Khabib Nurmagomedov talks Saygid Izagakhmaev wrestling
According to MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, Saygid Izagakhmaev is a dangerous fighter from all angles but hasn't needed to showcase his diverse skills just yet. The Russian fighter will face Shinya Aoki at ONE 163 booked for November 19.
Fans have seen Izagakhmaev dominate his opponents on the mats through his two bouts in ONE Championship, claiming victories in both.
'The Eagle' Nurmagomedov is confident in his fighters' wrestling acumen, and for good reason. However, he also believes that this makes people forget that Izagakhmaev is also a formidable striker when the occasion calls for it.
The Dagestani fighter has trained alongside Nurmagomedov for his entire life, so 'The Eagle' has a good understanding of his talents.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Khabib Nurmagomedov explained:
"Nobody has been able to stop him yet. But the moment we get an opponent who can handle his wrestling and then force Saygid to utilize his striking, the audience will be surprised."
To date, none of Izagakhmaev's opponents have been able to handle his relentless wrestling power. However, Nurmagomedov assures everyone that he is just as skilled on his feet as he is on the mats.
Saygid Izagakhmaev will get a chance to showcase his deep skillset when he faces the former ONE lightweight world champion, Shinya Aoki. The two ONE lightweight fighters are booked for a clash at ONE 163 on November 19.
Khabib Nurmagomedov talks about Saygid Izagakhmaev’s world title chances
If Saygid Izagakhmaev is successful in his bout against Japan's Shinya Aoki, there is a strong chance he will be fighting for the ONE lightweight world championship in 2023. The bout will come against the king of the division, 'The Warrior' Christian Lee.
Khabib Nurmagomedov explained the shot at the throne for Saygid Izagakhmaev, saying:
"There’s a very good chance that early next year, in the first half of 2023, Saygid will fight for the title because he already has two wins in the promotion and he has a fight ahead of him against a very big star in world of MMA, Shinya Aoki. If Saygid knocks him out or finishes him on the ground, I think he should have his next fight for the title.”
Lightweight king Christian Lee will be looking to become a two-division world champion when he fights for the welterweight throne at ONE on Prime Video 4 on November 18.
With Saygid Izagakhmaev's ONE gold dreams hanging in the balance, this weekend's fight is a high-stakes matchup.
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