ABU DHABI – After what’s prone to go down as probably the most spotlight reel-worthy knockouts in UFC historical past, Shara Magomedov introduced a part of his focus again to a longtime pursuit.
Magomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) stayed unbeaten Saturday when he took out Armen Petrosyan (9-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) with a second-round TKO to open the UFC 308 most important card at Etihad Area. The end was removed from an extraordinary one, although.
Magomedov threw a spinning backfist, and as quickly as the primary one was about to land, he pivoted and threw one other with the alternative arm. It landed clear, and Petrosyan was executed, with the one factor left being his unlucky immortalization on the flawed finish of the Shara “Bullet” spotlight.
“I used to observe this system since my profession in muay Thai,” Magomedov stated at his post-fight information convention. “In MMA, I used to be unable to throw it (till now) as a result of persons are going to wrestle me. However this time, I fought a high-level striker and it turned a chess match – and I used to be in a position to shock him on this chess match.”
Not surprisingly, Magomedov picked up a $50,000 Efficiency of the Night time bonus for the gorgeous end, which opened the pay-per-view portion of the cardboard.
However Magomedov didn’t instantly shoot for the moon, regardless of an opportune time to play the “I need a title shot” sport. Ne needs a battle with former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, whom he stated he’s been after since they had been within the kickboxing world on the similar time.
“I used to chase Israel when he fought kickboxing in China. I used to be combating kickboxing in China too,” Magomedov stated. “Now that he switched to MMA, and now that I’m right here, I’m able to seize (what he’s had). I’m able to battle him … it doesn’t matter the place. I beat his pal and sparring companion, Blood Diamond, in China and I used to be able to battle him. Israel may be very standard in China. Then he switched to MMA and signed to the UFC – and now I’m right here, too.”
Adesanya is mired within the first hunch of his profession. He misplaced the middleweight title to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, however received it again at UFC 287. Then he misplaced it to Sean Strickland 13 months in the past. He was submitted by new champ Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in August for his second straight defeat.
Magomedov stated it doesn’t matter as a lot when he fights Adesanya, so lnog because it occurs.
“I’m in no rush. I’m not operating in entrance of the practice. The one method for Israel Adesanya to keep away from the battle with me is to retire,” Magomedov stated. “In fact I want to battle Israel to show that I’m the perfect striker within the division. But additionally, I want to battle Marvin Vettori to show that my wrestling is nice. These two names actually excite me. In addition to them, guys like Kevin Holland, Michel Pereira.
“Our middleweight division is stuffed with predators and sharks, however I’m the one pirate.”
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