Second-ranked Gilbert Melendez tried to contain the sensational striking chops of Anthony Pettis with bell-to-bell pressure in their lightweight title tilt at UFC 181 on Saturday.
Unfortunately for El Nino, his pressure-at-all-cost approach landed him …
Second-ranked Gilbert Melendez tried to contain the sensational striking chops of Anthony Pettis with bell-to-bell pressure in their lightweight title tilt at UFC 181 on Saturday.
Unfortunately for El Nino, his pressure-at-all-cost approach landed him in a precarious position in the second round, which ended with him tapping out for the first time in his career.
He may have been slightly impressed with Pettis‘ performance, but the way top-rankedKhabibNurmagomedov sees it, he won’t have the same issues with the champion
During an interview this week with Sherdog.com, Nurmagomedov talked about what makes him a threat to Pettis‘ throne:
My wrestling is [on a] different level. Gilbert Melendez is a very experienced guy, good boxing, good heart, good chin. A lot of respect for Gilbert Melendez, but if I have fight versus Anthony Pettis, I think I pressure him, hard punch, go takedown [and] top control. I think he no like this. You see Gilbert Melendez take him down and pressure him, but if KhabibNurmagomedov vs. Anthony Pettis fight, I think l am dominating. He have only [a] lucky punch knockout. His kicks are very good, his boxing is not bad, it’s okay, he’s a striking guy, I like this. If you have [a] striking opponent, you need to pressure it.
When asked if he thought Melendez had devised a proper game plan, which he simply didn’t execute against Pettis, Nurmagomedov answered with the following:
No, no. I [don’t] think this. I think he try, try, try takedown. He tired. But he need [to] catch his leg [and] takedown. It’s very easy. Catch his leg, takedown, top control. Catch his leg, takedown, top control.
Nurmagomedov, who tore his right meniscus in July, said he’ll be ready to fight in the spring and that he’d prefer to fight Showtime for the belt in his first bout back.
That is, unless Pettis takes another 15-month layoff.
Pettis, in the meantime, threw water on the notion that an apparent injury to his left hand suffered in the Melendez fight will sideline him for any significant stretch of time via Twitter on Monday.
Nurmagomedov has racked up a 22-0 record with seven knockouts and eight submissions since turning pro in 2008.
A 26-year-old Russian grappling specialist, Nurmagomedov has amassed a 6-0 mark in the UFC with one submission and one TKO.
Pettis (18-2) improved to 5-1 in the UFC and 10-2 under the Zuffa banner. He has finished each of his last four fights, with his last two wins coming via submission in lightweight title fights.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a busy man, given all of his bear wrestling, but he found the time to take in UFC 181 on Saturday—and he had some choice words for the lightweight champ Anthony Pettis.
Following the event—at the UFC 181 media confere…
KhabibNurmagomedov is a busy man, given all of his bear wrestling, but he found the time to take in UFC 181 on Saturday—and he had some choice words for the lightweight champ Anthony Pettis.
Following the event—at the UFC 181 media conference—Nurmagomedov got his hands on a microphone and had words with the champ. What, precisely, was said is unclear, but Pettis indicated a willingness to fight the undefeated Russian.
Nurmagomedov spent a good portion of this weekend angling for a title fight. Following the press conference, he flatly said that Pettis was “scared” to fight him in an interview with MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani. To Nurmagomedov‘s credit, he has maintained a steady presence in the news during a lengthy injury layoff—largely by calling out Pettis.
Speaking with the MMA Hour in September, Nurmagomedov said, “I think he [doesn’t] want this fight. I am no good for his style. My pressure, my wrestling, my top control, it’s no good for him.”
It is worth noting that Nurmagomedov does, indeed, have a strong claim to a lightweight title shot. The young man from Dagestan has effortlessly amassed a 6-0 record in the UFC, most recently dominating Rafael dos Anjos in April.
Unfortunately, while he was briefly linked to a fight with Donald Cerrone in September at UFC 178, he was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury that has kept him out of the cage since. Also unfortunately, multiple contenders have climbed into a similarly strong position—including a resurgent dos Anjos and Cerrone, as well as fellow surging youngster Myles Jury.
