What gets a fighter in through the doors is a big buck query. Traits like chasing finishes, spirited scraps, and effort to jump into the deep end of the division are some. However, when Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway were on full steam tirade about point-and-exchange arguments, something weird happened. Undefeated yet unknown MMA prospect Dorobshokh Nabotov told UFC CEO Dana White about his interest in signing on during UFC 308 Media Day. Consequently, he got an interested nod!
The TKO-parent company grind is a whole lot different for UFC than say, elsewhere. There’s PR and geographical pandering that needs to happen. There’s also apparent interest in areas where prime talents come from. Places like Dagestan and Brazil are undeniable in MMA domination. With two sudden champs like Ilia Topuria who meets Max Holloway, and Merab Dvalishvili, Georgia is gaining interest too. The land down under has a lot of standouts.
After this year’s Noche UFC pay-per-view and prime performances, White also told the ‘Outta Pocket with RGIII‘ host that the next unicorns in MMA can be out of Mexico. However, undefeated fighter Nabotov out of Tajikistan, though random. slightly fills such bills. Hence it was quite a pickle when the 55-year-old bossman invited him on stage and even shook on it.
Dana White just gave a random dude in the press conference crowd a UFC contract 😭 pic.twitter.com/tmgjMQfziV
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) October 24, 2024
Nobody knows the matchmaking/signing literature of Dana White, Mick Maynard, or Head CBO/litigator Hunter Campbell. Sometimes it’s all about showmanship and being quippy enough to hit the right chords. Sometimes, it’s about being a natural unicorn of the game like Jon Jones. Even Conor McGregor, who people relate to more than the iconic St. Paddy’s Day. But this was different — Dorobshokh Nabotov is different. Hence, the matter has gone quite viral.
Fight fans react to Dana White’s interest in random new fighter
The UFC 308 Media Day Official Press Conference interviews and media briefing began at 8:30 am ET/5:30 am PT, which is 4:30 pm local time in Abu Dhabi. The whole lineup including Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway, Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev, Lerone Murphy, Dan Ige, Magomed Ankalaev, Aleksandar Rakic, Shara Magomedov, and Armen Petrosyan were present.
Other than the 10 fighters slated for the main card bouts, UFC CEO Dana White took the world by storm. His random interest in Dorobshokh Nabotov at the UFC 308 pre-fight press conference was out of the blue. Here are a few top reactions to it:
He got Dana White privilege on his first interaction with Dana.. hope he makes best out of it .. !
— Combat_KO (@combat_ko) October 24, 2024
💭: “dagestani accent✅, beard✅, 9-0 record✅” pic.twitter.com/4Qi1ha9kcv
— gregjewishstein (@GregJewishstein) October 24, 2024
Hunter:
You know there is going to be a line of them asking at the next press conference. pic.twitter.com/r1JoEoDTz4
— KOOSH ⚡ (@nftkoosh) October 24, 2024
i hope this guy becomes champion
— PJ | OVERT (@overtflow) October 24, 2024
This gesture alone changed this elite fighter’s life. Hope he succeeds.
He looks like a tough guy who can give Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan a hard time if they ever met.
I see a future champion curtesy of UFC 308🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/hnmSvE0z0u
— Bruce (@Tonybru76) October 24, 2024
This has all the potential to become a great success story or an absolute train wreck. Either way, I’m now invested.
— 🇺🇲 The Mid Ground 🇨🇦 (@MidGround_) October 24, 2024
i’ve seen enough give him jon jones
— Braxton Guice (@BraxtonGuice) October 24, 2024
Respect to Dana. Changed this whole mans life! All the best to him.
— Ace (@AleksPetreski11) October 24, 2024
Bro sounds like arman 🤣
— hugh jass (@scvmbahg) October 24, 2024
He heard the dagestani accent and knew he had a star 😭😭
— sea✰ (@destroynectar) October 24, 2024
It would be great if he wins his debut
— Onion knight 🇺🇦 (@Flindellii) October 24, 2024
When Dana heard undefeated from that region of the world he knows he got a contender atleast 🤣🤣
— lewis collinsMMA (@lewiscollinsMMA) October 24, 2024
That was awesome to watch
— Stephen (@stebrit7) October 24, 2024
Nothing can top this all week!!!
Man went for the shot of a life time and HIT IT
WOW so happy for this guy!!!!
He stole the show!!!
— Caleb.4xf (@Caleb_4xF) October 24, 2024
Sometimes there are battle-tested prospects to choose from. Like White’s Contender Series season 8 (DWCS Contender Series 76) signees are hot for the taking and becoming the next Sean O’Malley. Upcoming talents and undrafted free agent signing are also no new things. But REM 93- affiliated Nabotov was as random as it got. Most fans have alluded to as much.
However, he is undefeated and around that ‘8-0’ mark, drafted big or not. That mark is like hitting the elusive ‘225 lbs bench’ that starts the mark of an athlete in sports terms. That and carrying the prowess to be great has gotten many fans interested. Some even quipped to see him as a champ while others wished the best, A prominent reaction (@combat_ko) even noted that he “got Dana White privilege on his first interaction” and hopefully builds on it.
