Umar Nurmagomedov calls out surging bantamweight "wrestler" as he rues opponents refusing to fight him
Believe it or not, Umar Nurmagomedov's fierce repute and his dominant record have actually made it difficult for him to progress in the UFC bantamweight division. The Dagestani bantamweight has struggled to find an opponent willing to take him on and therefore, has resorted to making yet another callout on Twitter.
Nurmagomedov targeted fellow UFC bantamweight Montel Jackson in his tweet and called for a fight. He also put up a potential top-10 position at stake for the fight. UFC president Dana White, matchmaker Sean Shelby, and Nurmagomedov's agent, Ali Abdelaziz, were all tagged in the tweet.
Nurmagomedov tweeted:
"Hey @Montello135 reat wrestler, we gonna put on a great fight and if you beat me you will have a chance to be in the top 10 @danawhite @seanshelby @AliAbdelaziz00"
Check out the tweet below:
Hey @Montello135
reat wrestler, we gonna put on a great fight and if you beat me you will have a chance to be in the top 10 @danawhite @seanshelby @AliAbdelaziz00
Montel Jackson is on an impressive three-fight win streak, but it was his wrestling background that Nurmagomedov referenced in his call-out. Jackson wrestled during his high school years and also trained extensively at an Olympic training center after participating in a national invitational event against the Japanese team.
Umar Nurmagomedov reveals the name of one fighter he does not wish to face
Although Umar Nurmagomedov is finding it difficult to get an opponent and would willingly fight anyone, there is one bantamweight he has singled out as someone he doesn't wish to fight. After his career-first knockout win against Raoni Barcelos at UFC Vegas 67, Umar Nurmagomedov said in his press conference:
“These guys know our team, Khabib (Nurmagomedov), Islam [Makhachev], Usman [Nurmagomedov], different guys. We’re improving, we’re good, and they look at us like, dangerous. This one, I saw it. Because nobody don’t take fight with me in the top 15. Even this guy Ricky Simon. He say, ‘Hey, who are you like this.’ I’m here, Ricky Simon. Where are you? I will be champion. You will stay No. 8.”
Umar Nurmagomedov referenced Ricky Simon's comments regarding their respective rankings and his refusal to fight lower-ranked opponents as reasons for not wanting to fight him. He also claimed that he wants to step inside the octagon again in March.
“No, I don’t want to fight with him. I have a different name. It will be in March, I hope. March 4. I don’t want to fight with him because of when I asked him to fight with me, he say, ‘Oh who are you?’ I will show you who I am... Anybody. Anybody, I don’t care. But not this guy. I don’t want to give him a chance.”
Check out his comments on YouTube: