Chicago, IL – Undefeated Bellator featherweight Timur Khizriev comes into Bellator 297 to take on Richie Smullen on Friday night.
“I have nothing against this opponent. I checked him. He’s pretty good,” Khizriev told reporters including Cageside Press on Tuesday.
“I pretty much prepare myself every time the same way no matter who (my) opponent is.”
This matchup puts a Khizriev, a Dagestani from, against Smullen who is from Ireland. With the rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor still on people’s minds one could wonder whether or not fighters from the two countries saw each other as rivals.
“I actually never thought there was such a thing, Dagestan vs. Ireland, I think it’s just a coincidence. Obviously with Conor and Khabib that was like big names, but for me it doesn’t really matter,” he said.
“I know they have a lot of great fighters in Ireland, but I don’t see it as a rivalry necessarily.”
Rivalry or not the fight with Smullen is an important one for the undefeated fighter. Defeat Smullen and keep your record. Lose and you find yourself at the bottom of the division, but Khizriev isn’t one to make predictions.
“I usually don’t like (to) make predictions on the outcome. I’m going to wait for the opportunity and once I see one catch you and seize on that,” he said.
Watch the entire media day scrum with Timur Khizriev above. He takes on Richie Smullen at Bellator 297 on Friday night.
