Irreverent, Nurmagomedov (photo) shows off his characteristic wig and a shirt teasing jiu-jitsu. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Despite being temporarily sidelined from fighting due to an injury, Khabib Nurmagomedov remains firm with his intentions of challenging for the UFC lightweight belt soon. The Russian, undefeated in his professional MMA career, attacked the current champion of the category, Anthony Pettis, whom he accuses of being a “paper champion”.
This is because Pettis has not yet defended his belt since winning the title in August last year, as since then he also suffered a knee injury. “I respect everyone, but I don’t respect Anthony Pettis. He's the champion, but he's not a real champion. He’s a paper champion and he hasn’t defended his belt in a year and a half,” said Nurmagomedov, in an interview with the North American website “MMA Junkie”.
According to him, Pettis is afraid to face him. “I'm challenging him, but I think he's scared. He doesn’t have good defensive wrestling, so he knows I’m going to crush him,” he said.
Nurmagomedov believes he has done enough to face the winner of Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez, who will put the belt on the line in December. “I like being undefeated, and if the UFC gives me a chance to fight for the belt, the UFC will have an undefeated champion in the lightweight division. It would be really good for the UFC,” he concluded.
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