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USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ABC 8's Muhammad Naimov draws 'extra energy' fighting closer to Tajikistan
UFC on ABC 8's Muhammad Naimov draws 'extra energy' fighting closer to Tajikistan Muhammad Naimov is proud to be one the few fighters from Tajikistan in UFC, but believes many more will be there soon. Currently, Naimov (12-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is just one of four fighters from the Central Asian country. Nurullo Aliev, Muin Gafurov and Loik Radzhabov are the other three Tajik representatives on the UFC roster. "Three years ago, four years ago, five years ago, all Tajik people, we all watch UFC," Naimov said at the UFC on ABC 8 media day. "... UFC for us, it was like something different. It was really hard to get to UFC, and in one year, four Tajik people get signed by UFC. So, it's always hard to shoulder and show up, but I always telling myself, I'm fighting for myself first of all. Second thing I represent my name, my family, and then my country. "So, if you think like this, you're not going to perform good: 'All Tajik people watching me.' No, this is energy for me. I really like it. I know Saturday night in Tajikistan, all people around Tajikistan like in villages, in my motherland Kulob city and also in Dushanbe – everybody in restaurants, cafes, cinema, everywhere they're gonna watch the fight. That's like extra energy for me." In his second appearance of 2025, Naimov faces Bogdan Grad (15-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in the main card opener of UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. It's the closest Naimov has been to home for a fight since signing with the UFC. He expects to see many people from his home country in the crowd, and hopes his performance will help fuel the upcoming generation of fighters. "MMA level is growing up every day," Naimov said. "Day by day, month by month, it's getting better in Tajikistan. We got very tough young generation in amateur in (IMMAF). They're becoming world champions, Europe champions, and also Asian champions. It's like great expereince before they start pro career. "We are just four guys – four Tajik fighters from Tajikistan in UFC now. That's how you know people love us, respect us, they always show up for us."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Curtis Blaydes: UFC Baku fight vs. newcomer Rizvan Kuniev 'doesn't help me at all'
Curtis Blaydes: UFC Baku fight vs. newcomer Rizvan Kuniev 'doesn't help me at all' Curtis Blaydes believes he's stuck in neutral ahead of UFC on ABC 8. In his first appearance since challenging for the interim heavyweight title last year, Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) will welcome newcomer Rizvan Kuniev to the promotion. UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. "My expectations for the fight this weekend are same as always: I expect to win," Blaydes told reporters at media day. While Blaydes aims to get back into the win column after losing an interim title bid against Tom Aspinall at UFC 304, the heavyweight wrestler doesn't see the matchup against Kuniev (13-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) as one that will get him closer to title contention. "This fight doesn't help me at all," Blaydes said. "This guy is unranked. So, I could knock him out with a flying knee – it doesn't matter." It's rare that a promotionally ranked top-five fighter would face an unranked fighter, but circumstances made it necessary for Blaydes. While Kuniev may not be a name that will help him move back up the ladder, it will help his bank account. Since his pay is the same whether or not there's a number next to his opponent's name, Blaydes decided it was time to collect a paycheck. "If you look at the availability of guys, there wasn't anyone available," Blaydes said. "Who wants to wait? I haven't had a fight since last July. I'd like to make some money this year." Blaydes recognizes that Kuniev is a threat inside the cage, but he views all heavyweights as such due to one-punch knockout power. If he's able to avoid that big shot and find a finish of his own, "Razor" Blaydes would love to get back into position to fight for the title soon, but he knows he'll have more work to do. "I would love to fight for the title," Blaydes said. "That would be another $800 grand in my pocket, but it's not gonna happen, so I'm not even gonna put that in my mind. Having that expectation would just lead to me being disappointed, and I don't want to be disappointed. So, I'll be realistic: I'll probably need another fight."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tofiq Musayev ready for 'different level' in UFC on ABC 8 debut
