Khabib: Pettis is scared, a ‘paper champion’
Khabib Nurmagomedov: “Now, I call out Anthony Pettis. I think he’s scared, too, but Anthony and Nate don’t have good wrestling defense. (They) know I’ll smash them.”
Top UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov may have a name that sounds over the top to a Western ear, but in a recent interview on MMAJunkie Radio, the Dagestan-born fighter, made himself crystal clear.
I’m not only a fighter, said Nurmagomedov as transcribed by Steven Marrocco for MMAJunkie. I do social media and everything.
Now, I’m living in the U.S., and my language isn’t very good, but it’s OK. I’m training hard every day. Please, Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, give me my title shot. I deserve it.
I like being undefeated, and if the UFC gives me a title shot, the UFC has next year an undefeated and undisputed lightweight champion. I’m 23-0. I think it’s very good for the UFC.
First is Gilbert Melendez, and I am after him. I’m second. Cerrone lost a lot of times in the UFC – Nate Diaz, Benson Henderson, Rafael Dos Anjos, a lot of guys beat him. Eddie Alvarez lost, and Benson Henderson lost. I think, 100 percent, I am the No. 1 contender.
Myles Jury is a very smart guy, but he’s never beaten a guy in the top 10. I think if Myles beats Cerrone, he deserves his title shot next year after me.
It’s a sport and a business, too, and I respect everyone. But I don’t respect Anthony Pettis. He’s champ, but he’s not a true champ. He’s a paper champ, and he hasn’t defended his title in one-and-a-half years.
Before I called out Nate Diaz, (saying) he’s scared, he doesn’t want this fight, it’s a very bad fight for him. Now, I call out Anthony Pettis. I think he’s scared, too, but Anthony and Nate don’t have good wrestling defense. (They) know I’ll smash them.