“Khabib is the best fighter in the history of Russia and the CIS”: Muradov about Nurmagomedov, friendship with Mayweather and the legend of Emelianenko

“I’m not fighting for money or likes”

- By signing a contract with the UFC, you wrote that you became the first Uzbek fighter in the history of promotion. How important is this to you?

- I think, not only for me, but for the entire Uzbek people. They support me very much in my homeland. At least 100 comments appear under each new Instagram photo with the question: “When is the UFC debut?” Like myself, people really looked forward to it.

- How did the negotiations go?

- I can’t say that I ran there headlong. The UFC has put forward its conditions, my managers and I have made our own. Of course, he could go in through his famous friend in America (Floyd Mayweather. - RT ), but did not want to ask him.

“How long did they take?”

- We talked for five to six months, but only in September were able to reach an agreement.

- Why?

- At the UFC they said that it was necessary to wait until a place for me in the organization became free, various documents demanded. Then, negotiations on a contract went on for quite some time. It was not easy, but we did it.

- Recently, Colby Covington criticized the UFC for its attitude towards athletes and called the conditions “slave”, hinting at a low level of fees. Do you agree?

- Many dream of playing at the UFC. If he does not like, then he may not fight there. He may be exempted from the contract. You know, it's like a job. Satisfied with the salary - you agree to this position. No - look for other options.

- Is the money issue just as acute for you?

- Of course not. I can make money even on Instagram ads. I’m fighting not for the sake of money or likes, but for the sake of a heritage that will not go anywhere. Already made history as the first Uzbek in the UFC. I think that means a lot more than millions of dollars. They will not go anywhere. We will still earn them.

- Communicated personally with Dana White?

- Yes, it was in Las Vegas. Floyd Mayweather and his father were also present at that event. We met, talked, exchanged contacts. White looked at the fights with my participation and said that the UFC will sign a contract with me over time.

- In recent times, fighters have entered the UFC either through the Dana White's Contender Series or through The Ultimate Fighter. How did you manage to get directly into the main roster?

- Yes, I was offered to participate in DWCS, but I refused. I thought, why should I go there if I can get directly to the UFC? I am already the strongest middleweight in Eastern Europe and for three years I have been leading a similar rating in the Czech Republic. In addition, my track record includes a series of 11 consecutive victories won in battles with good opponents.

“Then you met with White again?”

- Yes, I saw each other at the UFC 241 tournament in Anaheim, in the main match of which Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic met. I told Dana: “Give me a contract. I want to fight on November 9 in Moscow. The compatriots want to see me there. ” In response, he said that the leadership knows everything about me, and asked for a little more time. And then everything happened.

- The first meeting with the head of the UFC took place before Mayweather called you "the best MMA fighter in the world"?

- Yes, but communication with White became possible largely due to the fact that I attended closed events with Mayweather. Ordinary people can’t get on them.

- Consequently, the invitation to the UFC was the result of personal meetings with Dana?

- No. They contacted me long before that. There he only found out more about me.

- You said that in the UFC newcomers get about $ 20 thousand per battle, and in Oktagon you earned much more ...

- More than twice. I would not like to name the exact amount. But given the fact that there I could fight six times a year, a lot came out.

- Have you been offered a newcomer contract at the UFC?

“No, something more.”

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Posted by Makhmud “Mach” Muradov (@makhmud_muradov) Sep 7, 2019 at 4:02 am PDT

- For how many fights is the agreement calculated?

- Four fights, but I think they will be extended.

- Do you have to hold them before a certain date or is it not regulated?

- No, there are no specific dates.

- At one time, UFC athletes were seriously indignant at signing a contract with Reebok, because they lost profit from their sponsors, and the American company pays incomparably low. Does this bother you?

- No. My sponsors were positive about signing a contract with the UFC.

- What goals do you set for yourself before joining the UFC?

- I'm not going to make a guess. Now I just want to show what I'm capable of. I am sure that I will succeed. Of course, not enough time, but I want to fight as often as possible. By battle in three to four months.

- By the words “little time” do you mean that you are debuting at the UFC at the age of 29?

- No, I don’t think about my age. I feel good, I train at the same level as those who are seven years younger.

- You have long been heard in the world of mixed martial arts. Any suggestions from other top promotions?

Sure. They offered to perform at Bellator and One FC. But I said that I intend to fight only in the UFC. I got enough money at Oktagon and did not want to change it to anything other than the Absolute Fighting Championship.

- When did the first contacts with Bellator and One FC appear ?

