Archie Colgan was expecting to fight Usman Nurmagomedov for the PFL lightweight championship eight months ago, after his bout with Mansour Barnaoui was marketed as a number one contender’s fight.
When that didn’t happen (the PFL instead booked Paul Hughes into the title fight), Colgan (13-0) admits that he was “upset and frustrated about it.”
However, speaking during this week’s PFL New York media day, his own title opportunity set to arrive on Friday, Colgan told media outlets including Cageside Press that “it just wasn’t meant to be.”
Eight months later, Colgan added, “I think now is the correct time.”
With that in mind, it’s not surprising that Colgan was cautious when informed he was getting the undefeated Nurmagomedov next. “They had mentioned that before in different situations, so I wanted to make sure this was real this time,” explained Colgan.
Once it appeared the fight was truly happening, Colgan felt “the excitement of finally getting the opportunity, and just the nerves that come with getting that first contract, or getting a fight contract, or getting that call. Regardless of who it is, once they finally give you a call and let you know that you’re fighting against blank opponent, you always kind of get those nerves in your stomach. So that came with it, but there’s also the excitement, the reality of finally getting the opportunity.”
Processing fighting for a world title, meanwhile, means keeping it from blowing up in his mind. Colgan noted that “at the end of the day, I have to go out there and fight another man. It’ll be the last of the night, it will be five rounds, so two additional rounds. The guy is a better opponent than I’ve faced. But at the end of the day it’s me versus one other person. I try my best to not make it any bigger than that.”
Despite facing a member of the legendary Nurmagomedov clan, coached by UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, “it’s not me versus a corner, it’s not me versus a name, it’s not me versus- it’s me versus one other man who has to get his hands wrapped and walk into that cage just like I do. Who’s going to get tired just like I will, and who believes in himself just like I do.”
And so while Archie Colgan is excited to compete for the title, “I’m not making this fight any more hyped than I need to.”
Watch the full PFL New York media day appearance by Archie Colgan above.