Still, a title fight for Nurmagomedov is certainly possible, and his timing couldn’t be better as he eyes a February 2015 return. Watch for more details to emerge regarding his title hopes in the coming weeks.
It wouldn’t be the UFC lightweight division without a little bit of intrigue, now would it?
Long regarded as the fight company’s deepest, most competitive weight class, the 155-pound ranks are never at a loss for title contenders. While all…
It wouldn’t be the UFC lightweight division without a little bit of intrigue, now would it?
Long regarded as the fight company’s deepest, most competitive weight class, the 155-pound ranks are never at a loss for title contenders. While allegedly top-of-the-food-chain divisions like heavyweight and light heavyweight eternally scrounge for worthwhile talent, lightweight is an embarrassment of riches.
Such is the case right now, as we approach the home stretch of 2014 with no fewer than three top challengers patiently awaiting the champion’s return. As it stands, the biggest test facing UFC matchmakers might be getting KhabibNurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone and Rafael dos Anjos to form an orderly line.
This has not been an easy year for the 155-pound title. Anthony Pettis spent the last 13 months on the shelf due to a significant knee injury. The UFC has resorted to its usual methods to keep the champ in the spotlight, using him as a television analyst and booking him to serve as a coach on the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter. It’ll still be two more months before Pettis returns to defend the title against Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181 and at least a few months after that before anybody else gets his chance.
So, at least we have some time to break up the logjam, before it becomes an even more snarled mess.
At the time of this writing, Nurmagomedov may well have the inside track. The undefeated Dagestani has also been on ice since July, rehabbing a torn meniscus suffered just 30 minutes after he was announced for a potential title eliminator against Cerrone at UFC 178. But prior to that, he’d amassed six straight wins in the Octagon (he’s an astounding 22-0 overall), including a unanimous decision over dos Anjos in April.
No one has been able to foil his hard-nosed grappling attack and unorthodox, occasionally wild striking. Prior to coming to the UFC in 2012, he’d garnered 13 stoppages in 16 fights—10 of them in the first round.
Even while he’s been out nursing an injury, Nurmagomedov has managed to stay visible. He’s fashioned himself into an entertaining social media follow, lashing out at Pettis and Nate Diaz on Twitter. He’s also reportedly worked hard to learn English, the results of which were apparent when he spoke to Fox Sports’ Damon Martin last month.
“You tell me that Anthony Pettis or Gilbert Melendez is ready to go by April or May and I’ll be ready to go,” Nurmagomedov said. “Please give me my title shot, I deserve it. I smashed everybody. … If the UFC gives me the title shot, you will have a new undefeated and undisputed lightweight champion.”
Barring any further delays, a spring return would indeed put Nurmagomedov in the right place at the right time to greet the winner of Pettis-Melendez. If not that, certainly few would argue with trying to reschedule his canceled bout with Cerrone.
The rise of Cowboy Version 2.0 has been one of this year’s most pleasant developments. After Cerrone went 1-2 during 2013—with losses to Pettis and dos Anjos—it was tempting to think we’d already seen the best of him in the UFC. But then the Greg Jackson-trained fighter bounced back with a 2014 that made it appear he’s just getting started.
Cerrone is 4-0 so far this year, and his most recent appearances—against Jim Miller and Eddie Alvarez—made him look every bit a legitimate contender in the sport’s most cutthroat weight class.
There’s just not a lot to dislike about what he’s doing right now. Cerrone has locked in his personal marketing style—Can-do attitude? Check. Budweiser sponsorship? Check.—at exactly the right time. With his skills also reaching their zenith, it feels like a potent combination. If anything will keep him from reaching his full potential as a title contender, it could be his insistence on trying to fight as many as a half-dozen times a year.
He’s let it be known he doesn’t care much about rankings and titles so long as he can fight early and often. As I wrote a week ago, that credo has made him a star, but it sounds like close to a suicide mission in the stacked lightweight class. Chances are, he’ll slip up and lose a fight or two before a championship opportunity comes his way.
