AKA Coach Javier Mendez answered a fan question regarding Bellator MMA lightweight fighter Usman Nurmagomedov. The Russian fighter has made a massive impact in the last calendar year and fans are on the look-out for his next fight. As it stands, he is 13-0 as a professional and he’s fresh off a TKO win over Luis Muro at Bellator 263.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin appears to be a top prospect on the Bellator roster and fans believe he can compete at the highest level. In fact, MMA fans believe he can compete at the highest level against the current UFC lightweight roster. A fan asked Javier Mendez to opine on whether Usman Nurmagomedov would continue his MMA career at Bellator.
“Bellator takes such good care of him, we don’t know where Bellator is going to be by the time that comes. You may never see him be more than a Bellator fighter. Now if they can eventually cross over and fight, Bellator vs UFC, Bellator vs ONE, you may see that kind of crossover.”
“I don’t forsee anything of that nature because I don’t look at Bellator as a stepping stone to anybody… I see Usman as a Bellator fighter and I do see him as a Bellator star… He’ll make millions of dollars with Bellator, Bellator can pay.”
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Usman Nurmagomedov: Champion in the making?
The 23-year-old has finished 8 fights via KO/TKO and 3 fights via submission in his relatively short MMA career. Several fighters and trainers close to Usman Nurmagomedov have touted him as the next big thing in MMA. In fact, many believe he has the potential to usurp Khabib Nurmagomedov when it’s all said and done.
Usman Nurmagomedov is now 1️⃣3️⃣-0️⃣!
A spectacular stoppage LIVE on @SHOsports 🦅 #Bellator263 pic.twitter.com/Rhina1DZH4
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 1, 2021
‘The Eagle’ has been a vital part of Usman Nurmagomedov’s journey so far in Bellator MMA. He’s been in Usman Nurmagomedov’s corner and has gone undefeated when cornering his cousin against top lightweight prospects.
However, Javier Mendez’s words ring true as Bellator MMA will be keen to keep Usman Nurmagomedov on the roster. The MMA community will be interested to see if Usman Nurmagomedov will find a place in the UFC.
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