Tofiq Musaev enters his UFC on ABC 8 debut with a more decorated resume than most newcomers, but he knows stepping into the octagon is something unto itself. Musayev (22-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who won the 2019 Rizin FF lightweight grand prix and has beaten the likes of Patricky Freire, Johnny Case and Sidney Outlaw, will test himself against the 155-pound roster in the UFC starting with Saturday's matchup against Myktybek Orolbai (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at Baku Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+). Advertisement "It's a dream of all fighters to be fighting in the UFC," Musayev said through an interpreter at Wednesday's UFC on ABC 8 media day. "It's a different level of course. I feel very lucky that I'm ere. I have fought in different organizations but this is a unique one. I have prepared well and I am going to represent my country with pride. I have prepared specifically for my opponent." Although Musayev has proven himself to be high level, there's speculation about whether, at 35, he's coming into the shark tank of the UFC's lightweight division too late to rise to the top. Only time will tell, but he intends to give it his best shot. "Age is just a number for me," Musayev said. "If anyone thinks otherwise, they shouldn't even be competing in the UFC." Advertisement "I'm focused on my opponent and later on I will focus on the next steps. This fight will determine what the next fights will be." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Baku: RIZIN vet Tofiq Musayev ready for 'different level' in debut
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC newcomer Rizvan Kuniev sees Tom Aspinall as the 'true' heavyweight champion
UFC newcomer Rizvan Kuniev sees Tom Aspinall as the 'true' heavyweight champion Despite being the interim champion, Rizvan Kuniev sees Tom Aspinall as No. 1 in the division and not Jon Jones. Historically speaking, interim champions don't get a ton of appreciation, and are seen as second-tier to the undisputed. Yet, Tom Aspinall is getting the respect from his fellow peers. Rizvan Kuniev, who's debuting for the promotion this Saturday at UFC on ABC 8, sees Aspinall as the "true champion" of the UFC heavyweight division, and not Jon Jones, who technically holds the undisputed belt. Kuniev (13-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) took things a step further and called for Jones to get stripped or to relinquish his belt, given his lack of activity, specifically not unifying the title against Aspinall. "I think it's time for Jon Jones to give up the belt, to relinquish the belt," Kuniev said through an interpreter at Wednesday's UFC on ABC 8 media day. "I think that the true champion is Tom Aspinall. I'm not sure why Jon Jones is holding up the division and why the UFC is letting him do this, why they're letting him keep the belt. "I think that Tom Aspinall being the true champion and not having fought for about six months already, this is way too long. The whole division is on hold. The whole division specifically, the top five, top 10, should have more fights, and there should be more movement, so we can figure out who is actually the top contender." Kuniev takes on veteran and former interim title challenger Curtis Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) on the main card of UFC on ABC 8, which takes place at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. It's a rare debut, as not many newcomers get a top contender right away for their first UFC bout. Yet, Kuniev feels more than ready and is out to prove he's an immediate threat to the title. "I was always saying that I was ready to fight someone in the top 10 top five," Kuniev said. "This is a big opportunity for me to fight somebody so multifaceted, so good, so high ranked. For me, this is a great opportunity to come out and show everything I said before and that I'm ready for the top 10, top five is actually true."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Tofiq Musayev ready for 'different level' in UFC on ABC 8 debut
Tofiq Musayev ready for 'different level' in UFC on ABC 8 debut Tofiq Musaev enters his UFC on ABC 8 debut with a more decorated resume than most newcomers, but he knows stepping into the octagon is something unto itself. Musayev (22-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who won the 2019 Rizin FF lightweight grand prix and has beaten the likes of Patricky Freire, Johnny Case and Sidney Outlaw, will test himself against the 155-pound roster in the UFC starting with Saturday's matchup against Myktybek Orolbai (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at Baku Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+). "It's a dream of all fighters to be fighting in the UFC," Musayev said through an interpreter at Wednesday's UFC on ABC 8 media day. "It's a different level of course. I feel very lucky that I'm ere. I have fought in different organizations but this is a unique one. I have prepared well and I am going to represent my country with pride. I have prepared specifically for my opponent." Although Musayev has proven himself to be high level, there's speculation about whether, at 35, he's coming into the shark tank of the UFC's lightweight division too late to rise to the top. Only time will tell, but he intends to give it his best shot. "Age is just a number for me," Musayev said. "If anyone thinks otherwise, they shouldn't even be competing in the UFC." "I'm focused on my opponent and later on I will focus on the next steps. This fight will determine what the next fights will be."