But Cerrone is popular and exciting and (lately) one of the best fighters in the division. He could slide into an immediate title shot, and very few eyebrows would be raised over it. Perhaps a late injury to a current or future challenger would be the shortest distance between him and a championship bout.
It’s strange to say it, but dos Anjos feels like the odd man out in all of this. He’s 7-1 dating back to May 2012—with a win over Cerrone but a loss to Nurmagomedov—and is coming off an impressive knockout victory over former champion Benson Henderson. But it also somehow feels like dos Anjos is still in the process of separating himself from the pack.
Much of that is a problem of perception, obviously. Everybody knows and loves Cerrone. Nurmagomedov is also fast becoming one of the division’s best-liked fighters. Meanwhile, it doesn’t feel like dos Anjos has given fans anything to really sink their teeth into. As a result, a fight between him and the Pettis-Melendez winner wouldn’t necessarily be splashy enough to main event a UFC pay-per-view in early 2015.
Chances are, though, one of these three guys will be up next.
From a distance, there doesn’t appear to be much separating them. In a perfect world—which, let’s face it, is often too much to hope for in this sport—Nurmagomedov would face Pettis or Melendez in early spring while Cerrone and dos Anjos both get one more fight to prove themselves.
Much, though, will likely depend on timing as well as the outcome of the upcoming lightweight championship fight. If Melendez wins or some other calamity prevents the emergence of a clear-cut winner, it could necessitate an immediate rematch. Given what we already know about Pettis, another injury delay is also not out of the question. In that case, all bets could be off.
But with Nurmagomeov, Cerrone and dos Anjos all on deck—not to mention fighters like Myles Jury and Bobby Green coming up behind them—the biggest issue facing the lightweight division will continue to be picking the right contender from the crowd.
(“Khabib not only top UFC fighter, but also #1 t-shirt merchant in Las Vegas strip.” / Photo via Nurmagomedov’s Instagram)
When undefeated Dagestani bear-wrestlerKhabib Nurmagomedov entered the UFC in 2012 and rattled off six consecutive victories — no small feat, especially in the talent-loaded lightweight division — Nurmagomedov’s name started circulating as a guy who could imminently challenge for the 155-pound title. Then, he took some time off for Ramadan. Then, he caught a knee injury.
“I think Anthony Pettis is scared. He’s never had a good wrestling opponent, now I’m a contender. I have very good wrestling, and Anthony Pettis has only the lucky punch. I think he understands this, and he doesn’t want this fight.
“Anthony Pettis is a pretty boy. He’s a playboy. He’s very beautiful and he’s good to market. But the real champion is Khabib Nurmagomedov. Everybody knows. I sent him the message on Twitter. He didn’t give an answer. I see he’s scared. He only likes striking guys. He doesn’t like wrestling guys who are aggressive with top control. I deserve my title shot; give me my title shot…
(“Khabib not only top UFC fighter, but also #1 t-shirt merchant in Las Vegas strip.” / Photo via Nurmagomedov’s Instagram)
When undefeated Dagestani bear-wrestlerKhabib Nurmagomedov entered the UFC in 2012 and rattled off six consecutive victories — no small feat, especially in the talent-loaded lightweight division — Nurmagomedov’s name started circulating as a guy who could imminently challenge for the 155-pound title. Then, he took some time off for Ramadan. Then, he caught a knee injury.
“I think Anthony Pettis is scared. He’s never had a good wrestling opponent, now I’m a contender. I have very good wrestling, and Anthony Pettis has only the lucky punch. I think he understands this, and he doesn’t want this fight.
