Usman Nurmagomedov and Phil Hughes got into a verbal altercation during their pre-fight Champions Series: Road to Dubai media presser. The reigning Bellator lightweight champion challenged Hughes to fight him on the spot after the exchange. The internet has exploded after Nurmagomedov’s overconfident banter. However, Gilbert Burns said it’s not overconfidence; it’s habitual.
Burns revealed a similar story from the 26-year-old Dagestani, who fought his former rival for 20 minutes bare-knuckle. The pre-fight phase for the upcoming title fight has already shot off with weird to-and-fros. On his podcast, Gilbert “Durinho” Burns reiterated how the young Nurmagomedov is prone to such skirmishes.
Burns recalled a time when Nurmagomedov brawled with his former rival all because of the ruckus of winning a close decision. It was not the first time, too. Nurmagomedov will be riding high on his unbeaten 18-0 record as he steps into the cage.
Hughes, meanwhile, prepares to share the cage with the defending Bellator lightweight champ with a near-perfect 13-1 record. There’s immense pressure; Hughes is already targeting the rival for allegedly lacking the discipline of his elder cousin – Khabib Nurmagomedov.
😳 Gilbert Burns tells a story of Usman Nurmagomedov fighting his opponent bare knuckle for 20 minutes after they already went to a decision in a professional MMA fight.
Usman actually means it when he says “We can fight right here.” pic.twitter.com/xSXDN67Y0I
— Show Me the Money Podcast (@showmethepod) January 23, 2025
Other than Gilbert Burns and his stories, after Usman’s brother failing the title bid at UFC 311 PPV, there’s an added pile of pressure. His brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, faced and lost to Georgian champ Merab Dvalishvili. It’s a hard-hitting loss that did surprise him a bit.
Usman Nurmagomedov ‘little surprised’ by brother Umar’s loss at UFC 311
UFC champion and undefeated are two labels Usman Nurmagomedov expected his brother to be carrying proud. However, top seed for 135-pound gold Umar Nurmagomedov lost a lopsided decision this past weekend. It’s something that has placed quite a chip on his shoulder. Usman rides into Champions Series: Road to Dubai (Series 6 main card 10:30 a.m. ET) in just one cycle.
Umar lost on the judges’ scorecards 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 after a good start to his championship fight. Dvalishvili’s monster cardio is a whole other deal and drowned Umar late in the fight. But the loss and the whole ordeal, overall, surprised the other Nurmagomedov brother a little bit.
Before PFL’s Road to Dubai card headliner, Usman is thus keeping his pressures reeled in. It’s a thought-line even cousin Khabib reverberated on. The legendary ‘Eagle’ now coaching friends and family went viral for it. Chatboards are swarming with footage of an angsty Khabib about to grip the belt from Dana White while veteran voice Bruce Buffer regressed.
However, it is what it is. One brother lost, but the other one still has work left; one who dazzled on a six-fight win streak. Nurmagomedov thinks Hughes talked his way into a title crack, and that PFL ran with it as a promo. Come this weekend, he’ll try to prove he is rightfully the champ.
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