"He has 3 fights in the UFC and wants to skip the line" - Ranked bantamweight accuses Umar Nurmagomedov of getting "preferential treatment because of his last name"
Just three fights into his UFC career, Umar Nurmagomedov is already making enemies in the bantamweight division.
Anatomy of a Fighter creator Will Harris is closely associated with Khabib Nurmagomedov's team. He tweeted about Umar Nurmagomedov's hunger and desire to take on higher-ranked fighters:
"I had a convo with Umar Nurmagomedov the other day at the UFCPI and you can tell on his face the frustrations of fighters avoiding him. It was the first time I really saw that from a fighter up close. He really wants a top opponent to get closer to the belt."
No.11-ranked bantamweight Ricky Simon did not take kindly to Harris' observation and accused Nurmagomedov of benefiting off his famous last name. Simon quoted Harris and called out Nurmagomedov for wanting to skip the title-contention line:
"Yeah yeah, that’s what we all want. He has 3 fights in the UFC and wants to skip the line. He already got ranked without beating a ranked opponent. He will keep getting preferential treatment because of his last name."
Check out Simon's tweet below:
Yeah yeah, that’s what we all want. He has 3 fights in the UFC and wants to skip the line. He already got ranked without beating a ranked opponent. He will keep getting preferential treatment because of his last name. twitter.com/willharrisaoaf…
Harris and Ricky Simon went back-and-forth on Twitter. Simon insisted Nurmagomedov should fight "backwards." Harris, meanwhile, challenged him to fight the Russian, stating that a potential result against Nurmagomedov would translate well on his resume:
"I literally said a top opponent to get closer to the belt . I didn’t say a top 5 or a top 2. Bark up @UNmgdv way if you feeling froggy. You got the juice to beat him? Go and get it. That’s a name on your resume anyone should want ."
Check out their exchange below:
@WillHarrisAOAF If the rankings don’t matter then why does he want a higher ranked opponent? If he wants to fight, why not do what he’s asking us to do and fight backwards? The rankings don’t make sense, but they do matter.
@RickySimonUFC I literally said a top opponent to get closer to the belt . I didn’t say a top 5 or a top 2. Bark up @UNmgdv way if you feeling froggy. You got the juice to beat him? Go and get it. That’s a name on your resume anyone should want .
Umar Nurmagomedov puts the bantamweight division on notice
Umar Nurmagomedov tweeted out a warning to the bantamweight division after his teammate Islam Makhachev got his long-awaited title shot and made it count.
Nurmagomedov tweeted:
"They ran from Khabib, they ran from Islam but they can’t run forever from me"
The former Gorilla Fighting Championship bantamweight champion feels he faces a similar situation to Makhachev. Nurmagomedov thinks fighters are unwilling to take him on, therefore stagnating his progress.
Check out his tweet below:
They ran from Khabib, they ran from Islam but they can’t run forever from me
The Russian bantamweight has repeatedly stated his willingness to fight any opponent at any venue on any given date. The sentiment is shared by all members of his team under Khabib Nurmagomedov's tutelage.
I am ready for championship fights.
I don’t matter who shares the cage with me . https://t.co/yJ6ioZPNyu