Nashville, TN — PFL welterweight star Magomed Umalatov, who returned to the win column on Thursday at PFL Nashville, was on the ground for Belal Muhammad’s training camp for his UFC 315 fight with Jack Della Maddalena.
And even Umalatov (18-1), who spent two weeks with the now-former UFC champ, isn’t sure why Muhammad strayed from what the team thought was a path to victory.
“I went to his [Belal Muhammad’s] camp here for two weeks, he was asking for help. I don’t know what happened,” stated Umalatov, speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press following a win over Anthony Ivy. “Plan was, wrestle. He changed the plan. Striking, striking, they made big damage and after, wrestle. But plan was wrestling. I don’t know what happened.”
What happened was, Muhammad lost his title to Jack Della Maddalena, who will now fight another of Umalatov’s teammates, Islam Makhachev.
In the meantime, Umalatov addressed the weight issues that forced him out of the PFL World Tournament earlier this year. “It was difficult, I regret it, because it was Ramadan. I was fasting at night and I got sick,” recalled Umalatov. “It’s a problem, I wasn’t healthy.”
The former Eagle FC champ also gave his pick for who will win this year’s PFL World Tournament at 170lbs. “I think this year will be Jason. My opinion. I don’t know what happens. My opinion, Jason Jackson. I’ll be ready next year.”
It won’t be Jackson, however. He lost to Thad Jean later in the night.
Watch the full PFL Nashville post-fight media appearance with Magomed Umalatov above.