“Anthony Pettis is a pretty boy. He’s a playboy. He’s very beautiful and he’s good to market. But the real champion is Khabib Nurmagomedov. Everybody knows. I sent him the message on Twitter. He didn’t give an answer. I see he’s scared. He only likes striking guys. He doesn’t like wrestling guys who are aggressive with top control. I deserve my title shot; give me my title shot…
“He’s the champion, but he’s not a true champion. He hasn’t had a defense in one-and-a-half years. He has no defense of the belt. He won the belt, yes, but he’s a paper champion. I think he’s a paper champion. Everyone knows I am the true champion. The next fight, I deserve a title shot. This belt is mine…
“I look for Anthony Pettis at UFC 178, but I couldn’t find him. I wanted to say, ‘Let’s go! I deserve my title shot. Why you shut up and not say my name?’ I follow his Instagram, and I see every time he parties, and I think he’s a playboy. All my life I’m training hard. I’m training in mountains, I’m wrestling with bears, and all my life I’m training.
“I’m not scared to fight against very good fighters. I’m not Anthony Pettis. I’m not scared. I like the zero in my record and I will keep it. I think I don’t lose. I’m going to punish Anthony Pettis and break his heart…
“My message for Pettis is, ‘Please don’t be scared.’ Everyone says Khabib is the next lightweight contender. Why you don’t listen? I know you want only striking guys, but my spirit, my top control and my aggression is no good for you. You’re scared. Next year, your belt is not your belt. Your belt is my belt.”
It’s been quite a while since we first penned our “What Your Favorite Fighter Says About You” lists and a lot has changed in the time since. While some of our choices are even more relevant now than they were when the list was originally published, most of them seem either inaccurate or simply out of date in light of current circumstances. Knowing what we know now, we’ve decided to update our list to align with today’s MMA landscape. Enjoy.
You know a lotta tings and don’t take no shit from nobody. Your style is only outmatched by your swagger, which you often describe as “crisp perfection.” You are either Irish, or tell everyone you know that you are despite being as Irish as the average Redskins fan is Cherokee. While not exactly being a paranoid schizophrenic, you think that everyone else in a given room is either afraid of you or trying to violently harm you. You’re relatively new to MMA and have never actually trained, but your bar brawling expertise has led you to claim that you could defeat any top 5 fighter in your weight class with one good punch. Your favorite flower is the daisy because you can take its head clean off.
It’s been quite a while since we first penned our “What Your Favorite Fighter Says About You” lists and a lot has changed in the time since. While some of our choices are even more relevant now than they were when the list was originally published, most of them seem either inaccurate or simply out of date in light of current circumstances. Knowing what we know now, we’ve decided to update our list to align with today’s MMA landscape. Enjoy.
You know a lotta tings and don’t take no shit from nobody. Your style is only outmatched by your swagger, which you often describe as “crisp perfection.” You are either Irish, or tell everyone you know that you are despite being as Irish as the average Redskins fan is Cherokee. While not exactly being a paranoid schizophrenic, you think that everyone else in a given room is either afraid of you or trying to violently harm you. You’re relatively new to MMA and have never actually trained, but your bar brawling expertise has led you to claim that you could defeat any top 5 fighter in your weight class with one good punch. Your favorite flower is the daisy because you can take its head clean off.
You’re just here for the party, y’all. In fact, when you aren’t chasing the ultimate adrenaline high that can only be captured by extreme mountain biking or nude skydiving, you’re chasing tail around parts unknown while getting blackout wasted on rotgut whiskey. You have at least one regrettable tattoo, either a tribal armband or the Japanese symbol for “Virtue” (which actually means “seafood salad”), yet claim to live by the motto “no regrets.” Your favorite movie is Point Break, and you always secretly cry at the end. You are white, you voted McCain, and F*CK YEAH YOU’LL LISTEN TO SOME DAVID ALLAN COE!
You are supremely arrogant and don’t respond well to authority, yet list yourself as “down to Earth” on your Instagram profile, which you are constantly updating with selfies hashtaged #blessed and #overcome. Likewise, you are not someone most people would call “witty”, yet feel you are actually a lot more clever than people think you are. You have never lost an argument/debate in your life, likely because you refer to everyone who disagrees with you as a “hater” before dismissing them with a wanking hand gesture. Friends have never been overabundant in your life, but that’s cool, because they were just holding you back from the greatness you were destined to achieve. You’re not religious, per se, but you definitely consider yourself “spiritual.” Basically, you are full of shit.
