Dagestani grappler Magomed Magomedov has big plans once he finally wins Bellator gold this weekend.
Magomedov will face Patchy Mix at the Accor Arena in the main event of Bellator Paris this Friday, his second time facing the New York native. The bout headlines an action-packed night that is being dubbed as the biggest in European MMA due to the co-main event between Cedric Doumbe and Jaleel Willis.
The renowned bantamweight earned his shot at the gold after coming back from losses to Raufeon Stots and Mix by beating Enrique Barzola and Danny Sabatello. But there is something personal to this effort as he looks to finally avenge his only stoppage loss.
- FRENCH FIREWORKS: Cedric Doumbe poised for ‘biggest night in European MMA’
Magomed Magomedov vows revenge after being choked out by Patchy Mix
After a dominant run in the bantamweight division under the previous regime, Magomedov suffered his only stoppage defeat against Mix at Bellator 289. But after getting back in the win column, he will debut under the new PFL ownership in a world title bout.
Speaking with Bloody Elbow, he said of the feud: “That fight has been in the back of my head the entire team. So when, a year-and-a-half later, they offered me that rematch I said ‘yeah, let’s do it.’
“Overall I think I’ve just become a better fighter physically and also mentally. I’ve been training really hard, I’m going to be a different ‘Tiger’ when we get into the cage on May 17 and everyone is going to see it.”
Magomed Magomedov will offer Patchy Mix a trilogy as he prepares for ‘year of rematches’
Magomedov has been defeated three times as a professional, although one of those was against Petr Yan whom he had already beaten. He also lost a decision to Raufeon Stots and that ill-fated submission against Mix.
And he wants to avenge all of those defeats, mapping out his plan for the rest of the year. He will first defeat Mix, before rematching Stots and then offering a trilogy to his old rival after being offered a shot at his world title.
“So the plan is that once everything goes smoothly on May 17, the next one as a title defence I will face Raufeon Stots,” Magomedov continued. “That will be a year of rematches for me.
“I would have no problem [doing a trilogy]. He agreed to face me again and give me a rematch so once I beat him I will do a rematch, I have no problem with that as long as Bellator are willing to do that. It’s a sport and he was respectful to me so I will do the same to him.”
Magomed Magomedov jokes that he is the true main event over Cedric Doumbe
Despite the fact that his world title fight will go on last and is the big fight at Bellator Paris, headlines have been made by a different bout. Cedric Doumbe’s return to the cage will attract the majority of the fans, as he faces Jaleel Willis in a France vs USA showdown.
But Magomedov has taken a slight dig at the Frenchman, joking that he is still technically on his undercard for the night. “He is a great fighter, I don’t know too much about him really.
“I know that he is a great, world level kickboxer but I think I am not fighting on his card, he is fighting on my card. We have the more interesting stuff going on here.”