- After Floyd Mayweather published the same photo in which he called me the best MMA fighter in the world. They wrote a lot to me, but I refused. I don’t want to call these promotions second-rate, but I never hid that my main goal is to get into the UFC.

“Khabib is rightfully considered the best Russian fighter”

- Are you planning to go into the octagon with the flag of your country?

- Of course, but not only with Uzbek, but also with Czech. In fact, I was born in Tajikistan, but I grew up in Uzbekistan. And only a year ago I received citizenship - before that I had a residence permit.

- In this case, why not give preference to the flag of the state where you were born?

- It is important not where you were born, but where you grew up. I consider myself an Uzbek, although I was born in Dushanbe.

- How long have you moved to the Czech Republic?

- Eight years ago. It was here that he began to actively engage in mixed martial arts. Now my family lives here, coaches come from here. If not for moving to the Czech Republic, I would not have achieved such success in sports. I owe all this to this country. So it would be extremely wrong not to raise the flag of this state.

- The Czech Republic can hardly be called a forge of talents of MMA. Why did you move here?

- It happened by chance. My friend and I worked at a construction site in Russia. He suggested that I try to go to the Czech Republic. Submitted documents and everything turned out.

- As far as you know, you worked in Tomsk. Why did we go there, and not to Moscow, for example?

“You can't just go and go wherever you want.” At that moment, my brother and acquaintances lived in Tomsk, so I decided to move there.

- At that time, were you already fond of mixed martial arts?

I always wanted to do MMA. Even at the construction site, I had a boxing bag, so I could constantly train. Many called me crazy. They wondered how I could do this after work.

- Have you considered the opportunity to go to train in any of the halls?

- Engaged in combat sambo. He even performed at local tournaments in Tomsk. My coach was Rudik Aslanyan, who helped me a lot, because I was there illegally. Thanks to him, I received documents and could safely move around the city.

- Why didn't you stay in Russia?

- There were no prospects. I missed the house and decided to return to my homeland. But he quickly realized that you just can’t sit there. It is necessary to develop.

- How did you earn your living upon arrival in the Czech Republic?

- In the same way - he worked as a builder, waiter, cleaner. When I got a job as a loader, I told everyone that I wanted to become a MMA fighter.

- How did you react to this?

- Laughed. They said: “Forget it. This is unrealistic. ” Now I understand that nothing is impossible, if you really want to. The main thing is to go to your goal, work hard and not listen to anyone.

- How do Czech fans feel about you now?

- They are very glad that I started here, and some even made tattoos in my honor. It is very nice.

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Posted by Makhmud “Mach” Muradov (@makhmud_muradov) Sep 24, 2019 at 1:07 pm PDT

- In the past few years, there have been no offers to fight in Russia?

- There were several options. But the fact is that in the Czech Republic they pay me a lot for fights, I do not think that in Russia they would offer me the same conditions. In addition, there is a big difference in attendance at MMA tournaments.

- How much?

- In the Czech Republic, an average of 10 to 20 thousand people come to the show, and the cheapest tickets cost € 45. Just imagine how much the local organizers collect. Nevertheless, there was one proposal to fight the Russian ...

- With whom?

- With Vyacheslav Vasilevsky at the Sambo-70 tournament in Sochi, which took place on August 14. I gave my consent. And this taking into account the fact that on July 27th he had a duel in Oktagon. But for some reason, he did not want to fight with me.

- Who do you think is the best Russian fighter at the moment?

I think everyone knows the answer to this question. Habib is the best fighter in the history of Russia and the CIS.

- But what about Fedor Emelianenko?

- Fedor was and will be our legend. Many grew up in the battles of Emelianenko, I am no exception. But at the moment, it’s Khabib who is rightfully considered the best Russian fighter. Now he is making history.

“Conor has done a lot for this sport.”

- Your first fight in the UFC will be held in middle weight. Planning to fight in this division?

- No, I want to go down to the welterweight (up to 77 kg). In my free time I weigh about 90 kg and I think that I can keep within the limit. In addition, in November I had already scheduled a duel within this category. He was supposed to pass in the Czech Republic. I had already begun to slowly prepare myself for him, but then I was offered a fight in the UFC.

- Consequently, it will become the only one for you in the middle weight?

- Probably. True, the catch is that under the contract I can’t change the category until March 2020.

- Your debut in the UFC will take place on September 28. How long did they prepare for it?

- I learned about it on September 17th. I was offered a duel with Alessio di Chirico. Even half an hour has not passed, as I agreed. But then the Italian himself said that he did not want to fight with me. In his last battle, he lost, perhaps scared.