You are supremely arrogant confident and don’t respond well to authority. You’re not an asshole, just someone who’s overflowing with realness. You are either a teenage girl or a single adult male, and high school is/was a hellish nightmare scenario filled with constant ridicule and a whole heap of self-esteem issues. Discipline and determination fuels your every move in life, to the point that you cannot physically relax anymore without feeling guilty afterwards. You’ve been a supporter of women’s MMA since the *very* beginning (Carano) and think anyone who criticizes a WMMA fight is a misogynist.
You watch way, way too much MMA, and have been since at least ’95. You constantly lament to your friends about how oversaturation is directly leading to the downfall of the sport, and how Fight Pass is a waste of goddamn money, and how the flyweight division is way more exciting than it’s being given credit for, etc. They never have any idea what you’re talking about, just like when you’re screaming for this kabob guy to attempt something called a “full guard sweep” while watching the FS1 prelims. You’ve done some unconventional wrestling in your day, and long to leave the constraints of a technology-based world behind to shack up in a log cabin in the woods where no one can bother you. You’re idol is Gary Busey.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has carved a path of destruction through the competitive ranks of the UFC lightweight division.
Since joining the UFC in 2012, “The Eagle” has won all six of his showings with each of those victories coming in dominant or lopsided f…
KhabibNurmagomedov has carved a path of destruction through the competitive ranks of the UFC lightweight division.
Since joining the UFC in 2012, “The Eagle” has won all six of his showings with each of those victories coming in dominant or lopsided fashion. Along the way the 26-year-old Dagestan-born fighter has steadily built a case for future title contention as he’s consistently dispatched higher-caliber competition with every progressive step.
His most recent victory came against resurgent veteran Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 11 back in April, in a fight where the AKA-trained fighter controlled the action from start to finish. His win over “RDA” in Orlando certainly put Nurmagomedov within striking distance of a title shot, but circumstances would intervene and put his hopes on ice for the time being.
With the lightweight strap tied up until champion Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez handle their business at UFC 181 on Dec. 6, the real estate was there for the undefeated phenom to take another bout in the interim. He was briefly linked to a bout with hard-charging lightweight striker Donald Cerrone, but a knee injury suffered during training forced Nurmagomedov out of the tilt and to the sidelines to recover.
Yet, while he hasn’t been able to participate, that hasn’t stopped Nurmagomedov from keeping close tabs on the major players in the division. He knows there has been potential title talk thrown at the winners of the upcoming bouts between Donald Cerrone and Eddie Alvarez at this weekend’s UFC 178 and Rafael dos Anjos versus Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 13 in December, and he doesn’t agree with any of it.
Nurmagomedov spoke with Damon Martin of FoxSports.com on Thursday to voice his opinion on why Cerrone and dos Anjos shouldn’t even be in the conversation, and that the next shot at the lightweight title should belong to him.
Cowboy can shut up, you’re not the lightweight contender. I am the next lightweight contender. You’ve lost many times in the UFC. I am undefeated in the UFC. If the UFC gives me the title shot you will have a new undefeated and undisputed lightweight champion. 23-0.
Everyone says ‘well if Rafael dos Anjos wins maybe he’ll get a title shot’, I smashed Rafael dos Anjos. Benson Henderson lost to Rafael dos Anjos. Eddie Alvarez is 0-0 in the UFC, if he wins he doesn’t deserve a title shot. Donald Cerrone, he lost many times in the UFC. Nate Diaz in his last eight fights, he’s 4-4. Gilbert Melendez is 1-1 in the UFC and the UFC has given him two title shots. I am 6-0 (in the UFC) and 22-0.
You tell me that Anthony Pettis or Gilbert Melendez is ready to go by April or May and I’ll be ready to go. Please give me my title shot, I deserve it. I smashed everybody. Now, I’m ready and I deserve my title shot.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
Second-ranked Gilbert Melendez tried to contain the sensational striking chops of Anthony Pettis with bell-to-bell pressure in their lightweight title tilt at UFC 181 on Saturday.
