ABU DHABI – After what’s more likely to go down as some of the 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 essential card at Etihad Area. The end was removed from an atypical 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 completed, with the one factor left being his unlucky immortalization on the fallacious finish of the Shara “Bullet” spotlight.
“I used to apply this method 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 individuals 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 Evening bonus for the beautiful 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 combat 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 preventing 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 combat him … it doesn’t matter the place. I beat his buddy and sparring accomplice, Blood Diamond, in China and I used to be able to combat him. Israel could be very well-liked 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 stoop 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 means for Israel Adesanya to keep away from the combat with me is to retire,” Magomedov stated. “In fact I want to combat Israel to show that I’m one of the best striker within the division. But additionally, I want to combat Marvin Vettori to show that my wrestling is sweet. These two names actually excite me. Apart from 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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