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Posted by Makhmud “Mach” Muradov (@makhmud_muradov) Sep 18, 2019 at 1:02 PDT

- What happened then?

- I can not say exactly. Perhaps the promotion offered him something, and he changed his mind.

“Isn't it too risky to agree to a fight on such a short notice?”

“I don't think so.” I have a long-term contract, and the UFC was very happy with my decision.

- Are you so sure of a victory over di Chirico?

- In general, the opponent is comfortable. It is believed that he takes 28-30 place in the world, and I am in the eighth ten. Let's see how everything goes.

“Are you, like Donald Cerrone, ready to fight anywhere, anytime?”

- Yes. I do not care. I would agree to go to a duel two or three days before him.

- So, is it worth waiting for your return to the octagon before the end of the year?

- It would be nice.

- But you are unlikely to have time for the tournament in Moscow?

- I would very much like to speak in Russia. We'll see.

- Which of the current composition of the welterweight division admires you?

“I don't like anyone.” (laughs)

- Usually athletes have a kind of ideals to which they aspire ...

- I don’t have such. Is that Fedor Emelianenko. For me, he has always been and will be a legend. Yes, now he is going through hard times, but for me he is the best.

- In that case, are there any athletes with whom you would like to fight in the future?

- With Tyrone Woodley. I think the fight would be interesting.

- On October 6, a battle for the UFC middleweight title between Robert Wittaker and Israel Adesanya will take place in Melbourne . Who will win?

“I don’t know, but I would like Adesanya to lose.” He takes a lot on himself. He talks a lot.

“So Conor McGregor’s behavior doesn’t appeal to you either?”

- This is different. Conor has done a lot for this sport. Adesanya did not deserve to behave in this way.

- Recently, it has been fashionable to belittle McGregor's merits in the face of mixed martial arts. In your opinion, what exactly did he do for MMA?

He attracted the attention of a huge number of fans around the world to mixed martial arts - not only by his behavior, but also by his fighting style. He talks a lot and sometimes overdoes it, but he knows how to do it. But Adesanya is not coming. It’s immediately obvious that this is simulated. McGregor - he's such a fool in life.

“Have you talked to Conor?”

“Yes, once we said hello, but nothing more.” I did not even take pictures with him.

- Why?

- I do not like to bother. At those events with Floyd I saw a lot of people - famous, influential, but I never had the desire to come up at all costs and take a photo with each of them.

- Before McGregor came to the UFC, the champions received about $ 800 thousand for the fight. Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov earned about $ 6 million for the tournament in Abu Dhabi. Would this be possible without Conor?

- I think no. Thanks to McGregor, fighters now earn that kind of money.

“Floyd is crazy like a good guy.”

- At the moment, you are the first representative of The Money Team in the UFC. Why didn’t you ask Mayweather to help you in your negotiations with White?

- I didn’t want to ask someone. Then they will say: "Yes, he is the first Uzbek, but if not for Mayweather, he would not have got anywhere." You can fool anyone but yourself, and with you it will remain for life.

“Nevertheless, Mayweather does help you in any way?”

- In everything. Firstly, I published the same photos and videos, as a result of which many people found out about me. Secondly, he supports me financially and helps me with advice. I can say that he is my very good friend.

- Did you manage to train with Mayweather?

- Yes, I ran with him. He does not train much, but when we are together in the USA, we try to keep ourselves in shape.

- What advice did Floyd give you?

- Regarding the sports component, we did not talk with him. In terms of the contract, he suggested something, but it is personal. I would not like to talk about it.

- Many people found out about you by Mayweather’s phrase: “Muradov is the best MMA fighter in the world.” How did this happen?

- Suddenly. Floyd is really crazy. He said he wanted to post with me and asked me to send him a photo. He himself did not know what would be written, and certainly did not ask him about it.

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The best MMA fighter in the world! @makhmud_muradov #TMT #MayweatherPromotions #MMA @greg_tmt @ badiesel1

Posted by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) Aug 11, 2019 at 6:31 am PDT

- What is Mayweather in real life?

- Floyd in personal life and in public are two completely different things. Friendly, great guy.

- Does Floyd really like money so much or is it just an image?

- Of course, he likes wealth, gold. But he really appreciates that I treat him well not because of money and fame.

- Throughout the year, there are rumors about the organization of a duel between Mayweather and Nurmagomedov. It's real?

- No, he himself said that he would participate only in demonstration battles, for which he would receive $ 10-100 million. For example, negotiations are currently underway for a duel with Manny Pacquiao. It will last three to four rounds.