San Diego – Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov looks to continue to show his dominance when he faces Alexander Shabliy at Bellator San Diego on Saturday night.
“Be first, be #1 (is my motivation to continue fighting). Prove myself,” Nurmagomedov told Cageside Press among other reporters on Thursday.
“I love competition and I love this feeling (of getting my hand raised). You cannot feel this from other place. I miss this and that’s why I’m here.”
Nurmagomedov (17-0) makes his return off a 6-month suspension stemming from a failed drug test in relation to his fight at Bellator 300. He’s been eligible to return since April, but wasn’t booked to fight until Bellator San Diego.
He will defend his lightweight title against Shabliy who himself has an undefeated record fighting for Bellator.
“I know how I can win this fight. From (beginning) of this fight I’m going to make him tired and I’m going to play with him,” he said.
The Bellator lightweight champion takes his reign seriously and took to social media to post, “If it was easy everybody would do it.”
“I believe that you always have to stay busy and put hard work in. Even if you are staying with your parents they’re going to tell you what are you doing with your life,” he said.
“Go out there and do something good. Do good things, and nowadays I feel we have to prove ourselves and stay busy. This is how you become a man. Lead by example.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Usman Nurmagomedov above. He defends his title against Alexander Shabliy at Bellator San Diego.
