Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov continues to stake his personal declare as certainly one of MMA’s finest lightweights, however even he touts his teammate Islam Makhachev because the king of the division.

Forward of his return at Bellator San Diego on Friday, Nurmagomedov truly put himself No. 2 when requested the place he sits among the many finest 155-pound fighters on the planet. The undefeated 26-year-old is aware of he nonetheless has work to do relating to defining his personal title reign, which continues together with his looming protection in opposition to Alexandr Shabliy.

In the meantime, Makhachev has been working roughshod over his UFC competitors, rattling off 14 straight wins and three consecutive title defenses, so Nurmagomedov has no drawback deferring to his longtime good friend and coaching accomplice.

“As a result of Islam is No. 1,” Nurmagomedov instructed MMA Preventing when requested why he places Makhachev forward of himself. “Simply take a look at him. That is pound-for-pound No. 1 king. It’s true.”

That ultimate assertion about Makhachev’s standing as the highest pound-for-pound fighter shouldn’t come as a shock given the run he’s on recently, however it’s protected to say UFC CEO Dana White would disagree.

White has spent months touting Jon Jones as MMA’s finest pound-for-pound fighter and even went so far as releasing a promo video on Tuesday particularly to reward the lengthy record of accomplishments that belong to the reigning UFC heavyweight champion.

For his half, Nurmagomedov actually isn’t going to dispute Jones’ greatness however he nonetheless looks like Makhachev deserves recognition within the pound-for-pound rankings proper now.

“For this time, now, Islam is No. 1 for positive,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “However in fact Jon Jones, it is a legend. No one is saying he’s not a legend. Jon Jones is a legend. I grew up watching his fights. I like his type. I like his mentality. This man is hard. However in fact you’re speaking about this time, you’re not speaking in regards to the previous.

“We’re speaking about now, and for me, folks have totally different opinions. Dana White has his opinion, you will have your opinion. That is good. This isn’t one thing unhealthy.”

In fact, Makhachev has been an enormous a part of Nurmagomedov’s personal evolution as a fighter, which has served as an amazing assist as he readies for Shabliy this weekend.

Whereas he doesn’t low cost the hazard that Shabliy represents, Nurmagomedov can’t think about he’s going to face something like he does going up in opposition to Makhachev within the gymnasium.

“Islam is a unique degree,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “He’s very powerful. Whenever you work with Islam and while you really feel how you’re employed with him, what you are able to do, what you can’t do, you perceive in your thoughts this man is No. 1 on this planet. No one can beat him. Nobody.

“You give him good rounds, typically good, I feel this makes me and different guys that prepare with Islam mentally sturdy. I don’t assume Shabliy may give me some rounds higher than Islam offers me. I don’t assume he can push me like Islam pushes me.”

If Makhachev wasn’t sufficient to swing the pendulum in his favor, Nurmagomedov landed one other bonus together with his cousin and UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov additionally returning to educate him full-time after taking a short break from MMA to deal with his household and different companies.

Usman confirmed Khabib will nook him in opposition to Shabliy on Friday, and that his return has been a welcome addition to the staff, not only for Usman, but additionally for Makhachev, his brother Umar Nurmagomedov, and all people else related to them.

“I’d say that Khabib is the best individual in MMA usually,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “Whenever you’re speaking about whether or not it’s being an athlete himself as a fighter, as a result of he had the perfect opponents on the market, he’s accomplished a tremendous defending his title. Additionally, he educated with Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, that’s his father, who was a tremendous coach. He educated a whole lot of guys, together with myself, and clearly Khabib was doing the coaching. So now he’s staying as a coach himself.

“Combining all of his expertise collectively as a coach, as a fighter, working together with his father, and simply the quantity of expertise that he gathered is simply super. No one has it within the MMA world usually. There are coaches, there are fighters, however he combines all the pieces. Having him within the nook, that’s a giant assist, and you are feeling that affect and total he’s very priceless and most essential member of our staff.”

All of it provides as much as Nurmagomedov anticipating one other shutout efficiency, and he doesn’t give Shabliy a lot likelihood to drag off the upset.

“I’m prepared,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “That is solely what I can say. Typically a fortunate punch [can happen], but when not, this stuff, this man by no means can beat me. Not solely him, no one can beat me.”