UFC 270: Said Nurmagomedov Wants to Pay Back Chito Vera for Edgar Fight

By
Gabriel Gonzalez
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Anaheim, CA — Fighting for the first time this weekend since October of 2020 is Dagestan’s Said Nurmagomedov.

Paired up with Cody Stamann at UFC 270 in Anaheim, Nurmagomedov (14-2) — no relation to former UFC champ Khabib — told media outlets including Cageside Press during Wednesday’s media day that “I feel great, I just need to cut a couple pounds, and step [into] the octagon.”

That weight cut is Nurmagomedov’s first in a while, obviously. Asked if that was a weird feeling, the Dagestani replied that “for me, cutting weight is very easy. I don’t feel some big pressure on me. I just need right now four pounds. I eat everything, and feel great.”

In fact, Nurmagomedov managed to scarf down some pizza, plus mac n’ cheese, ahead of the fight — and said it’s still been a great weight cut. He also got to see coach Mark Henry for the first time in two years.

In Stamann, Nurmagomedov has a foe who has fought some of the top names in the bantamweight division, including champ Aljamain Sterling, Song Yadong, and Merab Dvalishvili. That’s something Nurmagomedov acknowledged when asked about his opponent.

“Cody’s experienced top 15 opponents, he’s a very physical, strong fighter,” Nurmagomedov observed. “Good wrestling.”

Stamann has said he plans to dominate the fight, and will go on to face Sean O’Malley next. But asked if he was being overlooked, Nurmagomedov instead made a similar statement. “No. After him, I will fight Sean O’Malley. Or, I want to call out Chito Vera.”

Why Marlon “Chito” Vera? That, said Nurmagomedov, is because “Chito Vera last fight won [against] our team captain, Frankie Edgar, and I want to pay him back.”

Said Nurmagomedov faces Cody Stamann at UFC 270 this Saturday, January 22, 2022 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. More coverage of Wednesday’s media day can be found below.

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