Nurmagomedov: Missing weight was 100% my fault

Khabib Nurmagomedov spoke recently with Russia Today at the opening of the latest Eagles MMA gym, in Moscow, Russia. The top-ranked lightweight broke his silence on missing weight for the UFC interim lightweight title vs. Tony Ferguson at UFC 209 a month ago.

You know I don’t remember a lot of things, to be honest, said Nurmagomedov, as transcribed by Adam Guillen Jr. for MMA Mania. “Last night [before weigh in] and I know – I am going to a hospital, I feel bad. I know that a lot of fans are upset with me about this and I agree with this guys. Because this is one of the biggest fights in Russian MMA. for me, I can make history but I am going to the hospital you know.”

But sometimes this happens, sometimes you can die, you know. Everybody can die, everybody can sick. Now I need a couple of months. Like two or three months. After three months I come for hard training and I want to fight in September.”

I think this is my fault, this is my fault. I know that body don’t listen to me and I think, I know, this is my fault. How can I say that this is the coach’s fault or the diet guy’s fault? This is 100% my fault.

“To be honest, you know when you want to smash somebody so badly, how do you feel about this guy? This is my dream fight – a fight with Tony Ferguson. I know I pulled out, but he pulled out one time, too. But nobody talked when he pulled out. When I pull out – everybody talks about this. But it’s ok. Inshallah I will come back and we’ll see what happens.”

Nurmagomedov, who reportedly suffered from a lack of blood to his liver, gave no indication on how he can avoid a life-threatening cut the next time.