ABU DHABI – Umar Nurmagomedov can’t see the logic behind Mario Bautista’s prediction for their UFC 321 fight.
Bautista (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has boldly stated he will knock out or submit Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in the first round of Saturday’s key bantamweight matchup at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (ESPN+ pay-per-view, FX/Disney+/ESPN+).
Nurmagomedov, 29, has never been stopped in his MMA career, and although he respects the skill set his opponent will bring into the octagon this weekend, he is puzzled how Bautista, 32, sees a path to such a win.
“I don’t think I’m much, much better than him in striking,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I think we have almost same level. He’s very good on striking, movement. He do smart game. He works for scores. He don’t spend a lot of energy on strikes. He doesn’t try to punch hard.
“I don’t know why he said he’s going to finish me in the first round. I don’t see anybody who he finish even in the last eight fights. I think my wrestling skills and my grappling skills are better. But striking, he’s good.”
Nurmagomedov has lost just once in his career, and that came in his most recent fight against reigning 135-pound champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 in January. It was a competitive bout, but Nurmagomedov said a broken hand in the second round derailed his momentum and cardio.
After taking about 10 months to recover and get back to action, Nurmagomedov thinks a rematch with Dvalishvili will come eventually, no matter how much “The Machine” resists it.
“If you ask him, he will say, ‘He has to fight 10 times’ until he will retire,” Nurmagomedov said. “It’s just his mind, his opinion. He can say whatever he wants, but reality is going to be different.”
