Usman Nurmagomedov vows to become the first Dagestani Bellator champion

The mixed martial arts community values the surname Nurmagomedov highly. The name represents power, from Khabib Nurmagomedov to Umar Nurmagomedov. Additionally, the Nurmagomedovs is in charge of the entire sport, not just the UFC. Usman Nurmagomedov, who rules Bellator's 155-pound class, is arguably the finest fighter outside of the UFC.

Bellator lightweight undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov is prepared to change the destiny of Bellator.

“What he used to do from the age of, let’s say 25 to 28, he will never be able to repeat it,” Nurmagomedov told reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “Even if he wants it too much, it’s not going to happen. He’s old, he’s 36.”

In the co-main event of Bellator 288 at Wintrust Arena, Nurmagomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) faces Patricky Freire for the lightweight championship. It will be the first five-round battle of his spotless career, but he is confident that he is up to the challenge.

Nurmagomedov feels it would be pointless for him to examine the film of Freire's earlier battles because of his advanced age. The 24-year-old Dagestani is confident that his age will help him get his fifth Bellator victory, which would earn him a trophy and a historical legacy.

“My name will be written in the history books forever,” Nurmagomedov said. “There was a time nobody would sign fighters from the Caucasus. Nobody knew where Dagestan is, where this part of Russia is located. Now we have two champions from Dagestan in the UFC – past and present. I want to be the first Bellator champion from Dagestan. Nobody will take this away from me. No matter what happens in the future, my name will be saved in the history books.”

While Patricky Freire is the lightweight champion of Bellator, he will still be the underdog at Friday's Bellator 288. No matter the odds, Freire (24-10 MMA, 15-8 BMMA) is comfortable going into his matchup with Usman Nurmagomedov.

In Freire's opinion, he has been the underdog his entire career, so this is merely a repetition of a beat that has already been going on.

“I like to prove everybody wrong,” Freire told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “When I came to Bellator, it was the same for a long time, long years, a lot of years. I was the underdog. I don’t care about this. It is motivating. I want to prove these people wrong. It motivates me a lot. ”

Nurmagomedov is popular. Due to the constant pressure and all-around strength of Nurmagomedov, many fans and members of the media view the invasion of Eastern European lightweight contenders in Bellator as a championship death sentence for him