Former Bellator MMA lightweight champ Brent Primus is looking at another major title, as he takes on Gadzhi Rabadanov at Friday’s PFL World Championship card in Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of the PFL Championship 2024, Primus (15-3, 1NC), 39, told Cageside Press that it’s been “a crazy ride” the past year or two.
“It really has. When I was fighting in the Bellator tournament [the lightweight grand prix], I never thought that I’d be fighting in PFL for a million dollars in this tournament. It’s awesome,” Primus noted. He’s also a big fan of the PFL schedule keeping him busy. “I’m grateful for where I’m at right now.”
Primus is facing a new opponent in Rabadanov, but a familiar camp. The Russian trains alongside the likes of Usman Nurmagomedov and Islam Mamedov, and his experience with those opponents may just give him an advantage come Friday in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s big time. I fought, like you said, two of his training partners. In my eyes, I’m not taking nothing away from Gadzhi, but I feel those guys were bigger, stronger, more experienced, and they’d fought tougher guys. But I’m never going to underestimate Gadzhi, I know he’s really tough, and like you said he comes from an amazing camp.” At the same time, Primus added that “I feel like I have the edge. I feel like I kind of know what to expect, I know his game, I know what he’s going to do, and I don’t feel he has quite the game that those two have or whatever in some senses.”
“I’m ready, I’m prepared, I’m more prepared I feel. So I’m ready, man. Whether he wants to keep it on the feet or go to the ground, I feel like I can finish in both of those situations,” Primus finished.
Should he come away with the PFL title, Brent Primus is also open to rematching Bellator champ Usman Nurmagomedov. Their first meeting was overturned to a No Contest when Nurmagomedov failed a drug test.
“I’d love a second crack at Usman. When I fought him, I never felt like I was in danger, or anything like that,” stated Primus, who admits he would prepare and train differently for a second meeting. “I think that would be awesome. Champions versus champion, it doesn’t get better than that.”
Watch our full interview with PFL Championship 2024 lightweight finalist Brent Primus above.
