San Jose, CA – Three fights into his Bellator run and Alexandr Shabliy is in the lightweight grand prix and in the co-main event of Bellator 292 against Tofiq Musayev on Friday night.
“It’s been long way coming. Since the first fight was COVID times there was no audience, nobody in attendance, so I didn’t quite understand what’s going on. You know I won and they took me right out. I didn’t get to enjoy my emotions. Then pretty much on the third fight, when it was with (Brent) Primus, I kind of got into the feel of it and I kind of start feeling myself,” Shabliy told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.
“Obviously now going to grand prix this is the greatest thing Bellator could put together. All the guys are world-level athletes, and definitely I’m excited to be here.”
Being a part of the Bellator lightweight grand prix is a big deal for the men who were chosen to be in it. Some lightweights were upset that they were not added into the grand prix so to have a spot in the tournament is a big deal for the Shabliy.
“Definitely grand prix is very exciting. It’s an unparalleled event. Nothing like that happened before. Plus for me it’s a great opportunity. Keep in mind that for me it’s the first time fighting five rounds so that’s a great experience, I’m going to learn a lot from that, and again I’m looking forward to that,” he said.
To take on an athlete like Mosayev in the first round of a grand prix is quite the challenge for any fighter, and Shabliy isn’t taking him lightly.
“I knew Tofiq before as a fighter. I kind of had a feeling we might cross paths at some point. I just didn’t realize it’s going our first matchup. I thought maybe it’s going to be later on towards maybe the belt. He’s a great fighter, and it’s going to be a great opportunity for me,” he said.
With many of the hardcore fans following both Shabliy and Musayev calling this the best fight on the card it’s destined to be a special fight.
“I think fights like that are pretty much going to be good in any league. It’s just the level of Tofiq, again I don’t want to by any means underestimate him, and I think I’m a great fighter. Many organizations would pay good money to see fights like that,” he said.
“Kudos to Bellator for organizing all this.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Alexandr Shabliy above. He takes on Tofiq Musayev at Bellator 292 on Friday night in San Jose, CA.
