The Dagestani featherweight, who earned a shot at the Bellator title after winning the 145-pound tournament in April, 2013, couldn’t return to the United States to compete for the championship due to visa issues.
After failing in multiple attempts to solve his visa issues over the past 12 months, he’s hoping that Bellator would release him from his contract so he can compete for other MMA promotions in Europe.
“I do not have any information on my visa yet, still silent pause from the embassy,” Khasbulaev told MMAFighting.com. “I remain without a (fight), and I can’t speak to any organization other than Bellator.
“Right now I will ask Bellator to release me from the contract and give me the opportunity to show myself in other organizations. Bellator were like my family, how I made a living and fed my family, and I thank them for that. I will ask the new president (Scott Coker) to release me.”
“Frodo” is hoping that Coker, the former head of Strikeforce who just replaced Bjorn Rebney as the CEO of Bellator MMA, will let him go away and compete for other promotions.
“I received a message from (Bellator matchmaker Sam Caplan), with a note of hope, that Bellator will secure my release soon. But I’m still waiting,” he said. “Hopefully they will get into my skin, understand my concerns, and let me go.
“I don’t blame Bellator for the issues that have occurred, and there’s not my fault as well. It’s a third side. I loved to fight in BFC, it’s great organization, but now I have to move forward. I need to feed my family, I can’t stay inactive. Hopefully we all come to the right conclusion.”
In a message sent to “Frodo” on Monday, Caplan said “I will speak to management and see if I can secure your release.”
Khasbulaev built a 16-5 record fighting in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Armenia and Czech Republic before joining Bellator in 2012. The featherweight, who went 5-0 under the Bellator banner with four stoppage victories, just wants “a good job.”
“There’s no difference to me where and with what fighters I will fight,” he said. “The important is to get a good job.”
The Dagestani featherweight, who earned a shot at the Bellator title after winning the 145-pound tournament in April, 2013, couldn’t return to the United States to compete for the championship due to visa issues.
After failing in multiple attempts to solve his visa issues over the past 12 months, he’s hoping that Bellator would release him from his contract so he can compete for other MMA promotions in Europe.
“I do not have any information on my visa yet, still silent pause from the embassy,” Khasbulaev told MMAFighting.com. “I remain without a (fight), and I can’t speak to any organization other than Bellator.
“Right now I will ask Bellator to release me from the contract and give me the opportunity to show myself in other organizations. Bellator were like my family, how I made a living and fed my family, and I thank them for that. I will ask the new president (Scott Coker) to release me.”
“Frodo” is hoping that Coker, the former head of Strikeforce who just replaced Bjorn Rebney as the CEO of Bellator MMA, will let him go away and compete for other promotions.
“I received a message from (Bellator matchmaker Sam Caplan), with a note of hope, that Bellator will secure my release soon. But I’m still waiting,” he said. “Hopefully they will get into my skin, understand my concerns, and let me go.
“I don’t blame Bellator for the issues that have occurred, and there’s not my fault as well. It’s a third side. I loved to fight in BFC, it’s great organization, but now I have to move forward. I need to feed my family, I can’t stay inactive. Hopefully we all come to the right conclusion.”
In a message sent to “Frodo” on Monday, Caplan said “I will speak to management and see if I can secure your release.”
Khasbulaev built a 16-5 record fighting in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Armenia and Czech Republic before joining Bellator in 2012. The featherweight, who went 5-0 under the Bellator banner with four stoppage victories, just wants “a good job.”
“There’s no difference to me where and with what fighters I will fight,” he said. “The important is to get a good job.”
