Khabib Nurmagomedov predicts 'fiery night' as cousin defends PFL belt in Dubai
Yesterday at 05:09 AM
The eyes of the combat sports world will be firmly fixed on the United Arab Emirates this weekend for the incoming PFL Road to Dubai: Champions Series.
The event, aptly named 'Dagestan vs Ireland 2', will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between 18-0 champion Usman Nurmagomedov and 13-1 challenger, Paul Hughes.
For 'The Eagle', that bout also represents the third world championship title fight that he's coached in just seven days – and the legendary former UFC champion is expecting another fabulous night of MMA action out in the dunes of the UAE.
Khabib Nurmagomedov foresees 'fiery night' of action at PFL event
MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in the corner of his cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, for his upcoming lightweight title fight against Paul Hughes on January 25.
"We are ready in Dubai, and everything is ready," the elder Nurmagomedov wrote on Instagram earlier this week after traveling back from UFC 311 in Los Angeles.
"The next goal is to protect the [Bellator] belt. [Usman Nurmagomedov] Now it's your turn to prove who's the best," he stated, before adding that "Dubai is going to be another fiery week."
Khabib will be hoping that his undefeated protégé can match UFC champion Islam Makhachev in defending his title, and not younger cousin Umar Nurmagomedov, who suffered the first defeat of his professional career last weekend at UFC 311.
"I have to [focus], this is MMA – here we're blocking arms, legs, head [strikes], this is a tough sport and sometimes that happens, you know," said Usman Nurmagomedov on his younger brother's title defeat via Anatomy of a Fighter.
The 18-0 champion also expressed his desire to 'win for both of us' and exit the Coca-Cola arena as 'And Still' the PFL-Bellator lightweight champion.
"We're always thankful to God, we come from a very poor village. With my brother, I remember he took me in this sport, and you know, all good.
"Alhamdullilah, everything is good, we are good and now, I just focus on my fight, and I will win for both of us, inshallah."
Usman Nurmagomedov headlines a 10-fight card at PFL Road to Dubai
Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes is the cherry on top of a stacked cake at PFL Road to Dubai, one that includes fellow undefeated protégé Ibragim Ibragimov.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow, Ibragimov would reveal the brutal training methods that spawn so many MMA champions from Dagestan.
The card also features former champion Vadim Nemkov against American veteran Tim Johnson, and Irish prospect Nathan Kelly taking on 10-1 Akhmed Magomedov.
There's potential future champion Renat Khavalov, who faces 9-1 Brazilian Cleiver Fernandes, as well as a host of up-and-coming talent from the MENA talent pool.
PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs Hughes takes place on Saturday, January 25 and will start its ESPN+ broadcast around 11 AM ET.
