San Diego – Bellator lightweight Alexander Shabliy challenged Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator lightweight title at Bellator San Diego on Saturday night.
“It’s a big fight coming up. It’s been delayed a couple of times for different reasons, but finally we are here,” Shabliy told Cageside Press among other reporters through a translator on Thursday.
“For me that’s a big opportunity and it’s a big thing because that’s what I’ve been training for all my life. I wanted to have a championship fight and title and the belt and this is the opportunity for me to get it. You will see it happening on September 7th.”
Shabliy (24-3) will challenge the undefeated Nurmagomedov who comes into the fight with a dominant record, style, and of course the name.
“Yes I know this different level for me. Different level. I deserve this belt and this is my dream,” he said.
“I feel like I really deserve that belt and the championship title. Since I came to Bellator I didn’t have easy opponents. The first guy I faced was top 10.”
The lightweight challenger isn’t wrong. Since entering the Bellator ranks he’s faced the best the division has to offer yet is just now earning a shot at the belt.
“After that was Brent Primus who was never knocked out, not even by Usman, and I knocked him out. Then we had a fight with Patricky (Pitbull) and it was a five round fight. I haven’t lost a single round to him,” he said.
“I really think I had great opponents and the time has come for me to become champion.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Alexander Shabliy above. He takes on Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator San Diego.
