Los Angeles, CA — Usman Nurmagomedov enters his second Bellator fight this Saturday, and thanks to his famous last name, there’s a lot of attention on the Dagestani fighter.
Nurmagomedov (12-0) isn’t the only member of the family to seek the sort of success cousin Khabib has found. But he’s the only one in Scott Coker’s promotion, where he’ll face Manny Muro at Bellator 263.
“Everything is fine. I feel great, I’m happy to be here for my second Bellator fight. I’m still getting used to it, for all these cameras, all these interviews, but it’s fine,” Nurmagomedov told media outlets including Cageside Press on Wednesday, at the event’s media day. “Everything’s fine.”
That spotlight takes some adjustment for many fighters, and Usman is no different. “It’s a big part of the game, so I have to get used to it,” he noted. “It gives me a little pressure, but it’s fine.”
Bellator 263 will mark Nurmagomedov’s first fight with fans for the promotion, and the 23-year old admitted that he missed fighting for an audience. “It’s all about the fans, we’re fighting for the fans.”
Atop Saturday’s card is one of the biggest fights in Bellator history, one that pits undefeated featherweight A.J. McKee against champ Patricio Pitbull, in the featherweight grand prix finale. Asked for his prediction, 60/40 A.J. McKee was Nurmagomedov’s response. He’s not the only one expecting “The Mercenary” to get the job done— Mads Burnell also selected McKee to dethrone Pitbull.
Watch the full Bellator 263 media day press scrum with Usman Nurmagomedov above. The event takes place this Saturday, July 31 at The Forum in Los Angeles. The main card airs on Showtime following online prelims right here on Cageside Press.
