It just wasn't meant to fight them. Either I had an injury, or they did. There's nothing to blame the UFC for.
- Are you still planning to compete at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi?
- Of course, I would like to have a fight there.
"Khabib and Islam showed by their example that hard work is what creates champions"
- Do you notice progress in working with Magomed Bagandov?
- The last two fights showed it. He’s a very good and knowledgeable coach. I work with him in all my free time. What surprises me is that he keeps showing something new every time. I ask him why he didn't show me some things earlier. Bagandov says that it’s impossible to reveal all the tricks at once.
- And how does he manage to achieve such results?
- He fought a lot himself. That is a decisive factor. He has the sense, so it's easier for him to corner.
- Is the "tough grind” in Kislovodsk related to Khabib Nurmagomedov's participation in the training?
- It is directly linked to him. Khabib loves pushing fighters hard, he knows how to do it. Is it beneficial? This approach should be viewed individually.
I have never been famous for my grind. But Khabib and Islam have shown by their own example that champions are made through diligent work. This speaks volumes.
- Many did not give Dustin Poirier a chance to reach the fourth round in the fight with Islam Makhachev. Did Poirier surprise you? Did Islam's staphylococcal infection affect his form?
- If you don't take antibiotics, a week-long break could actually be beneficial. That's my opinion. If you don't give your body rest, the body starts seeking it by itself. You start feeling sick, tired. Islam fought all rounds at a good pace. You have to give credit to Poirier, he was well prepared. Makhachev did a good job.
