Nyligen stod det klart att nummer 2-rankade Tony Ferguson gör upp mot sjuan Kevin Lee om den tillfälliga lättviktstiteln på UFC 216. Något som lämnade många förvånade då de flesta förväntade sig att UFC skulle boka om den framemotsedda matchen mellan Ferguson och obesegrade Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Anledningen till att organisationen bortsåg från ”The Eagle”, som är rankad etta i divisionen, var att han inte var redo för match i oktober och istället hoppades få chansen på UFC 217 i november.
Påstår att han inte påverkas av situationen
Nu har Nurmagomedov har nu reagerat på nyheten med ett inlägg på Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX6KYNLgZyZ/?hl=en&taken-by=khabib_nurmagomedov
”If someone thinks, that whole situation gonna affect me somehow, he’s wrong. I never get anything in my life easy and don’t even expect easy way.
It is what it is. Alhamdulillah, we moving forward,” skrev Nurmagomedov.
Pappan uttrycker sin besvikelse
Även Khabibs far, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, gav sin syn på saken. Han hade följande att säga (via RT.com):
“This morning we learned that Kevin Lee will fight for the interim belt with Tony Ferguson.
Second number (fights) with number seven, and this is (coming) from Dana White! Why not the number one with the third or the fourth one, fifth or the sixth? That is because that is the way (they) want it and it’s interesting, but (it’s) very doubtful dear fans from all around the world. Now about the dates October (7) to November 4 (it’s) less than a month, it obviously doesn’t work (for them). (They) can wait for a half a year but here less than a month (they) can’t, amazing but (that’s) a fact. We all witnessed how [Eddie] Alvarez with (just) two controversial victories fought for the belt.
Now let’s compare Khabib-[Edson] Barboza fight, is it possible? (It’s) intriguing yes. But the test that we go through no one else does. This makes us stronger and more responsible for you our dear fans. Wherever we would be, in this country or abroad, we never forget about the training for the fight. There are fans who would want to see Khabib three times a year, but I think that two is enough. Once a year is too little, I agree. Time is the best judge of all the things that happen we hope for the Almighty. Sincerely yours, A. Nurmagomedov.”
